Earning their place

Suzie Harrison

Parents and their children were milling around the art studios

studying the works that drew their attention. It’s not the first year

for the exhibit, yet each year there is much anticipation to see the

creative pieces and the different artists who compete in the annual

“Color it Orange,” a juried student art exhibit at Laguna College of

Art and Design.

The 30-year legacy of encouraging artistic expression among school

children in Orange County from kindergarten to 12th grade, opened

March 21 with an artist reception and scholarship award ceremony.

Ten high school students received scholarships to attend a

Portfolio Development Class at the college, including Samantha Grant

and Ryan Hedder of Laguna Beach.

Laguna artist Kate Mayer, 7, had family and friends admiring her

piece, “Red Faced Goddess,” which was an ornate mask that could be

held up to the face -- it had an Italian carnevale quality to it.

“We used paint and a stick, added these things, added hair and

painted it,” Mayer said.

She said she hadn’t been an artist that long, but thinks it’s a

lot of fun.

“I felt really happy and excited that my art was accepted,” Kate

said.

The show is the most extensive youth art exhibition in Orange

County with 17 school districts and 140 public and private schools

participating.

More than 4,500 works are delivered to be reviewed, from that 600

are juried into the exhibit.

Fellow Laguna artist Paige Toro, 8, called her piece “The Flower

Queen.”

“I put paper mache on it, painted it and put all these decorations

on it -- beads and stuff,” Paige said. “I chose these colors because

I had to pick complimentary colors, so I thought yellow would be

good.”

She pointed out the ornate use of beads and feathers as well.

The exhibit was organized by grade level with like age groups in

the same studio, making it easier to see the different peer groups --

and the techniques learned as they progressed.

Halvern Logan, 10 from Irvine did a piece called “Cityscape,” a

vibrant piece showing a night scene with the architecture coming

alive with color.

“I just painted a building, painting one on top of the other and

got the idea,” Halvern said. “I added more paint and put on the

glitter and other things. I got the idea for color because it’s

supposed to be like night time, so I used purples and rich colors.”

He pointed out the shiny, luminescent color he put in the windows

for light and use of paint to create light in other areas. He said he

thought of Paris when he created his piece, because it’s where he was

born and it’s his favorite city.

Brian Wilson, 18, from Santa Ana was excited to be chosen.

“It’s my first year to be in the show, my teacher thought one of

my pieces was good and should be in the show,” Brian said. “It was

kind of a surprise for me to be here.”He made a piece out of earthen

clay.

“It didn’t take long for me to think of it, I thought it was an

original idea,” Brian said. Avalon Scopellite, 13, from San Clemente

created two pieces that were selected. One is called “The Secret

Door” and it’s a silk patik.

“I wanted to do a surreal picture and came up with the idea when I

went out of the classroom to the hallway to get a drink,” Avalon

said. “As I was outside the doorway, and after I took my hand of the

doorknob ... I saw the keyhole.”

She contemplated the magical qualities of looking into a different

world and crated an ethereal view.

“It’s not realistic,” Avalon said. “You wouldn’t really be able to

open the door and see it -- it’s kind of mythical.”

Other Laguna Beach students who participated are: Will Bonsey,

Justin Botros, Seuchelle Bradley, Ali Crowley, Sean Cunningham, Nadia

Demilly-Otteson, Erin Fusco, Dustin Howard, Ariel Jackson, Zachary

Kluver, Samantha Kruger, Anika Larsen, Siena Martin, Riley McMahon,

Meredith Nilsen, Madelynne Nokes, Kitty Otterholt, Colin Peterson,

David Pinzon, Nolan Plant, Russell Sears, Michael Selevan, Laura

Stout and Elliot Whalen. The exhibit runs through Sunday at Laguna

College of Art and Design at 2222 Laguna Canyon Road. For

information, call (949) 376-6000.