CHASING DOWN THE MUSE: Summer winding down at Sawdust

“Make the ocean your desk…” — Elizabeth Berg in “Escaping Into the Open”

As I write this, the summer is winding down. Just a bit over two weeks remain before Labor Day and September and school start and festivals close. The hubbub that is summer in Laguna will draw to a close. For me, this means a return to my “desk.” I can hardly wait, even as I enjoy the little time left of this summer and its activities.

Being an artist in the local Sawdust Art Festival means that a good deal of my waking (and often sleeping) time is devoted to that venue. Long days there both enlarge and isolate as I turn to observation of the strangers that visit. The outside world disappears in those hours spent beneath the tall eucalyptus trees with the cool breezes blowing through.

Even with our current concerns with gas prices, these strangers come from near and far. They come for myriad reasons. The visitors seem to have varying levels of interest in the art that surrounds them. It would appear some are just passing time. Some seem to use it as a reason to meet up with a good friend in friendly, easy surroundings. Some want to learn more, to increase their own repertoire of art tool knowledge. These visitors are there for an hour or a day. They are there for the art or the band or a particular class or just the walkabout and a good beer.

Jay Grant — a fine writer himself — commented recently that he liked reading my column, but that he liked when I write about the Sawdust Festival.

It is said that writers should write what they know, where they are, and I suppose it seems I’ve not spent any time at all on the festival these past few weeks as life has intervened with its many issues and I have chosen to write of them. That is how life is. I accommodate and adjust as I can. It has been quite a summer.

It never ceases to amaze me that the 200 or so artists of the summer Sawdust Festival spend 10 weeks together demonstrating our craft and hoping for that next big sale every minute of the daily 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. open hours.

Opportunities abound for developing relationships with our fellow artists, the visitors and even new relationship to our art.

The many potlucks around the grounds provide some opportunities to sample the culinary skills of our fellow artists.

We gather together in slower times then and share stories of the days. Some of the artists, like Suzette Rosenthal and Emily Howell and Mary Hurlbut, take time to document our summer hours through pictures that they gather together to share with artists and the public alike.

As the 42nd year of this “show” called the Sawdust Art Festival draws to a close along with the summer, I do long for the return to the time to observe at my desk at the ocean. I will exchange the sounds of reggae from the entertainment deck on a Friday night for the sounds of whimbrels and terns as I linger over a sunset across the sand. My vision will change from what is right in front of me to the longer view out to the horizon above the sea. As the fall comes, days will be both shorter in sun time and longer in the hours for family and friends.

“To everything there is a season…” and this one is nearly over. Come on out to the Sawdust Festival while there is still time. And don’t forget the free trolley ride there is half the fun. Thursday evening is locals’ night when residents get in free. Good music. Good art. Good food. Good laughter. Good classes. Good fun. Good folks.

See you there.

CHERRIL DOTY is an artist, writer, and creative coach exploring and enjoying the many mysteries of life in the moment. She can be reached by e-mail at Cherril@cherrildoty.com or by phone at (949) 251-3883.