Dude, who stole my summer?

SUZIE HARRISON

The summer is skating by and I need it to slow down a little.

One thing I haven’t had the chance to take advantage of, and I

constantly promise myself I will, is the free art classes at the

festivals. It’s an incredible opportunity to learn art from artists

who are well known in their medium.

HANGING AT THE FOA

I think the Festival of Arts has never been better or more

happening. From the quality of artists and their work, to all the

events and goings on, Sharbie and company certainly deserve snaps.

If you haven’t seen “Legally Blonde” or weren’t in a sorority,

snaps are considered a high form of praise.

It’s great cruising around the festival and chatting with some of

my favorite artists.

Photographer Pat Whiteside Phillips is back at the festival after

a hiatus. Her other career is teaching.

Whiteside Phillips thinks that more and more the people who come

to the Festival of Arts are looking for something other than a

marketplace and really want to be educated.

“I think that the docent program really is successful for that,”

Whiteside Phillips said. “I believe, and a lot of people I talk to

do, that people really want to explore art for themselves and are

looking to explore their own creativity in some art form.”

She said their real vision for the Festival of Arts is to help

people express themselves and educate them on the vast variety of art

available.

Julita Jones is always a treat. She exhibits at both the Sawdust

Art Festival and Festival of Arts and is the president of Community

Art Project, which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the

acquisition, both temporary and permanent, of public art for Laguna

Beach. Jones is a wildlife artist who has traveled the world to study

and experience her subjects. She has exciting stories about her

travels and frequently enjoys visits to Africa.

She has been an exhibitor at the festival since 1970, except for one year of absence to take her family to Europe.

She said that this year’s highlight at the festival was “Walk on

the Wild Side.” On that day Chris Hoy had exotic animals on the

grounds. People were able to be photographed with them or could try

to draw or paint them.

“Animal day was great, I always love that,” Jones said.

Tonya Littlewolf was the highlight with her wolf Apache, who was

in the movie “Dances with Wolves.” She also brought three cubs. Being

able to talk to her and hold one of the cubs was one of the

highlights of my summer.

Mixed-media artist Mia Moore has been exhibiting at the festival

for 11 years.

“Generally sales have been quite good. It’s kind of on an

upswing,” Moore said. “People are feeling good, despite concerns

about the economy.”

THINGS ARE BEACHY AT THE FESTIVAL

Don’t miss the opportunity to experience one of the fun theme days

at the festival with the inaugural “Surf’s Up” event noon to 4 p.m.

Saturday. It’s a celebration of living the Laguna life.

It will be a full-scale adventure with sounds from the surf band

“The Eliminators,” and an exploration into surf culture from

surfboards to beachwear and art.

There will also be a host of educational activities, with tide

pool and marine life programs and a hands-on exhibit of live coastal

creatures.

Surf artist Gary Prettyman will be featured. He’s a talented

artist, and because he created a work of Kelly Slater I got the

opportunity to meet the surf God last year. Thanks Gary!

Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for seniors and students, and

include the surf festivities. Laguna residents get in free every day.

The festival is at 650 Laguna Canyon Road. Information: (949)

494-1145.

* SUZIE HARRISON is a reporter for the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. She may be reached at (949) 494-4321 or

suzie.harrison@latimes.com.