BRIEFLY IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

New gallery opens in North Laguna

Whelan Galleries, 353-A N. Coast Highway, opened yesterday with a Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting.

The gallery features the works of Patrick Whelan, a Laguna College of Art & Design honors graduate who began his career in 1989 as a commercial illustrator with clients such as Random House, Bantam-Doubleday-Dell, Harper Collins, Simon & Schuster, Tor Books and A&E; Television.

Additionally, his work is in private collections across the United States and in Europe.

Whelan Galleries is a collaborative partnership between Patrick Whelan and Bobby Jones.

For more information, call (949) 494-5076 or visit www.whelangalleries.com.

Awareness film to feature stars

Grammy Award-winning Dave Matthews Band will contribute songs and music to Laguna-based giant screen film producers MacGillivray Freeman Films’ Grand Canyon Adventure, an IMAX film that raises awareness about world water issues.

The film is slated for release on World Water Day, March 22, 2008, and stars environmental advocate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and anthropologist and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Wade Davis on a river-rafting expedition down the Colorado River that highlights the world’s looming freshwater crisis.

For more information, visit www.grandcanyonadventurefilm.com.

Gallery features sculptor’s works

Azali on Forest will open a special showing of work by internationally acclaimed sculptor Paige Bradley, with a gala reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 10, followed by an opportunity to meet Bradley from noon to 4 p.m. Aug. 11.

The event will take place at Azali Fine Art Gallery, 220 Forest Ave., and will feature Bradley’s latest additions as well as her earlier works.

For more information, call (949) 376-4244 or visit www.azali.com.

Eclectic string ensemble to play

Laguna Beach Live! will present Darol Anger’s Republic of Strings in concert 8 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Laguna Beach Artists’ Theatre, 625 Park Ave.

From Scandinavia to New Orleans “” with a dash of Brazil and a dram of Celtic “” the Republic of Strings explores the very root of world music traditions.

A mingling of bluegrass, jazz, classical, pop and various world musics is played by Darol Anger and Scott Nygaard with young string players.

Reserved seats are $25 and $20 for adults and $10 for students 21 and under, and can be purchased at www.lagunabeachlive.org or by phone or in person at Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, (949) 497-2787.