Hunks for a good cause

EYE ON ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Kicking off the summer season last year with “Hunks in Trunks” made

for one of my best years ever. Can I attribute it to that exactly --

I’m not sure -- but it was one of the highlights of the summer and

the year.

Laguna Art Museum will be the place it’s held on May 24, and they

always know how to put on a fun, quality event.

Besides the gorgeous hunks in their trunks, strutting down the

runway, the event will be a blast and because 100% of the proceeds go

to benefit Laguna Shanti it’s definitely a worthwhile cause. Comic

Judy Tenuta will do her show and emcee; she has a reputation of being

an absolute riot. Local Sasha Fedortchev was a performer with Cirque

du Soleil and he’ll be showing off his acrobatic skills.

Most of the models are part of the West Hollywood Swim Team, plus

Eric Bauman, special assistant to the governor will be the keynote

speaker. Music-wise DJ Steven Oliveri will be spinning. One of

Laguna’s favorite eateries, Sundried Tomato Cafe and Catering will be

providing the dinner buffet.

General admission is at 7 p.m. and includes the show and buffet,

followed by the live auction, entertainment and fashion show. For

major donors at $500 per person, there is a pre-event that starts at

6 p.m. and includes a hosted bar until 7, an opportunity to preview

the live auction items, as well as a chance to chat it up with the

models and allows you to get up front with reserved seating by the

stage.

This event is possible because of our local businesses coming

together and underwriting it. They include: Woody’s at the Beach,

Sundried Tomato Cafe and Catering, Casa Laguna Inn, Main Street Bar

and Cabaret, Madison Square and Garden Cafe and GayLagunaBeach.org.

Satisfy My Soul, a local hip retail store Downtown, will be

outfitting the models for the show.

For tickets or information, call Laguna Shanti at 494-1446 or go

online to www.lagunashanti.org. Space is limited.

THE OLD GANG IS BACK

Watching the scene at the Sawdust Festival grounds Tuesday

morning, reminded me of going back to college after the summer and

being excited about catching up with everyone. The scene was a very

similar scenario, as the artists chose where their booth would be

located. People were hugging and chatting and looking forward to the

upcoming art season.

Media relations director Rebecca Meekma and event coordinator

Lynne Powell were sitting side by side at a table, with big smiles,

handing out information to the artists.

“I’m really excited about the summer, it’s the unofficial

beginning of the summer,” Meekma said.

Powell said that booth-picking day is the next biggest social

event to the preview night party because everyone is catching up.

Anne England is a pioneer artist in Laguna Beach who shows in both

festivals and she was thrilled to see everyone.

“It’s fun, good food and a lot of camaraderie and family.” England

said. “It’s time to enjoy each other -- artists really like to be

together and I am enjoying myself immensely.”

This will be the third year for artist Sue Thompson to be in the

show.

“It’s exciting, it’s anxious -- my number is up there a little

bit,” Thompson said. “It always fun, people are looking forward to

the summer season.”

She said that this being her third year, she’s more relaxed and

knows what to expect, whereas her first year she was trying to learn

the ropes.

“It’s important to get a visible isle, an area with a lot of

action or next to a well-know artist,” Thompson said. “It’s like the

real estate saying, it’s all about location, location, location.”

Spence Hurlbut is a veteran booth picker.

“This is my 34th year, I come down, spend a little time here, go

home and have lunch,” Hurlbut said. “This can be a real high-stress

time, depending on expectations. I’ve done it so often it’s kind of

routine.”

Hurlbut also said that there are always a few surprises and he

likes that the grounds are laid out a little differently each year.

He’s picking a booth and holding one for his wife, artist Mary

Hurlbut.

“In the years past we’ve been able to build our booths together

and that has worked well,” Hurlbut said. “We’ll see how it translates

this year. In a month and a half, we’ll be open for business more or

less and soon I’ll be back with my wood to build my booth.”

I was informed that the artists could start building their booth

as early as the next day.

Michele Taylor was an artist in the winter show and is hoping to

be one for the summer.

“This will be my first year, I’m No. 194 and there’s 182 booth

spaces,” Taylor said. “It’s a lottery. For the first five year’s you

have your name entered once in the drawing, after that it is one for

each year, for example if someone who has been in for 13 years --

they would get 13 chances, it’s all chance, a lottery.”

John Barber has been in the Sawdust for 25 years and said that

sometimes there’s an opportunity to share a booth space. Just because

there are 182 booths and your number is 194, that doesn’t mean you

won’t get in. Some of the artists aren’t there when their number is

called, if that’s the case, the next one is called, so that’s another

way of getting in.

“It’s about as fair as we can make it,” Barber said. “Usually

everyone gets in, but at this hour [10:30 a.m.] it’s a bit tense. The

Sawdust always tries to accommodate everyone and offers incentives to

share.”

Douglas Miller didn’t seem to be stressed about a thing. He had a

joker’s hat on and called himself the booth fairy.

“This will be my 33rd summer, I’ve been here so long the trees

have grown 10, maybe 20 feet,” Miller said. “Today is the tensest of

the days, everyone is anticipating, it’s gut wrenching for some who

think that someone is going to take their place or get bumped.”

Miller said he has been taking pictures of the Sawdust and Laguna

Beach all these years and has about a half a million photos. He’s

also accustomed to having a paintbrush in his hand and he hasn’t

missed a day in eight and half years.

Last summer was extremely prolific, he sold 500 paintings, and so

this year he is armed with 1,500 that he’s already created.

“The Sawdust, in its 71st year, had a fence put around it,” Miller

said. “Before that it was a place to go and protest the war and be

hippies in ’69 and ’70.”

Things have changed yet stayed the same in some ways. Good luck to

everyone -- I hope it went well. I’m excited for opening day.

* SUZIE HARRISON is a reporter for the Laguna Beach Coastline

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