75 years of women in art

The Festival of Arts is celebrating women artists in Laguna Beach with “20th Century Women Artists,” on exhibit now through Sept. 19 at Wells Fargo Bank.

Artists include early California painters, creative theater artists and contemporary artists who are currently or have been affiliated with the Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters. It showcases the diverse talents not only of Festival artists but historical Laguna Beach artists and the behind-the-scenes innovators and creators of the Pageant of the Masters.

“This exhibit is a wonderful opportunity for the public to view a wide range of artwork that clearly illustrates the high quality and creativity that has existed at the Festival of Arts for the past 75 years and continues today,” curator Pat Sparkhul said.

Throughout the 20th century, painters and sculptors traveled to study and capture the beautiful scenery of Laguna Beach. The coastal and canyon areas significantly influenced the women whose artworks are displayed at the exhibit.

The former Festival exhibiting artists in the show are: Elanor Colburn (painter), Marjorie Sawyer (ceramicist), Grace Songolo (ceramicist), Louise Couse Benton (fiber artist) and Charlotte Myers (printmaker).

Anna Hills (painter), Ruth Peabody (printmaker), Virginia Wooley (painter) and Jean Freeman (painter) represent the historical Laguna Beach artists whose artwork is displayed at the Wells Fargo.

The other artists in the show currently work at the Pageant of the Masters and include Pageant Director Diane Challis Davy (painter); Costume Director Mary La Venture (photographer); and Lead Sculptor Judith Parker (sculptor).

“As a Pageant of the Masters scenic artist and designer I have copied or imitated many styles of painting,” Challis Davy said. “This Warhol-esque painting is a tribute to my friend and colleague Dan Duling, who has written the script for the Pageant for 28 years.”

The free exhibit is part of an ongoing series of shows that the Festival of Arts is having at Wells Fargo this year. The Wells Fargo building, at 260 Ocean Ave., is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.