Ready, set, go
EYE ON ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
This weekend is another endurance weekend for art and entertainment
happenings in Laguna -- if it were a sport, I think it could be
compared to the Ironman triathlon except it doesn’t require any
training or grueling bike sprints. Those can be done on the side at
your leisure.
However, the facts are simple that you’ll feel a bit regretful if
you don’t go to the Festival of Arts on Saturday and enjoy Asian Arts
Day then spend Saturday night at the Diane DeBilzan gallery, she will
be hosting an artist reception for William DeBilzan, Louis Longi and
John Geldersman, celebrating their new work.
On Sunday, there’s a virtual whirlwind of things to do such as buy
art at the Sawdust Art Festival’s 17th annual Art Auction, which
commences at noon. All proceeds assist the Benevolence Fund helping
artists during hardship. Also on Sunday, Books Live!, a new, fun
event featuring great literature and celebrities, will be kicked off
at the Festival of Arts, followed by the ever popular “Red Elvises”
returning to the stage at Bluebird Park with their Siberian rock
Sunday evening from 5 to 7 p.m.
I think that means Friday night would be a great time to check out
the latest and greatest exhibits at Laguna Art Museum and then enjoy
a bit o’ art and music at the Sawdust.
Whew, that’s a plethora of happenings to get one’s cardio going.
And if you buy enough art, it will facilitate with strength training.
ASIAN ARTS DAY AT FOA
Marketing and public relations director for the Festival of Arts
Sharbie Higuchi said Asian Arts Day is back by popular demand. The
special event starts at noon and runs to 3 p.m. and brings a little
taste of Asian culture and art to Laguna.
“We offer our festival guests a little bit of everything --
Japanese, Bali, Chinese, Indian, a real variety,” Higuchi said. “It’s
very much a cultural experience and is truly unique and brings the
heart of Asia to Laguna Beach through traditional dance, music, arts
and crafts and costumes.”
Some of the highlights include a Chinese dragon dance, Balinese
dance performance and other workshops and demonstrations. A hands-on
Japanese raku pottery workshop will be part of the fun, as will
hands-on Chinese brush work and a demonstration. Raku is way groovy,
a piece will never turn out the same as another. It gives freedom
form results and the idea of enjoying the process. Monica Dunham
explained the whole concept behind raku and I really dig its
philosophy.
Japanese taiko drummers will be performing -- I can’t wait for
that.
Admission to the Festival of Arts is always free to Laguna Beach
residents. The festival is at 650 Laguna Canyon Road.
I’m a very lucky girl because I live a skip away from the Sawdust
and a couple jumps to the festival, so I visit them as frequently as
possible. Each has a different vibe and are different kinds of shows.
LIVE ART AUCTION
It’s a definite must, the most important plan of the weekend is to
go to the Sawdust Art Festival’s 17th annual Art Auction with all
proceeds going toward the Sawdust Artist Benevolence Fund. Here’s the
skinny -- Sawdust artists donate artwork that is bid on, you buy what
you’ve been wanting all along, and in the process you help out an
artist that is really in need of your support.
The Benevolence Fund has been helping artists who need help
because of health problems or natures wrath, such as the floods or
because of fire and such. The money in the fund is raised by two art
auctions a year at the Sawdust, one of which starts at noon on
Sunday. The fund helps out artists in Laguna Beach in dire need, even
if they are not Sawdust Festival exhibitors -- so go-go-go and
buy-buy-buy. The Sawdust is at 935 Laguna Canyon Road. For
information, call 494-3030.
LAGUNA BEACH FILM SOCIETY
The Laguna Beach Film Society, an organization sponsored by Laguna
Art Museum, is launching its inaugural season Sept. 11. The Laguna
Beach Film Society is offering Charter Memberships with substantial
savings if you join before Sept. 11. Membership includes admission to
each monthly screening and reception, as well as member-only events.
Charter memberships are $125 and $100 for museum members. Without a
membership tickets are $15 per Film Society event/screening.
For further membership information, call the museum at 494-8971,
ext. 200. Laguna Art Museum is at 307 Cliff Drive.
* SUZIE HARRISON is a reporter for the Laguna Beach Coastline
Pilot. She may be reached at 494-4321 or suzie.harrison@latimes.com.
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