Artists care for their own

The 19th annual Sawdust Art Festival Benevolence Fund art auction

will be held from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday.

“The Sawdust Artist Benevolence fund shows what a family the

artists who exhibit at the Sawdust have become,” community and media

relations manager Rebecca Meekma said. “They created it and had the

heart to include all artists of Laguna Beach as eligible for the

fund.”

Meekma reiterated that any Laguna Beach artist who makes a living

from their art can apply for the fund; all business related to the

fund is kept in strict confidence.

Fund trustee and treasurer John Eagle said about 200 artists will

participate with many art media up for auction.

“There will be two-dimensional art both original pieces and

reproductions, ceramics, glass art, jewelry and clothing,” Eagle

said. “And something unusual usually comes in -- one artist is

donating a handmade guitar.”

Mixed media works will also be available.

Eagle said recipients have usually faced surgery, cancer or a

severe accident or natural disaster such as the June 1 Bluebird

Canyon landslide.

The fund was also used after the 1993 fire, which engulfed more

than 400 houses, and the 1998 El Nino mudslides.

“During the 1993 fires we helped 16 artists, and four in the

subsequent mud slides,” Eagle said. “Most recently two artists had

red-tagged homes in the landslide. One is a Sawdust Art Festival

exhibitor; the other one is not but lives in Laguna Beach so she

qualified.”

Initially the fund was in motion as a loan that recipients would

have to pay back Eagle said.

“In 1993 as the auction started to build, we brought it into the

Sawdust umbrella and opened it to all artists in Laguna,” Eagle said.

“Artists were delighted to find out about eligibility. Typically

artists don’t have immediate income available for the first two or

three months -- that’s where we help, getting money to them

immediately.”

He said for the last four or five years about half who were

awarded funds were artists outside the Sawdust.

“We’re the biggest art community in the country outside of New

York,” Eagle said. “We’re hoping to raise $20,000; we’ve paid out

over $100,000 to more than 68 artists now.”

The allocation is a maximum of $1,000 per grant, though artists

can apply for up to five grants.

Joie Jacomb has been a Sawdust exhibitor since 1969 and has

donated a piece for the auction each year, as well as volunteering

for the event since 1999.

Jacomb is a traditional and impressionistic painter, who works in

many media. This year she is contemplating donating a Shoji screen.

“I usually give a very nice original painting, something that will

titillate the public and get them active,” Jacomb said. “It’s

important because we need to take care of our own.”

She said the prices are very reasonable and great for purchasing

holiday gifts.

Artist Karen Petty, who creates oil on linen pieces, has been a

Sawdust exhibitor for 17 years.

“This year I am going to donate an original -- that’s how

important I think this is,” Petty said. “I’ve donated every single

year. It’s important to help other artists facing hardship.”

Contemporary impressionist Charleine Guy has also exhibited at the

Sawdust for 17 years and donated work to each auction.

“I think it’s great to have a Benevolence Fund for people in need;

it can happen to any one of us as it has in the past,” Guy said.

“It’s amazing how generous artists are -- what goes around comes

around.”

Brian Allan artist reception Saturday

Post modern abstractionist and Sawdust Art exhibitor Brian Allan’s

newest exhibit will open at Spa Josephine with an artist reception

from 4 to 7 p.m. tomorrow. Allan will donate 25% of all sales through

the Sept. 30 exhibit to the Laguna College of Art and Design Student

Scholarship Fund.

“Over the years I have been fortunate to receive assistance from

friends and family to further my pursuit as a working artist,” Allan

said. “Donating to the Student Scholarship Fund is a rewarding

experience for me because it benefits students who are much less

fortunate than I was.”

Allan’s work is also currently on exhibit at Sandstone Gallery

through October and is represented by the Ross Watkins Gallery in

Palm Desert.