CHASING DOWN THE MUSE: Muse leads the way to a summer of art

How many years has this chase been going on … the muse forever just out of reach, teasing and taunting me to follow.

I’ve been chasing down the muse for many years now, never quite spotting her, getting only flashes now and then … just enough to keep me in the chase. So imagine my surprise when I discovered the announcement that the muse is going to be residing right here in Laguna Beach for the summer.

There it was — the giant sign at the Festival of the Arts grounds announcing the coming of the Muse. What a summer this will be! The Muse right here to tantalize and tease. The “living pictures” of the Pageant of the Masters at the festival grounds will be devoted to exploring the nature of artistic inspiration.

And that is only the beginning of what promises to be a different summer experience of Laguna’s unique art festivals. One hundred twenty-five internationally juried artists and craftspeople will be at the Art-A-Fair. The Festival of Arts, of course, has the Pageant as well as its own contingent of artists.

The Sawdust Art Festival, which is my personal favorite, of course, since I have a stake in it, has 190 booths (built from scratch each year with zeal and visual interest in mind) housing 203 artists and craftspeople. This year, there are 23 new artists and even some of the longtime artists are producing new and exciting work, pushing parameters, going “outside the box.” The tree-filled grounds are always a hit with visitors and exhibitors alike and are being newly landscaped in keeping with water-saving measures.

All three venues have continuing entertainment on the grounds and good food. As many of you have already become aware, this year the three art festivals have banded together with the Laguna Beach Visitors and Conference Bureau to create the Passport to the Arts Consortium. The passport, which may be purchased for $19, offers “one price, one pass, three art festivals” and a one-time free parking pass at the Act V parking lot in the canyon.

And there is more, oh, yes, folks, there is more. Check out www.lagunabeachpassport. com to see all the other extras to be found throughout Laguna. You’ll be amazed.

So here we are “stuck” in this beautiful paradise for the summer. Surf and sun, tide pools to explore, and art shows galore. Add open-air tram rides to ease travel in and around, early morning walks on the beach, the sound of a large variety of birds in our town dedicated as a bird sanctuary, and glorious sunsets in which to revel.

The Muse may have arrived here, but she has a lot of competition for attention, so I suppose actual glimpses may still be fleeting ones. I’ll keep an eye open, though, as I continue the chase. After all, she led me to this writing today. Further serendipity awaits in this fertile atmosphere in which we live, I am sure.

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 (714) 745-9973.