Birdhouse to grace Village Green

Suzie Harrison

The Laguna Beach Arts Commission has chosen a “bird house” sculpture

by Julia Klemek for the Village Green sculpture competition. The

Village Green sculpture site is located in Village Green Park at the

corner of Monterey Street and Catalina Avenue.

The project will be located in a treed area of the park. It was

requested by the sculpture guidelines that the subject should be

inspired by nature, figurative and visually appealing.

Klemek’s 7-foot-tall ceramic sculpture, “Green Man with Red Birds”

will be part person, part tree, and will house birds in its heart.

Klemek explained that children will be able to see the sculpture’s

face when playing nearby.

Finalist Richard Becker’s piece, “Aqua-Man,” is a realistic figure

of a boy in a heroic pose prepared for an adventure into the ocean.

The sculpture would be bronze and mounted on a pedestal.

After each proposal was given, Ann Christoph joined in public

comment. Christoph said she was impressed with both artists but felt

Klemek’s piece was more fitting for the site.

Arts Commission alternate Dora Wexell echoed Christoph’s

sentiments as did commissioners Pat Kollenda, Les Thomas, Terry Smith

and chair Jan Sattler.

Commissioners Mary Ferguson and Nancy Beverage favored “Aqua-Man”

and Mike Tauber was neutral. The vote was taken May 23.

Various arts organization representatives mingled, enjoyed wine

and tasty food at the May 26 inaugural “Celebrate the Arts” event at

Tivoli Too! hosted by the Laguna Beach Alliance for the Arts.

The event’s purpose was to express gratitude to the hotels and

lodging establishments in Laguna Beach for their support of the

Business Improvement District, an added 2% bed tax that helps fund

the Laguna Beach Visitors Bureau and Laguna arts organizations.

“Arts organizations have had the ability to expand their

programming and create innovative off-season events for both visitors

and residents,” Cultural Arts Manager Sian Poeschl said. Laguna

Canyon Artists Open Studio event in May was packed with art

enthusiasts. For the first time, the Canyon Artists teamed with

Laguna College of Art & Design to raise money through a live and

silent auction to benefit the college’s student scholarship fund.

Twenty-five artists donated their work, raising $6,500.