Good day for a parade

EYES ON ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

The saying that everybody loves a parade certainly rings true with

Laguna Beach’s Patriots Day Parade. The crowd was a little skinny

this year, despite the perfect weather. It was the first year for me

to actually be in the parade and not just covering, watching or

taking pictures of it. We really had a fantastic time representing

the Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot. Jim Cocores, owner of Thalia Street

Surf Shop, drove our staff in his 1950 Ford Woody decorated and all

patriotic.

The high school team of Scott Brown, Claire Vogel, Henry Plant and

Hunter Poller worked diligently on filming the parade.

NO SQUARE THEATRE’S HAPPENINGS FOR THE PUBLIC

Bree Burgess Rosen, founder and creative director for No Square

Theatre and ever the mastermind behind creative and talented

performances in Laguna Beach, is inviting locals to show their stuff,

as the theater opens its doors for fun events.

Starting Monday and continuing from 7 to 10 p.m. every Monday is

“Local Vocals,” a venue for adults to sing along with professional

piano accompaniment. All participants need to bring is their own

sheet music.

Every fourth Friday and second Sunday of the month is “Broadway

Maybes,” an open mike night for families from 6 to 9 p.m. on Fridays

and 5 to 8 p.m. on Sundays. No Square Theatre is at 221 Broadway near

the Coast Highway and Main Beach intersection. For information, call

497-1950 or go online to www.nosquare.org.

ARTIST RECEPTION FOR

RENOWNED ANIMATOR

The Laguna College of Art & Design is constantly busy with

exciting art events and Saturday is no different. There is an artist

reception for animator Carol Kieffer Police at 6:30.p.m. Police has

worked on “Shrek,” “Quest for Camelot,” and the animated version of

“Lord of the Rings.” Her exhibit is an amazing set of works. To see

her work, from back in her college days to now, from fine art to

animations, is unbelievable. With the exhibit, is her teaching a

class a “How to” on video -- it’s quite remarkable to watch and

listen to her step-by-step instructions while she makes these

drawings come to life. Police works extensively with Disney and plans

to open her own animation production company.

Also on the Laguna College’s plate is the 29th Annual Juried

Student Art Exhibit called “Color It Orange 2003.” It includes work

from Orange County students -- grades Kindergarten through 12. More

than 4,500 entries are expected with 600 final pieces being shown at

the Ettinger Gallery at the college. Every medium will be

represented: drawings, paintings, sculpture, prints and photography.

It’s quite an enjoyable exhibit to see with all the proud parents and

talented artists from such a diverse group. It’s unbelievable to see

what some tiny artists can create. The “Color It Orange” exhibit is

March 23 to April 2 with an opening reception and scholarship award

ceremony from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Laguna College of Art & Design is located at 2222 Laguna Canyon

Road. For information, call 376-6000.

SAWDUST FESTIVAL IS SIZZLING

Through the month of March the Sawdust Festival is having its

weekend “Spring into Art” classes, where professional artists from

Laguna teach skills such as printmaking, glass-blowing, oil painting,

watercolor painting, mosaics, glass and casting, ceramics, silk

painting, jewelry and more. Fees for the two-day workshops range from

$50 to $200 and include the needed supplies, lunch and beverages. The

workshops are being held March 8, 9, 15, 16, 29 and 30. The Sawdust

is at 935 Laguna Canyon Road. Call 497-0521 for information.

I recently talked to Rebecca Meekma of the Sawdust Festival and

she said that tickets to the 12th annual Sawdust Art Festival Art

Walk Studio Tour are “selling like pancakes.” The exhibit is on April

5-6, and allows art lovers to explore the private studios of more

than 60 of Laguna Beach’s well-known artists. Tickets are $55 for

both days, $45 for one day and $40 for seniors and students.

I went last year and had an absolute blast. For tickets or

information, call 494-3030.

* SUZIE HARRISON is a reporter for the Laguna Beach Coastline

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