Take advantage of what city has to offer

The possibilities to experience art in Laguna Beach are an endless

well of exhibits and happenings. These upcoming months remain true to

that.

LESSONS OF THE FESTIVAL ARTISTS

The Festival of Arts is accepting artists’ application for this

summer’s show through Feb. 28. Marketing and Public Relations

Director Sharbie Higuchi suggests that potential applicants take

advantage of the Festival of Arts free seminar on how to best

photograph artwork from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday.

Higuchi said submission of slides and filling out an application

are the first steps to apply.

The seminar is a combo platter of information to help interested

applicants and will be taught by long-time festival artist and

educator Pat Sparkuhl. He’s an incredibly talented, creative artist

and a wonderful Lagunan, whose work is nationally acclaimed. I have

had the opportunity to tour his studio and home and talk with

Sparkuhl about his work.

The seminar will focus on the festival’s jurying process, how to

identify the best slides to submit and will go over how jurors review

the submitted slides.

Tom Lamb, also a festival exhibitor, accomplished photographer and

instructor at Saddleback College will facilitate too.

Sparkuhl will review the application process, explain the clear

and concise ways of photographing artwork and give some helpful

resources. The program will offer a question and answer session too.

The festival is a regional exhibit and artists must show proof of

residency to be eligible. Jurying fees are $25 per medium submitted.

To find out eligibility requirements or get an application, call

(949) 464-4234.

Slides will be reviewed for the initial phase of jurying March 5.

Selected applicants will move onto the second phase, the physical

jurying process, March 19.

Of course, all art must be original and done by the applying

artist, not reproduced. The Festival of Arts will run July 3 to Sept.

1. The seminar is on the festival grounds, 650 Laguna Canyon Road.

ART WALK IS HAVING A PARTY

Mark your calendar for Feb. 3, the seventh anniversary of First

Thursdays Art Walk.

Thank God for Cultural Arts Manager Sian Poeschl’s idea and

fortitude to create Laguna’s First Thursdays Art Walk. Poeschl is

instrumental to Laguna’s art community on so many levels and should

be applauded for all she has done for the arts. She is also an

incredible artist and Sawdust Art Festival exhibitor.

To find out more about First Thursdays Art Walk go to

https://www.firstthursdaysartwalk.com or call (949) 683-6871.

THE GALA IS ON

AIDS Services Foundation Orange County makes a splash every fall

with its popular fundraiser “Splash,” held on Sept. 25 last year.

AIDS Services Foundation raised about $400,000 at that event to help

those living with HIV/AIDS.

Hopes are high to raise a lot of money with the winter fundraiser

“Art for AIDS IV: An Evening with Cybill Shepherd” on Feb. 5. at the

St. Regis Resort Monarch Beach. Art for AIDS is a fundraiser for AIDS

Services Foundation Orange County and Laguna Art Museum and offers

the biggest celebrity event in Laguna Beach.

Tickets range from $285 to $1,000 for individuals and $10,000 to

$15,000 for tables of ten. For tickets or information, call Laguna

Art Museum at (949) 494-8971 Ext. 200 or AIDS Services Foundation at

(949) 809-8760.

* SUZIE HARRISON is a reporter for the Laguna Beach Coastline

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

suzie.harrison@latimes.com.