BRIEFLY IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Art-A-Fair juries works from many areas

Artists recently flocked to the Boys & Girls Clubs to participate in the jurying process for this year’s Art-A-Fair.

More than 100 hopefuls submitted their work in two- and three-dimensional media, ranging from textiles and sculpture to photography and paintings.

Celebrating its 42nd season this year, the show will run nine weeks, from June 27 to Aug. 31.

Artists traveled from Orange, Los Angeles, San Diego and Riverside Counties, as well as many other states, including Hawaii, Nebraska, Texas, New York, Arizona, Washington, and Nevada. The artist whose work came the farthest is from Canada.

After all the applications were processed, the nine-person jury — consisting of professional fine artists and master craftsmen — spent most of the day viewing art previously submitted by e-mail, and that which was brought in that morning.

Each entrant can submit up to three original pieces, and jurors use a point system that rewards excellence in conception, execution and presentation.

“This is such an exciting and satisfying day. Once again, it has been demonstrated that our reputation as a summer venue for fine art and artists has continued to expand outward. The quality of work we saw was truly outstanding. I don’t envy the jury having to make the decisions they were called upon to make,” four-year Art-A-Fair president Rich “Scooter” Brewer said.

Van Cliburn winner to play in Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach Live! Will present the first place winner of the 2007 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs, Drew Mays, in concert at 8 p.m. April 5 at the Artists’ Theatre, 625 Park Ave.

In addition to winning the First Prize Award, Dr. Mays also won the Audience Award and the Best Performance of a Work from the Romantic Era.

Mays’ program in Laguna will include Mephisto Waltz by Liszt, part of his winning performance in the Van Cliburn Final Round, as well as works by Rachmaninoff, Beethoven and Chopin.

Concert tickets are $25 for center orchestra; $20 for rear and far sides, and $10 for students, 21 & under. Tickets are available at www.lagunabeachlive.org or through the Laguna Playhouse at (949) 497.2787.

For more information, call (949) 715-9713 and www.lagunabeachlive.org.

Laguna Art Museum schedules art book sale

Laguna Art Museum’s library is selling art books and exhibition catalogs to the public on the Art Walk’s First Thursday Night on March 6. The books offered are not part of the library’s collection but are either duplicate copies, gift books not in the museum’s focus, or new books acquired from a book and catalog exchange program with other museums.

The library’s unique sale of collectible, gently used, books features work from artists such as David Hockney, Jean Dubuffet, Pablo Picasso and many more. Many of these books are hard-to-acquire, out of print exhibition catalogs; all are discounted. Arrive early for the best selection.

All proceeds support the museum’s library.

For more information, contact Carole Reynolds, Laguna Art Museum librarian, at (949) 497-5882.

Laguna Playhouse plans world premiere of play

The Laguna Playhouse will present the world premiere of “Brownstone,” a dramatic comedy by award-winning playwright Catherine Butterfield, from March 25 to April 27 at the Moulton Theater.

The production was commissioned by The Laguna Playhouse, and is directed by Butterfield.

Set in a Manhattan brownstone, the play spans three contrasting eras and plays host to three very different sets of occupants:

The pampered, rich young couple of the 1930s, eager for adventure in Paris; the starry-eyed aspiring actresses of the 1970s; and the self-absorbed “power couple” of the new millennium.

Tickets are $25 to $65; previews will run March 25 to 28, and the opening night gala will be March 29.

Regular performances will be Tuesday through Sunday evenings at 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.; Thursday matinees on March 27 and April 10 at 2 p.m.; and 7 p.m. April 20.

For more information, visit www.lagunaplayhouse.com or call (949) 497-2787.

No Square Theatre revives open mic nights

“Lagunatics” producer and No Square Theatre invite vocalists and voyeurs alike to monthly “Local Vocals” open mic nights.

On the first Sunday of the month, beginning this weekend, these free events — part songfest, part workshop, and entirely fun— will be from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Women’s Club, 286 St. Ann’s. Singers and audiences of all ages are welcome to attend.

Last May, No Square’s Concerto d’Bree raised $16,500 for the acoustical renovation of the Woman’s Club. Company member and QSC Audio Products founder Patrick Quilter, whose donation of custom-designed speakers also transformed the acoustics at the Artists’ Theatre, also installed a new sound system in the clubhouse.

“It’s a sweet, small performance hall now,” said No Square founder Bree Burgess Rosen, who also is the creator of “Lagunatics,” the annual roast of the coast. “It’s a place where local talent can test drive new material and work out the bumps.”

Roxanna Ward, another No Square founding board member, is the accompanist for “Local Vocals.” Ward is the director of the vocal music department at Thurston Middle and Laguna Beach High schools.

Because both Rosen and Ward have extensive professional experience and a passion for developing vocal talent, “Local Vocals” will also offer feedback.

“There will always be a ‘pro’ on hand to offer advice that would make Paula Abdul look harsh,” Rosen said. “American Idol may have the ratings, but No Square has the heart.”

There is no charge to participate. Sandwiches, snacks and drinks will be available for a small donation; participants should bring their own music.

For more information, visit nosquare.org.

DeBilzan Gallery prepares major opening

DeBilzan Gallery, 224 Forest Ave., will be hosting a major opening in collaboration with First Thursday’s Art Walk from 6 to 9 p.m. March 6.

The artist, William DeBilzan, will be in attendance.

The opening will include new mixed media works by DeBilzan, including one enormous figurative painting, “There Comes a Time.”

The piece measures 7’ x 12.5’, and is presented in a massive antique, hand-carved wood frame.

String Trio plays on March 2 at college

On Sunday from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Laguna Beach Live! will present three members of the Hutchins Consort at the Laguna College of Art & Design gallery, 2222 Laguna Canyon Road, in a free show.

Two members of the Hutchins Consort played in February at First Sundays and delighted the audience.

The Consort is a group of string players who have acoustically-matched instruments. Beth Folsom, soprano violin; Geoff Gartner, baritone violin; and, Joe McNalley, contrabass violin will perform classical and contemporary works.

The college gallery opens at 2 p.m., and will be featuring works inspired by the Invisible Children cause, benefiting Ugandan children.

For more information, visit www.lagunabeachlive.org or call (949) 715-9713.

Art teacher hosts new Raku ceramics show

The ancient art of ceramics has always been subject to creative change. But Monica Dunham, exhibitor and art teacher with the Festival of Arts, has added a modern twist to her Raku ceramics class by encouraging students to use paperclay made with insulation paper.

The best of the works created by Dunham and her students is included in an art exhibit scheduled for public viewing on the third floor of the Wells Fargo Bank, 260 Ocean Ave.

The show runs through March 31. A public reception will be from 5 to 8 p.m. March 7.

The bank is open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free.

For more information, call (949) 464-4282.