IN THE ARTS

Artman opens Laguna location

Laguna Beach-based JoAnne Artman of SpaceOnSpurgeon in Santa Ana is opening a new gallery at 326 N. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach. Artman brings a “Santa Ana attitude” to her opening show featuring the works of Patrick Maisano, Louis Longi, Laura Ross-Paul, David Limrite, Bill Agee, James Strombotne, Patti Didiomete, Pat Sparkuhl, Gregg Stone, Daggi Wallace and Bardene Allen.

The exhibit features photographs, pastels, watercolors, acrylics and sculpture. All the artists are award-winning, and their works have been shown and collected in museums and private collections in Southern California, around the country and internationally.

An opening reception will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 4, during First Thursdays Art Walk.

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New graduate’s work shown at Studio 7

John Eagle’s Studio 7 Gallery, 384B N. Coast Hwy., is hosting the opening reception of plein air paintings by Laguna College Art and Design BFA graduate Joey Leonard. The reception will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 4, during First Thursdays Art Walk.

Leonard’s work will be on display for the month of December. This reception is part of the annual December LCAD mentoring program at participating Laguna Beach galleries. The work will be for sale, with 50% of the proceeds going to the student and 50% going to the LCAD scholarship fund.

Growing up in central California, Leonard had an extensive background in music and began his formal education at Laguna College of Art and Design, receiving his BFA in Fine Arts. Focusing primarily on figurative art during school, he applies those skills he learned toward the landscape, painting the Hanford area.

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Quilts on display at Wells Fargo

Eleven Laguna Beach quilters are showing their work at Wells Fargo Bank, 260 Ocean Ave., Laguna Beach. Quilts range in size from small wall hangings to queen-size bed covers. The quilters were brought together by longtime Laguna Beach resident and quilter Claudia Redfern, who has formed the “Loose Threads/Sew Inspired” quilt group.

The quilters range widely in experience, personal interest, and artist focus. They meet often to exchange ideas, critique each other’s work and share creative energies.

For more information about the group, call Redfern at (949) 499-1267.

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AIDS art exhibit at Endangered Planet

Endangered Planet Gallery and Foundation is hosting an art exhibit to raise awareness of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, in conjunction with World AIDS Day on Dec. 1. The exhibit will be on display at the gallery through Dec. 8.

On Dec. 1 at 6 p.m., Endangered Planet Gallery invites the public to a short solemn occasion with readings and a candle-lighting.

In 1989, a group of arts professionals known as Visual AIDS proclaimed Dec. 1 World AIDS Day in memory of the many artists lost to AIDS. In 1997, Dec. 1 became known as A Day With(out) Art.

One of the artworks on display during the exhibit will be a fresco by Laguna Beach artist Gary Simpson. Incorporating statistics on those afflicted worldwide with AIDS, Simpson created a graph-style formula to use in the piece. Countries are listed alphabetically and copper wire is applied to represent the magnitude of the population affected, resulting in quite literally an off-the-chart dimension.

Photographer Tish Lampert will present images from her recent journey to Congo, Rwanda and Burundi, where she visited numerous AIDS centers set up in community marketplaces.

Other artists displaying works include Fiona Potter, Philip Womack, Pernille Damgaard, Brian Sadler, Bill Atkins, Janet Groenert, Rik Lawrence and Thierry Bys. K.R. Matthews will be presenting her painting, “Uncertainty.”

An artist reception will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Dec. 6. Along with a silent auction to raise funds for a permanent memorial sculpture, duplicate segments of the Aids Memorial Quilt will be on view.

Adele Sender, director of medical operations for Disease Management Services, will be the keynote speaker on Dec. 6. Sender will discuss a management system for people living with HIV/AIDS in resource-poor areas, currently deployed in South Africa, monitoring more than 10,000 patients on antiretroviral therapy. Sender, a graduate of the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, lives in Laguna Beach. Also speaking at the reception will be Scott Alan, Laguna Beach HIV Advisory Committee Chair.

Endangered Planet is located at 384 Forest Ave., Gallery 13 in Laguna Beach. For further details, membership or volunteer opportunities visit www.EndangeredPlanet.org or call (949) 497-5690.

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‘Art Towns’ author to appear at book store

John Villani, author of “Art Towns California,” will be signing books at 3 p.m. Sunday at Laguna Beach Books, 1200 S. Coast Hwy.

Villani details everything an art lover wants to know “” from each town’s lifestyle to accommodations and interesting places to dine to can’t-miss festivals “” written from the perspective of a top arts travel writer.

Villani has reported on contemporary arts and creative communities for two decades. His best-known book, “The 100 Best Art Towns in America,” is a premier guide for cultural tourists who venture off beaten paths. His work has appeared in Art in America, Vanity Fair, Christian Science Monitor, Southern Living, Sunset, Country Home and U.S. News & World Report. He lives in Santa Fe, N.M.

For more information, call Laguna Beach Books at (949) 494-4779.

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LOCA holds open house today, Sunday

Laguna Outreach for Community Arts is partnering with Pacific Edge Hotel (formerly the Vacation Village) for two open houses this weekend, today from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m. located at Pacific Edge Hotel’s 4,000-square-foot private villa and its expansive ocean front deck. The event is free to the local community. The Beach House Restaurant located at 609 Sleepy Hollow Lane will provide complimentary valet parking.

The Pacific Edge Hotel is at 647 S. Coast Hwy. For more information, call (949) 363-4700 or visit www.locaarts.org.

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Canyon artists hold holiday art sale

Thirty artists’ works will be for sale at Laguna Canyon Artists, 3251 Laguna Canyon Road, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 5, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 6.

The Friday event will feature a party atmosphere as visitors can stroll door-to-door viewing the art under the night sky. On Saturday, buyers can learn how art is made directly from the artists. Everything from affordable crafts to collectible fine art will be available.

Prices range from $20 to $20,000. Some artists accept credit cards.

Artists and their work may be previewed on the web at www.LagunaCanyonArtists. com.

Featured works include jewelry, fine art tiles, ceramics, monoprints, contemporary, abstract and landscape painting, portrait services, etched and beaded glass, fiber arts, giclee reproductions, ornaments and cards.

Parking and admission are free.

The complex is three blocks south of the Dog Park. For more information call (949) 677-9800.

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SparkOC.Com brings arts scene together

SparkOC.comis a new online source for everything creative in Orange County. A joint project between Arts OC and the Orange County Community Foundation, SparkOC.comdebuted Nov. 11 with all the information needed to experience and participate in arts and cultural events throughout the county.

Laguna Beach arts organizations including Art-a-Fair, Festival of Arts, Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Playhouse, Sawdust Festival, and Laguna College of Art & Design are featured on the site with event information and ticket offerings.

This new online resource is expected to become the “go-to source” for all performance and exhibition information for theater, dance, music and visual arts offered by more than 140 participating arts organizations and venues. Additional sections focus on kids and family events; classes and workshops; poetry and literature; festival’, “unique OC” (including History and Heritage, and Science and Nature; as well as free public events in all categories.

The site also includes listings of special events and fundraising galas offered by participating organizations.

One of the highlights of the new site is the opportunity to subscribe to a special free weekly e-newsletter, Spark-e!, which points subscribers to half-price ticket offers for selected events in an exclusive discount ticket marketplace, called SparkTIX.

Other sponsors include the James Irvine Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Pacific Life Foundation, The Boeing Company and Fluor Corporation.

To access the site, visit www.sparkoc.com.