City to establish an art policy

The City Council approved Tuesday recommendations from the Arts

Commission that would establish a policy on acquiring art and a

method of removing art from city ownership, a process called

de-accession.

“We do want a policy to de-access art that we -- how can I say

this nicely -- don’t want any more,” Councilwoman Cheryl Kinsman

said. “But I would like this rewritten by the city attorney and ask

him to draft a series of sample contracts.”

Kinsman also wanted staff and council to be able to make

recommendations, a prerogative she said is not clearly enough defined

for her in the commission draft.

Councilman Wayne Baglin said the Arts Commission slightly

overstepped its boundaries when it ventured into the approval and

budget processes for acquisition.

“They have come so far that they overlooked the fact that they are

an advisory board,” Baglin said.

He asked that specific additions be made to the policies that

included City Council approval of donations and loans.

As for ridding the city of unwanted art: De-accession is the

method used by museums to upgrade their collections, selling off

lesser pieces to finance the purchase of better works.

“I think it could have a chilling effect on artists if they don’t

understand the policy,” Arts Commissioner Joan Corman Block said.

“Everyone needs to be informed about the policy and understand it.”

The state has specific rules about the de-accession of public art.

“Our policy complies with the state Visual Artists Rights Act,

passed in 1991, which deals with the moral rights of the artist

compared to the physical rights of the owner,” said Sian Poeschl,

city arts coordinator. “The artist always has to be informed if a

piece of public art is to be removed or relocated and be involved.”

Poeschl and the commission have been working on the policy for

about three years.

In general, the commission’s policy is that works of art will be

acquired without legal restrictions on their future use and

disposition, except with respect to state or federal laws on

preservation, copyright, and resale.

The commission draft stipulates that a donor has the right to

appeal to the council a commission recommendation to relocate,

temporarily remove or de-access art.

-- Barbara Diamond

City to look into new access for Annaliese

Laguna Beach Mayor Toni Iseman and City Manager Ken Frank will

seek county support for a land swap that could help ease the

congestion at the intersection of El Toro and Laguna Canyon roads.

The city is looking for access to Annaliese’s school that would

come off of El Toro Road and eliminate the access on Laguna Canyon

Road. A consultant had proposed access off of El Toro, but was

steered in a different direction by Director of Public Works Steve

May.

“I thought the area was sacred,” May said.

Consultant Steve Sasaki then recommended converting the westbound

El Toro right-turn-only lane to a combination left and right turn, if

approved by Caltrans. The modification would provide some improvement

and could be implemented within six months at a minimal cost, May

said.

The cost would come out of the Public Works Department operating

fund.

“I was looking for something more dramatic,” Iseman said. “The

drop-offs at Annaliese’s is more than an inconvenience. It is scary.

The county owns the corner along Laguna Canyon Road between

Annaliese’s and El Toro Road.

“The question is, would the city be willing to swap a piece of

open space,” Iseman said.

City Manager Frank said finding the land to swap would be the easy

part.

“There are regional park issues and wetlands issues,” he said.

He also said that, even if approved by the county and the council,

the cost could delay the project for several years.

The council voted 4-0 to proceed with talks to the county, with

Councilman Steven Dicterow absent.

-- Barbara Diamond

Former mayor seeks antiwar resolution

Former Laguna Beach Mayor Lida Lenney proposed a resolution

Tuesday for the City Council to support all diplomatic efforts to end

the conflict in Iraq and oppose military action there unless the

Iraqi regime initiates an attack.

“It has been 10 years since I sat where you are sitting,” Lenney

told the council. “This is the first time I have come back, and only

because of the war. I am asking the city to join other cities in

opposing the war.

“The news that I am glued to 20 hours a day has broken my heart,”

she said. “This is not a good or just war. It is unlawful.”

Lenney’s request would have to be put on an agenda before the

council could take action.

“A just war is an oxymoron, but we now have hundreds of thousands

of military in there, and I could not do anything that would not

support them,” said a choked-up Councilman Wayne Baglin, a U.S. Coast

Guard veteran.

