Shake off the Sawdust

Suzie Harrison

If Tuesday night’s success at the Sawdust Art Festival’s preview

night was indicative of how prosperous the summer show will be --

then the artists and staff should be thrilled.

More than 5,000 people attended throughout the evening to see the

38th annual show, which showcases 202 Laguna Beach artists, 26 of

whom are new this year.

The local artists create original works representing every medium

including blown glass, sculpture, ceramics, photography, watercolor,

jewelry, hand-painted silk, woodwork, mixed media, printmaking and

more.

Longtime Sawdust exhibitor Tracey Moscaritolo described the night

as magical.

“I think it’s wonderful. A lot of people [artists] seemed to open

up their booth. It seems more spacious,” Moscaritolo said. “You can

see other people’s work.”

Marketing and community relations director Rebecca Meekma echoed

her sentiments.

The Sawdust exemplifies the character and personality of Laguna

Beach with these resident artists, some of whom are nationally and

internationally known.

Ryan Gourley’s poster design, “Night at the Sawdust” was chosen to

represent the festival this year and has received rave reviews.

“It’s like a tribute to Vincent Van Gough -- I keep studying him,”

Gourley said. “Laguna Beach has a certain romantic essence about it,

and I wanted to represent it like he did.”

Gourley, who first exhibited at the festival in 1970, used one of

Van Gough’s favorite haunts as a mode, and paralleled Laguna with

that for the piece.

The art festival is on a three-acre eucalyptus grove and situated

in the canyon, which lends to its natural beauty. Many of the plein

air painters are drawn to the scenic backdrop.

Brett Keast was born in Laguna, and for 28 years has exhibited his

multi-faceted art. He works in pen and ink, watercolor, tropical

painting and T-shirt design. Keast has also written and illustrated a

book.

“I’ve made up hula stockings, they sell as much in the summer as

in the winter,” Keast said. “I’m all over the map.”

He also creates bamboo mailboxes.

“I like sitting down here, relaxing and drawing,” Keast said.

“I’ve been working so hard, it’s nice by the waterfall.”

Donita Lloyd has exhibited in the show for 12 years. She took the

bold jump to be an artist in 1992 when she financed her start-up on

her credit card. What started as what she thought of as a risky

$3,000 investment has proven to be quite lucrative.

“I’ve made hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years,” Lloyd

said. “I had to learn the business in spite of myself and have come

up the ranks.”

She said she steadily plodded along and didn’t make all that money

at once. She praises her friends who gave her the encouragement to

“go for it,” saying “You can do it.”

Now she has traveled the world painting and surfing and attributes

that to her success at the Sawdust.

“The Sawdust has bought my house, my car, my trips, everything --

the Sawdust has done everything for me.”

Besides the exhibits, the festival offers complimentary art

classes, children’s art activities and artist demonstrations

including the popular glass blowing demos.

Meekma said the entertainment lineup is huge this year with 85

acts booked to perform on the three different stages on the grounds.

The Sawdust also has three cafes, two snack bars and one saloon,

which boasts 20 different beers and six choices of fine wine.

Tickets are $12 for a season pass or $6.50 per day for adults,

seniors are $5.50 per day, children 6 to 12 are $2 per day and

children 5 and younger are free. A pass that includes the summer and

winter show is $16. Laguna Beach residents are free every Thursday

from 5 to 10 p.m. The Sawdust Art Festival is open every day from 10

a.m. to 10 p.m. today through Sept. 5; Sunday it closes as 6 p.m.

The Sawdust Art Festival is at 935 Laguna Canyon Road. For

information, call (949) 494-3030 or online at https://www.sawdustart

festival.org.