Art in the name of education

BARBARA DIAMOND

The weather was cool, but the bidding was hot at the 14th annual

Collection Choice event held at the Laguna Beach College of Art and

Design.

A total of 95 original paintings, drawings, sculptures and

hand-blown glass were donated to the raffle and auction. The event

raised about $45,000. Proceeds will provide financial assistance to

promising students.

“Even Michelangelo and da Vinci needed patrons,” fine arts student

Vanessa Roth told the audience of college supporters and bargain

hunters. “It’s inspiring to know there is a world of patrons to

encourage young artists. We couldn’t do it without you.”

Lottery tickets cost $100, which included dinner catered by

Sundried Tomato and eligibility for the auction of selected pieces.

Additional lottery tickets were for sale and sales boomed as the

participants previewed the donated works, displayed in the college

galleries.

Arts Commissioner Linda Dietrich had her eye on three pieces in

particular, but she didn’t luck out. Jan Sattler’s “ Fish Story” was

the 11th pick. Joel Montgomery chose Marv Johnson’s gray and white

stone sculpture in the next round. Nancy Beverage’s “Itsy Bitsy” was

picked off a few rounds later.

“Jan’s was my favorite piece in the whole show,” said artist

Julita Jones, who also contributed a piece to the lottery.

Lottery ticket holders were given lists of all the pieces so they

could number their preferences and track them as the lottery

progressed.

Lots of groans could be heard when a piece favored by many was

taken off the board. The groaning was particularly loud when Betty

Shelton’s “Road to Laguna” was chosen by Steve Carr.

But even the last piece selected was a bargain. “Red Hair, Green

Sweater” by Lu Campbell was a $1,000 prize winner in a juried show.

Top dollar in the live auction was bid by LaDonna Eichenberg for

Tom Swimm’s “A New Dawn.” Swimm boosted the bidding when it flagged

by offering to specially dedicate the painting. He then joked he

would increase the value of the piece by dying next year. His wife

wasn’t laughing, but his kibitzing goosed the bidding higher -- all

for a good cause.

Swimm made the winning bid on Carol Kiefer Police’s “Portrait of

Karole.”

The second highest bid was for Dong Kingman’s “Study of Banyan

Trees,” donated by college trustee emeritus Leon Lyon.

Driftwood developer Steve Vliss was top bidder for Robert Schaar’s

“Venice Canal.” College President Alan Barkley laid claim to Wade

Reynold’s “Simple Story.” Master of ceremonies Dan Walsh had put in a

bid on the piece during the silent auction, which set the opening

bids for the live auction.

“I’ll come and visit,” said Walsh, a college trustee.

The live auction included 12 items. Brad Coleman, Roger Armstrong,

John Eagle, Ron Brown and John Barber contributed to the bonus

drawing rounds

Arts Commissioner Mike Tauber said his portrait of Marilyn Monroe

in the auction is a descendant of the “Book Worm” he painted years

ago on the walls of Top of the World Elementary School Library.

Tauber used little ant-shaped marks instead of brush strokes to

create the portrait.

Other pieces in the live auction were by Wade Reynolds, Julio and

Lisa Pagan, Tony DeLap, Mark Jacobucci and Kaleb Wyman.

Wyman, whose “Laguna College of Art and Design” brought a bid of

$750, is a recent graduate of the college, one of the 85 in the

largest graduating class ever.

“As we have grown in size, we have grown in national stature,”

President Barkley said. “But we have also grown closer to this

wonderful community.”

The school was founded in 1961. It is one of only six art and

design schools in California accredited by the National Assn. of

Schools of Art and Design and the Western Assn. of Schools and

Colleges.

Bachelor’s of fine arts degrees are offered in painting, drawing,

graphic design, illustration and feature animation. The mission of

the private, not-for-profit college is to train students as creative

artists and designers.

About 80% of the school’s 300 students rely on financial

assistance from the Collectors Choice.

Participants -- as donors or bidders or both -- included Joan

Corman, Jennifer Griffiths, Anne Weiler, Carol Reynolds, Festival of

Arts honcho Steve Brezzo, college trustee Bonnie Livingston, John

Campbell, former Councilman Wayne Peterson, and college trustee Terry

Smith and Julie Bondi, both of whom served on the event committee

chaired by Nancy Milby.

Also: Cindy Prewitt, whose choice was made by a proxy; Martha

Lydick, president of the boards of the Laguna Beach Friends of the

Library and the Laguna Beach Taxpayers Assn.; Bob Dietrich, board

member of the Festival of Arts; and Anne Morris, executive director

of the Chamber of Commerce, suitable gowned in a kimono from Wearable

Art.

STARS AND STRIPES

Airman Patrick J. Hill has graduated from basic military training

at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Tex.

During the six weeks of training, Hill studied the Air Force

mission, organization, military customs and courtesies; received

physical training and was trained in rifle marksmanship, field

exercise and human relationships. Airmen who complete the training

earn credits toward an associate’s degree though the Community

College of the Air Force. Hill is the son of Cynthia Raynoha of

Laguna Beach.

PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

Laguna Beach resident Violet P. Woodhouse has been named honorary

co-chair and member of the National Republican Congressional

Committee’s Business Advisory Council. Woodhouse also received the

National Leadership Award for her dedication to the Republican Party.

“This group is active in creating change that benefits businesses,

and I am proud to be part of that,” said Woodhouse, a nationally

recognized authority on the legal and financial aspects of divorce.

The council advocates a progressive, conservative pro-business

agenda, council spokespeople said.

* OUR LAGUNA is a regular feature of the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. Write to Barbara Diamond, P.O. Box 248, Laguna Beach, CA

92652, hand-deliver to 384 Forest Ave., Suite 22; call 494-4321 or

fax 494-8979.