OUR LAGUNA:Martinis and art mix well

“A Night at the Bank” paid big dividends for the Community Art Project.

The CAP fancy-dress fundraiser, held Saturday night at Wells Fargo Bank, grossed about $30,000. The event included wine and martini bars, a fortune teller, live and silent auctions, and a catered dinner.

“It was a really fun group there, and it was great to get that many people in one room and raise money at the same time,” said Arts Commissioner Mike Tauber, who served as master of ceremonies. “And clearly there were bargains for the bidders. Gary Fishman’s piece, which was valued at $5,000, was bought for $2,000.”

Net proceeds will benefit CAP projects.

CAP is a nonprofit community group that believes everyone would profit if art played a bigger part in our daily lives. The group’s goal is to increase the visibility and appreciation of quality public art in Laguna: the Banking on Art project on the upper floors of the Wells Fargo Bank rotunda, which CAP curates or temporary installations. The Marlo Bartels sculpture that now graces the front of the Laguna Beach Library was first seen at the Bank of America parking lot, installed by CAP.

Works by more than 50 artists were donated for the auctions. The pieces were exhibited at the bank, starting Feb. 10, when CAP hosted a preview reception, and run through Friday.

Donations included pieces by Ralph Tarzian, Melinda Jones, Paul Darrow, Lu Campbell, Roger Folk, Tom Lamb, Hedy Buzan, James Koch, Arts Commissioner Jan Sattler and Valerie Gorrell, one of the two artists who created the bench in front of the Laguna Beach Library, dedicated on Thursday.

“Jan’s the one who told me to apply for the [bench] competition,” Gorrell said.

Other donations included a symmetric little mixed-media collage titled “Centered,” by Carolyn Machado, and works by Scott Moore, Karen Petty, Rick Lang, Kate Riegle,Tauber and Mada Leach, who brought a class of students.

Polina Hrym sponged paint on her body and pressed herself onto the outline of a shell to apply color. Pat Sparkuhl’s “A Fisheye View of the Dining Room” was a companion piece to his piece last year, a view of the dining room looking up, purchased by Michael and Cheryl Kinsman at the behest of son, Nicholas.

“We are supporters of CAP,” the councilwoman said.

Laguna Beach Seniors Inc. board member Pauline Walpin attended the event with Hagen Place Regional Manager Brenda Ruiz.

Walpin was on the original committee that found the funding and support for the affordable-housing project on Mermaid Street for the disabled, with preference given for people living with AIDS.

“We may get funding for art of fish swimming on the side of the building,” Walpin said. “Hagen Place opened in 1996, and at least two of the original tenants still live there.”

Al Roberts, who founded AIDS Services Foundation, also attended “A Night at the Bank.”

CAP President Julita Jones, who chaired the event, and Mayor Toni Iseman welcomed guests

“It is your patriotic duty to bid on this art,” Iseman said, while arm wrestling with Jones for Machado’s piece, which they both wanted.

“Toni got it,” Jones said. “I forgot to go back and put in a bid.”

Jones and Iseman were charmingly gowned in vintage style, as was Linda Goff — often mistaken for Jones, who is her sister.

Even some of the artists dressed in what passed for the ‘30s style.

Sheryl Seltzer, who had a piece in the live auction, wore an aqua silk, almost ankle-length silk dress overlaid with black bead-embroidered net. Joan Corman wore a Gallery of Wearable Art gown.

Bette and CAP board member Ken Anderson wore matching tuxedos. Festival of Arts board member Wayne Baglin looked very ‘30s ex-patriot in a French beret. His wife, Faye, wore a lovely quilted silk jacket she bought at the Sawdust Festival. David Meekma and Gunther Franz were dapper bouncers for the event, pressed into service and tuxedos by their wives.

CAP board members Rebecca Meekma and Clara Franz were on the fundraiser committee, along with Connie Butz, Lee Friedman, Aileen May, Dawn McNamara, Pat Whiteside Phillips (who also donated a piece of her art for the auction) and Larry Zadan. Mary Rabe, Ali Pouretezadi, Colleen Mason and her sister, Connie Murray, checked in guests.

Sponsors of the fundraiser included Bobbi Cox Realty, Laura and Louis Rohl, Susan and Michael Pinto, Carole Reynolds, Ketel One, Angeline-Martin Ray Winery, MacGillivray Freeman Films and the bank, which was turned into a “speakeasy” for the event.

Photographer Don Romero offered a portrait sitting for a $100 donation to CAP. Bonnie Simon provided the classic car at the entrance. Servet Hasan read palms and tarot cards. Kymberly Evans and Rich Callaci entertained with music from the ‘30s.

Dinner was catered by Such a Great Party and included turkey shooters — ground turkey balls and sauce served in shot glasses — Maggie Hempen’s signature hors d’oeuvre. Mashed potatoes and a choice of toppings, served in martini glasses, filled any empty spaces left by miniature sirloin burgers. Bite-sized brownies and lemon tarts topped off the dinner, but the hot tip was the nut brittle made by Tony Hempen.

Among the guests was Mark Chamberlain, who is working on a project that included turning an F16 airplane hanger into a box camera to take the world’s largest gelatin silver print.

“It is 100 by 35 feet,” BC Space Gallery owner Chamberlain said. “To give you an idea, that is about three stories high and about 11 stories long.”

Also in attendance were Bob and Trudy Josephson, chic in a cocktail hat that had belonged to her mother; John Hoover, a CAP and Festival of Arts board member; Ryen and Anne Caen, Village Laguna president; Emanuel Selza; Fred Sattler, Festival of Arts board member; Johanna Felder; Jim Rue and Theresa Khong, a Leach student.