Tied and true

Suzie Harrison

The last four years, artists at the Festival of Arts have really

enjoyed tying one on and have been lauded by the community for doing

so. Their intentions weren’t hedonistic but acts of philanthropy.

Each year, artists are given a blank white tie as a canvas to

create an original piece of artwork that will be auctioned at the

Tie-One-On event July 17.

The auction was created by longtime community caregiver Anne

England, a Laguna Beach artist and festival exhibitor, to generate

money for the Artists in Need Fund -- a fund to help artists who have

suffered serious illness or economic hardship.

“I expect every artist to do it -- over the years they have all

made wonderful ties and have really knocked themselves out,” England

said. “Where else do you see a project with all these different

people given the same concept, yet each one finishing with a unique

project of their own?”

The result is as diverse as the artists, with every medium

represented.

“It crosses borders and makes people stretch out of their own

medium,” England said. “Artists are a very competitive bunch.”

She said each day the artists would check out the competition and

try to top the other.

Jewelry artist Luciano Bortone has been in the festival for six

years.

“Basically, because I am a glass smith, I am limited to what I can

do,” Bortone said. “Last year, I did earrings on Betty Boop. This

year, I printed my daughter’s hand on a tie, and the ring is in

14-carat yellow gold with opal and Australian black jade.”

“Tie-One-On” is an excellent cause to be able to help fellow

artists in trouble, he added.

“All of [the ties] really are works of art,” Bortone said. “You

can’t really put a value on something like this when it’s to benefit

a person in need.”

Twelve-year exhibitor Scott Young has participated every year. He

does ceramics specializing in American-style raku.

“The tie is all made out of clay,” Young said. “The process allows

for the crackling effect and the black-clay surface.”

He said he creates a piece for the fundraiser because he knows it

has helped a few artists in the past deserving of it and that some

day he might need it.

Second-year exhibitor Edith Otto created a tie made with two types

of silk, adorned with a wired-ribbon blossom, tentacles and a gold

pearl in the center.

“I do it because it’s a joy to do things that help other people,

small things that might help someone else,” Otto said.

Photographer Steve Nozicka attached slides of some of his works to

his white canvas while sculptor Marsh Scott bucked the actual white

tie, as did many to fit it into their medium -- and made it out of

stainless steel and acrylic.

“The artists have used everything from glass, ceramic, metal,

wood, film, collage and jewelry,” England said. “It’s so clever.”

Watercolorist Jacquie Moffett, a 37-year festival veteran, used a

photo transfer of her watercolor “Field of Poppies” and repeated the

pattern.

“I went over it with acrylic,” Moffett said. “The challenge is

using the tie -- it’s a really fun thing.”

She said many artists don’t have access to funds when illness and

unforeseen tragedies strike.

Susan Rush created a mixed-media piece called “Antsy Corporate

Types” with tiny figurines of men and women in their corporate garb

climbing their way to the top. An empty chair awaits the winner of

the rat race.

England said the auction will have the most creative and exciting

diversity of ties to date.

The ties are on display every day up to the time of the auction at

Tivoli Alley from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Write-in bids start at $50, with

the most expensive piece auctioning for a record $800.

Artist, art commissioner and philanthropist Mike Tauber will

return as the auctioneer for the live auction.

England said they hope to raise at least $15,000. She pointed out

that it is all tax-deductible.

“This is a perfect example of artists helping artists,” Marketing

and Public Relations Director Sharbie Higuchi said. “It’s a

tremendous cause that the Festival of Arts is proud to support.”

The Festival of Arts is at 650 Laguna Canyon Road. For more

information about Tie-One-On, call (949) 494-1145. Admission for

Laguna Beach residents is always free. Others are invited to attend

with the price of admission.