IN THE ARTS

Earth Day event at Endangered Planet

Endangered Planet Gallery and Endangered Planet Foundation will host an Earth Day celebration Saturday. The event is in conjunction with the Vernal Equinox, and to celebrate the birthday of Earth Day Founder, John McConnell (who turns 94 on Sunday.)

Surfrider Foundation, South Orange County Chapter, Akeena Solar and Pure Water Technology are sponsoring the event. Tish Lampert’s “Images of Congo Gorillas” will be on display at the gallery.

As part of the celebration, an afternoon of fun and learning will take place from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Children will be able to participate in an Art Miles Mural Project, the Environmental Mile, painting small canvas squares with environmental themes. Kristofor Szasz and Yinka will entertain, and a Congo film screening will round out the afternoon.

As the events feature a potluck, guests are requested to bring a dish and/or a beverage to share.

A reception for Lampert will be from 6:30 to 9 p.m. and she will give a presentation on her experiences in Africa. Special guest musician violinist Scarlet Rivera will perform.

Congo activist Sean Carasso will speak and bring a new film on the Congo strife and wildlife for viewing. Endangered Planet Gallery is at 384 Forest Ave., Gallery 13. For more information, call (949) 497-5690 or visit EndangeredPlanet.org

Student juried art exhibition opens

“The Best of the Best,” an annual juried exhibition of original artwork by the undergraduate students of Laguna College of Art & Design, will show from March 31 to April 25 in the college gallery, 2222 Laguna Canyon Road. The public is invited to attend the opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m. March 31. This free exhibition is open to the public.

The exhibition is comprised of a wide range of mediums, expression and skill that is representative of the five major fields of study at the college “” drawing and painting, illustration, graphic design, animation and game art.

The student award presentation will be in conjunction with the opening reception in the college gallery. Cash prizes will be awarded to honor the student artworks that are juried as the best in each of the following award categories: animation, drawing & painting, graphic design, illustration, game art, hybrid, foundation and sculpture.

This year’s awards, totaling $4,000, have been made possible through the generosity of the Pacific Art Foundation. The panel of judges includes Fran Cashen, Heather Klein, Jay Slosar and Judy Strauss.

‘Arts Can’ food drive through March 31

Local arts organizations are helping to collect food during the economic crisis.

Laguna Playhouse, the Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters are uniting with Arts Orange County, the Community Action Partnership of Orange County and other art organizations to help fight hunger during a three-week food drive through March 31.

To participate in the Arts Can project, bring canned food donations to the Festival of Arts administrative offices at 650 Laguna Canyon Road. All donations will go to the Orange County Food Bank.

The Playhouse has placed an Arts Can collection bin in its lobby so patrons can contribute when they attend the Playhouse’s current production, “Ella,” which runs through Sunday. Those who bring canned goods to a performance will receive a voucher good for one non-alcoholic beverage at the lobby bar. And through March 31, patrons may also bring canned goods when they come to the box office to purchase tickets for future shows.

Most needed items include: canned meats (chili, stew, tuna, etc), canned fruit, canned vegetables, dry foods (beans, rice, pasta, etc), peanut butter and personal care items.

“We’re also encouraging the Laguna Playhouse staff to contribute canned items,” said Playhouse Managing Director Karen Wood. “Our seemingly small gesture actually plays a big part in helping to feed the hungry in Orange County.”

Individuals wishing to contribute to the campaign can also do so through the OC Food Bank’s “Virtual Food Drive” at www.ocfoodbank.org, where they can credit the “Arts Can” campaign by selecting it from the pull-down menu of current food drive efforts.

Arts venues, organizations and galleries of all sizes throughout Orange County are participating and will be promoting the drive to their members, audiences, donors and staff in a variety of ways, encouraging them to donate canned food.

For more information, visit OCFoodBank.com.

First Thursday’s Art Walk names board

First Thursday’s Art Walk, a nonprofit of Laguna Beach member art galleries, has elected its 2009-10 board of directors.

The new board members are: President Rebecca Barber (Studio Arts Gallery); Vice President Amber Henry (Whelan Art Galleries); Secretary Mark Bartleman (Whitney Gallery); Treasurer John Eagle (Studio 7 Gallery); director Ann Jones (Artist Eye Laguna Gallery); director Leon Richman (Schaar Galleries); and director John Tabacek (Mandarin Fine Art Gallery).