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.
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