In The Arts

Morris to show photo works

Evelyn Morris will display her creative photography at the Showcase Gallery at South Coast Plaza Village, 3851 Bear St., Ste. B-15, Santa Ana through Nov. 8.

Morris is a member of OCFA Art Center, which operates four galleries including Artist Eye Gallery in Laguna Beach. A reception is planned from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 26. For more information, call (714) 540-6430.

Laguna Beach Live! presents Big Band

Laguna Beach Live! will bring the Bill Holman Big Band to the Laguna Beach Artists’ Theatre at 8 p.m. Sept. 26. A Grammy-winning arranger and composer, Holman leads his 17-piece band in classic and contemporary sounds. Holman was recently selected to receive the National Endowment for the Arts’ Jazz Master.

A tenor saxophonist, Holman is best known for writing and has received 14 Grammy nominations and won three Grammy Awards for Best Instrumental Arrangement in 1987 and 1997 and Best instrumental Composition in 1995.

The Artists’ Theatre is at 625 Park Ave. Tickets are $20 to $25 for adults and $10 for students 21 and younger, and may be purchased at www.lagunabeachlive.org or by phone at (800) 595-4TIX (4849).

For more information, call (949) 715-9713.

Art-A-Fair artists honored for work

Winners for this season’s “best” artists for the 2009 Art-A-Fair season have been announced.

During the run of the festival, all visitors are invited to vote for their favorite artist, who is then awarded the People’s Choice Award. For an unprecedented third year in a row, four-year exhibitor Nancy Pace received the most votes.

Pace paints with a unique process involving plastic freezer bags that came to her as a result of helping her mother decorate wedding cakes.

By applying thick layers of paint in this way, her two-dimensional depictions of flower fields take on a three-dimensional quality.

Originally from Connecticut, Pace studied at the University of New Haven and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. She currently makes her home in Laguna Hills.

Artists Iris Adam and Paula Hinz both received Art-A-Fair “Stars” to celebrate 30 years of exhibiting in the festival.

Additionally, all exhibitors are eligible to vote for their peers in 15 “best of” categories. The winners are:

?Oil “” Jack Wang;

?Watercolor “” Kevin Davidson;

?Acrylic “” Carol Heiman-Greene;

?Mixed Media “” Sandy Clark;

?Sculpture “” Robert MacArthur;

?Pastel “” Rosemarie Rush;

?Varied Media “” Michael Crook;

?Jewelry “” Victor Dworak;

?Photography “” Michael Cahill;

?Fiber/FabricArt “” Sachiko Sukeguawa;

?Gourd Art “” Booker Preston;

?Ceramic “” Barry You;

?Glass “” Jason Cullmann;

?Digital “” Charles Magnani;

?New Artist “” Robert MacArthur; and

?Booth Display “” Jason Cullmann.

‘Themed art’ exhibit at college

“Whole New Worlds: The Magic of Themed Entertainment,” a collection of works showcasing artists whose meticulous crafting makes the world of themed entertainment a reality, will be on exhibit at Laguna College of Art & Design from Oct. 1 to 29 at the college gallery, 2222 Laguna Canyon Road.

Unlike the traditional amusement park, themed entertainment takes the visitor into an environment where all elements of the experience from attractions, shows, character costumes and even landscaping are carefully designed to convey a cohesive theme or story. The effect is to transport the spectator into a totally imaginary world. Although Disneyland is one of the earliest and most well-known applications of themed entertainment, today there are many different venues such as Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Legoland and the recently retired Star Trek: The Experience in Las Vegas.

Featured Artist Helen McCarthy has worked for Disney Imagineering, Tokyo Disney Seas and Universal Theme Park. Her career includes developing concept design and illustrations for theme parks and attractions as well as interactive rides and animatronics.

Tom Thordarson’s 17 years in the theme park industry encompasses conceiving, illustrating and painting concepts for rides and attractions as a Disney imagineer.

Wes Cook was considered one of the most prolific concept designers and artists in the field of themed entertainment and had an extensive career in the film and television industry. He passed away in February 2005 following a career with Disney Imagineering and Universal’s Islands of Adventure Park in Florida.

Scott Drake is a principle concept designer for the Blue Sky creative department of Walt Disney Imagineering where he brainstorms concepts and visualizes future attractions and experiences for guests. Drake was the lead designer of the new Disneyland Monorail Mark VII trains that opened at the Disneyland Resort in 2008. Many of his concepts are considered “top secret” because they involve the future expansion of Disney Parks and Resorts around the world.

The free exhibition is open 9 am. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. An opening reception will be in conjunction with the First Thursdays Art Walk from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 1. Ample complimentary parking is available.

Ecofest planned at Lumberyard

Endangered Planet Foundation’s one earth

one dream Ecofest will take place Oct. 3 and 4 at the Lumberyard Mall, 384 Forest Ave.

The free event is open to the public and includes guest speakers, eco exhibits, interactive seminars, art displays, films, live entertainment and more.

Daily exhibitors include Art Miles Mural Project (EcoMile/Pyramid/Murals), SEEDS Arts & Education, the Organic Cellar Wine Tasting, Endangered Planet Gallery and Southern California Edison.

The festival kicks off at 11 a.m. Saturday with opening ceremonies at Cobblestones Main Beach with drummers, introductions by city officials, and music from Anneliese’s School and Montessori School, then a walk to the Lumberyard Mall at 11:50 a.m. From noon to 9 p.m., there will be exhibits, live entertainment, children’s activities, art workshops, films, a barbecue and speakers.

The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 4.

For more information, call (949) 497-5690, or visit www.1e1d.org.