Art is in the air

Suzie Harrison

The seasons may not be obvious in Southern California, but there’s a

definite change in the air this time of year in Laguna as artists and

art lovers gather for the festivals.

“The opening of the festivals marks our calendars as the start of

our cultural season of creativity and imagination -- when we get to

see our community expressed through art, music, theater and dance,”

Cultural Arts Department arts coordinator Sian Poeschl said. “When

one truly compares our cultural wealth to other cities in California,

we more than live up to our well-earned reputation as the city of the

arts.”

“Seasons” is this year’s theme for the Pageant of the Masters. The

Pageant is celebrating its 70th anniversary of turning renowned

pieces of art from the 19th and 20th centuries into “living

pictures.”

“Art keeps us in touch with our memories and the emotions we

associate with them,” director Diane Challis Davy said. “‘Seasons’

illustrates ways in which to ‘tell time’ by creating links to other

lives and times and reminding us how far we’ve come.”

Challis Davy said that there will be a wide range of selections

focusing on the individual seasons.

“This year is a more whimsical and fun show, last year was very

serious,” Challis Davy said. “This year focuses on nostalgia,

Americana and the fun of holidays.”

From “Happy New Year,” to “Vintage Valentine” and “Primavera” to

“Endless Summer,” the Pageant takes the viewer through the seasons of

time and change.

The Pageant of the Masters will be performed nightly at 8:30 p.m.

from July 9 through August 29.

Celebrating its 71st anniversary, the Festival of Arts will open

its doors on Sunday and run through Aug. 31. The Festival, hailed as

California’s longest running outdoors fine art exhibition, is a

juried show open to Orange County residents. It consists of 145

world-class artists representing many art mediums. Besides the art

exhibits and availability to purchase art, the Festival has many

themed cultural days, music series, events, programs and workshops

available for children and adults. Laguna Beach residents get in to

the art show free anytime.

Because it’s such a renowned show, there is always a buzz about

who will be exhibiting again and who the new artists are.

Artist J.D. Hansen will be exhibiting at the Festival for the

first time.

“I’m a local, so I know about the Festival. It’s just a part of

everyone’s life,” Hansen said. “To be in the Festival of Arts, oh my

gosh, it felt great when they told me -- I couldn’t believe it, it

was just wonderful.”

When one thinks of Laguna flavor, the Sawdust Art Festival comes

to mind. It is seen as “very Laguna” -- the only artists allowed to

exhibit are Laguna locals. Set in a eucalyptus grove, 195 artists

build their own booths and exhibit and sell their art daily from June

27 through August 31.

Community and Media Relations Manager Rebecca Meekma said that the

Sawdust draws visitors from around the world. Its reputation of being

an esteemed art destination continues to grow since its inception in

1966.

“The Sawdust Art Festival represents all different media from

painting and photography to hand-blown glass and sculpture -- it’s

one-of-a-kind artwork,” Meekma said. “And remember all the artists

live in Laguna Beach. It’s great to see that Laguna Beach is still a

thriving arts community -- we’re still a colony of artists, and the

Sawdust is proud to support these artists.”

Meekma said the Sawdust Festival includes varied art

demonstrations, complimentary art workshops, children’s art

activities and live entertainment.

The Art-A-Fair Festival, which features 124 fine art artists, is

an internationally juried show. Artists demonstrate and create in

their own booths. Opening June 27, the show runs daily through Aug.

31 and offers a variety of two- and three-dimensional art.

Throughout the summer, the Art-A-Fair offers lectures, artist

demonstrations, free workshops and children’s activities.

For more information about the Pageant of the Masters or Festival

of Arts, call 494-1145 or go to www.foapom.com. For information on

the Sawdust Art Festival, call 494-3030 or go to

www.sawdustartfestival.org. And for information on the Art-A-Fair,

call 494-4514 or go to www.art-a-fair.com.