Don’t take the galleries for granted

EYE ON ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

In Laguna there are about 90 galleries, with every type of art

medium represented by so many different artists. A lot of the

galleries offer new and changing exhibitions for the public to

experience, allowing a peek at something different and exciting.

EXPERIENCING ART

My favorite way to experience art in Laguna Beach is First

Thursday’s Art Walk. More than 35 galleries participate with art on

exhibit, art openings and artist receptions on the first Thursday of

every month from 6 to 9 p.m. It’s such a creative way for art lovers

to see so many different works and be able to meet the artist and

learn more about the art they enjoy. This gallery experience takes

place at famous Gallery Row in North Laguna, at seven-degrees in the

canyon and at galleries a little farther south, such as J. Kamin Fine

Art.

The next Art Walk is Feb. 6, which will be its big five-year

anniversary. After the walk will be a post party from 9 to 11 p.m. at

the Festival of Arts grounds at 650 Laguna Canyon Road. The fete

includes live dance and music performances by the Kimberly Leeds

Dance Company and Evren Ozan, the Scarlet Sisters, Elvis Schoenberg’s

Orchestre Surreal featuring the fabulous Miss Thing and Balloon Diva.

ART IN ACTION

Laguna Art Museum is the anchor of our art community, offering

exciting exhibits and events. “Surf Culture” was one of my favorite

happenings there. This past weekend, the museum brought in

performance artist Tim Miller, who was performing at the museum for a

second time, this time doing his latest work, “Body Blows.” Based on

the book from the same title, his performance was about the blows

people take over time and how they affect a person, emotionally,

physically and psychologically through scars or memories of a

wonderful once-in-a-lifetime experience that wraps around one’s soul.

He illustrated topics as a first kiss, being gay bashed, moving,

growing and changing. Miller is an openly gay man who draws a large

homosexual audience.

It was his final performance at the museum, because he has to

leave the country with his Australian-born boyfriend, whose visa is

about to expire. This is a harsh reality Miller is facing, since he

is a third generation Southern Californian. Through his work, he

makes a real political statement and calls people to action to fight

for domestic partners’ rights. He said that although the U.S. lauds

itself as the biggest and best -- that it is the most antiquated in

rights for same-sex partners. It’s too bad he has to leave the

country for that reason. It’s made think and opened my eyes to issues

I’ve never thought of before.

JACOBUS BAAS ARTIST RECEPTION

Laguna Beach artist Jacobus Baas’ solo exhibition of new oils,

“Diversity” New Works of California and Maine,” will open with an

artist reception Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Esther Wells

Collection at 1390 S. Coast Highway.

Baas, one of the founding members of the Laguna Plein-Air Painters

Assn., and believes his work promotes awareness of the natural

landscape by creating paintings that appeal to the eye and the art.

His latest collection of plein air works were done on the coasts of

Maine and Southern California, with each painting depicting the

essence of both sides of the country. The Laguna Beach pictures

capture the city’s different faces, such as the canyon when it is

green after a spring rain or our world-renowned cliff-lined beaches.

Baas said that painting is his full-time passion, which is apparent

in his work. For information, call 494-2497 or visit www.estherwells

collection.com.

* SUZIE HARRISON is a reporter for the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. She may be reached at 494-4321 or suzie.harrison@latimes.com.