Imagination set free

Suzie Harrison

Thinking, creating and enjoying will merge together Saturday as the

Laguna Art Museum and the Festival of Arts host art activities as

part of the Imagination Celebration.

The event, now in its 19th year, is free and centered around art

programs in Orange County. It is designed to inspire and challenge

children’s imaginations through art.

Sophia Tupy, 11, of Laguna Beach is part of No Square Theatre’s

youth theater, “Square Roots,” which will perform songs from the

recent presentation of “Little Shop of Horrors” at 2 p.m. at the

Festival of Arts.

“I think the Imagination Celebration is important because it’s a

really good way for kids to express themselves through the arts,”

Sophia said. “I think it’s really great that they’re including lots

of different arts because it gives kids a lot of options.”

The museum’s events are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the festival’s

are from noon to 4 p.m. with a free tram service starting at noon at

the festival grounds to allow participation at both locations.

Laguna Art Museum’s theme this year is “Renaissance Old:

Renaissance New,” which coincides with the countywide theme,

“Renaissance 2004.”

Museum Director Bolton Colburn said that the children really like

their annual treasure hunt.

“It’s pretty cool, it gets the kids to really interact with the

art and the space in a different way,” Colburn said. “It gives them a

specific task to do and forces the kid’s to really look at it in

detail.”

The hunt involves a series of questions that motivate the children

to find the answers throughout the exhibits and in turn, they learn

and win a prize, he said.

Part of the activities at the museum will be led by Laguna

Outreach Community Arts artists Mada Leach and Carol Swanson.

“We’re doing printmaking with the children,” Leach said. “Since

it’s Mother’s Day the next day, it’s timely, quick and easy.”

Leach feels that art is essential in everyone’s life.

“It’s all about communication and all about personal ideas and

what you want to communicate,” Leach said.

Other hands-on projects include “Flash Back -- Flash Forward,”

where children can create a self-portrait using symbols that the

Renaissance artists would use.

The California Choreographers Dance Festival has commissioned a

performance by the Nanette Brodie Dance Theatre and a hip-hop recital

by the Velocity Dance Troupe. The California choreographers will also

be teaching dance classes at the Festival of Arts.

Kimberly Bixler Leeds of the dance festival said that the most

important part of this event is the collaboration of artistic events

for children free of cost. The classes at the festival are at 1 and 3

p.m.

“We’re putting our arms, legs and feet in full throttle,” Leeds

said. “It’s important to introduce arts to children. It means arts

are going to continue to live.”

Performances by the children’s honors choir from El Morro and Top

of the World will be at the museum.

“I think one of the greatest things is that it makes the museum

more real to the kids,” Colburn said.

The activities and interaction breaks down the normal barriers at

the museum and makes it more real, he added, giving children a sense

of ownership and pride.

“It’s a pretty special day for the museum’s art program,” Colburn

said. “We really sort of turn the museum over to the kid’s in a way

and make it their day.”

The Festival of Arts’ theme is “Imagine It! Create It!”

“There will be hands-on art workshops, interactive children’s

dance classes with the California Choreographers Dance Festival and a

children’s musical performance from No Square Theatre,” said special

events director Susan Davis. “Bring the whole family.”

Artist Anne England volunteers every year to teach printmaking.

“It’s a wonderful thing, we had about 200 kids make prints last

year,” England said. “It gives children who haven’t been exposed to

different aspects of art and artists a chance to meet with them -- it

gives them a new perspective.”

England likes that it educates the children and they get to go

home with their own works of art.

“The kids have such a great time,” England said. “You don’t have

to be 7-years-old to go and have fun.”

Other professional Festival of Arts artists will be teaching their

area of expertise including hand-coloring photography, watercolors,

chalk drawing, soft sculpture and jewelry making.

“We’re very happy to be a part of the Imagination Celebration of

Orange County,” Davis said. “It is a perfect match with the Festival

of Art’s mission to support the arts and art education.”

Davis said the event offers children exposure to a variety of art

forms and to meet and work with Festival of Arts artists.

Festival public relations director Sharbie Higuchi said another

favorite is the opportunity to see some of the Pageant of the Masters

stage sets from previous years, up-close and personal.

For more information about the museum’s activities, call 494-8971,

and at the festival, call 494-1145. Laguna Art Museum is at 307 Cliff

Drive, and Festival of Arts is at 650 Laguna Canyon Road.