Councilwoman Elizabeth Pearson said her father is buried at

Arlington Cemetery and he would roll over in his grave if she took

such a position that could be interpreted as unsupportive of U.S.

troops.

“It’s obvious that the council does not intend to put this on an

agenda, but I think we should take a stand,” Mayor Toni Iseman said.

Iseman was the only council member to support a hearing on the

resolution. Councilman Steve Dicterow was absent.

“My life partner is a Vietnam veteran, in special ops,” Iseman

said. “I attend reunions. Life is not the same for them.”

Antiwar protesters contended that the best way to support the

troops is to bring them home.

-- Barbara Diamond

Artist to bring sounds of ancient Mexico

The sounds of ancient Mexico will be heard as Xavier Quijas

Yxayotl performs at the Neighborhood Congregational Church today.

Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, Yxayotl has lived in the mountains of

Jalisco and Nayarit, Mexico, where the Huicholes and Tepehuanes

shared their ceremonies and knowledge.

Yxayotl gained a passion for Mayan and Aztec drums and flutes,

Tarahumara drums, turtle shells, Teponaxtli log groups and Mayan

ocean drums among other handmade instruments.

Yxayotl has become one of the few Mexican artists able to

construct instruments that are identical to the instruments used by

the ancient people of Mexico.

The evening of music at the Neighborhood Congregational Church

will begin at 6:30 p.m. with 9-year-old Evren Ozan, a local Laguna

Beach resident, who will be playing Native American flute music.

The event will be today at 340 St. Anns Drive in Laguna Beach.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and children are free.

There is also a dinner served from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. for a cost of

$5. All proceeds will benefit the Laguna Beach Cross Cultural

Council.

For tickets and information, please call Terry Anne Barman at

(949) 494-8883.

Canyon Conservancy dinner set for April 7

The Laguna Canyon Conservancy will host a dinner with special

guest Tom Wilson, chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors.

The no-host bar will open at 6 p.m., and dinner will begin at 6:45

p.m. April 7 at Tivoli Terrace, on the Festival of Arts grounds on

Laguna Canyon Road.

Dinner tickets are $7 for members and $15 for nonmembers, and may

be purchased at the door or with reservations. Membership fees are

$10 per person, per calendar year.

Reservations should be made by April 5. For reservations and

information, call 494-6465.

Laguna music program tops list

A nationwide survey conducted by the American Music Conference and

several partner organizations named the Laguna Beach Unified School

District one of the top 100 communities for music education in the

country.

The district was one of three selected from the state and two from

Southern California, along with Capistrano Unified School District.

Thousands of public school and independent teachers, school and

district administrators, school board members, parents and community

leaders representing every state participated in the Web-based survey

in January and February.

-- Mike Swanson

Rally set to support troops in Iraq

A Freedom Rally to show support for American troops in Iraq is

planned for 10 a.m. April 13 at Main Beach.

Rally organizers said they want to show the world that the

majority of the country supports their troops and the fight against

terrorism.

Cleanup day is scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon April 19.

Participants are asked to meet at Main Beach for cleanup

assignments and all-day free parking certificates.

Information: Roger von Butow, (949) 497-4816 or Rick Wilson, (949)

492-8170.

Bakery added to Culinary repertoire

Laguna Culinary Arts has added a bakery to its business of

teaching food preparation courses and selling cookware.

There will be a grand opening for the professional programs and

bakery from 5 to 8 p.m. April 25.

The bakery opened March 24 at 845 Laguna Canyon Road. The new shop

offers a variety of breads, including olive ciabatta and onion rye.

The bakery is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday,

but will likely soon extend the hours to the weekends.

Chef Karen Oliphint will launch a 20-week professional bakery and

pastry program in June.

A six-month intensive professional chef program will be held next

to the bakery in view of patrons. The professional chef students will

soon offer a student lunch special.

Laguna Culinary Arts Home Chef program is at 550 S. Coast Highway,

upstairs. Information: (949) 494-4006. The bakery and professional

chef programs are at 845 Laguna Canyon Road.

For information, call (949) 494-4006.