In The Arts

Students mentored at Art Walk

The annual collaboration between Laguna College of Art & Design and First Thursday’s Art Walk member galleries culminates from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday when 15 Laguna Beach galleries, volunteering as mentors, will feature original works by LCAD’s Fine Arts seniors during the Art Walk.

The students will be present at each gallery exhibiting their work, which is available for sale. Sale proceeds will benefit student artists and the Art Walk Scholarship Fund.

Established by Art Walk member and LCAD professor Robin Fuld, the Professional Student/Gallery Mentoring Program pairs senior students in the Fine Arts Professional Studies class with First Thursday’s professional art galleries and is designed to demonstrate the business of operating a gallery and professionally exhibiting artwork.

The program includes hands-on work with representatives from the galleries whose expertise helps guide the students and to broaden the scope of their art world experience, according to the college.

“Every year, I hope to instill in my students the importance of the business side of art, and not to fear it,� Fuld said. “There is so much help available to the emerging artist, and now they have a chance to work with industry professionals through the mentoring program who will answer their every question and show them the ropes. Besides having the passion and discipline for their art, it is essential to have knowledge of the business side.�

For a list of student exhibitors/galleries, visit https://www.lagunacollege.edu.

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Festival opens FoaSOUTH gallery

The Festival of Arts has joined First Thursdays Art Walk through FoaSOUTH, a satellite gallery at 1006 S. Coast Hwy., which shares the space with Active Culture yogurt shop. The grand opening of FoaSOUTH will be part of Thursday’s Art Walk from 6 to 9 p.m. This is a free event and the public is welcome to attend, said FOA spokeswoman Sharbie Higuchi.

The inaugural exhibit, curated by gallerist Peter Blake, features photography by Stillman F. Sawyer from the Festival of Arts Permanent Art Collection. In addition, attendees may enjoy Active Culture yogurt tastings and live acoustic guitar. On hand will be Festival of Arts board members, new Festival of Arts Exhibits Director Martin Betz and Blake to talk about the exhibition.

“I am excited about the innovative partnership with Active Culture and our ability to reach out to the community and reemphasize our commitment to art education initiatives,� said Betz. The gallery will highlight the history and heritage of the arts in Laguna Beach and the surrounding region.

“I had a great time curating this show and very much enjoyed the association with the Festival of Arts,� said Blake, adding, “This is an expansion of the arts at a time when the arts are struggling and I am very enthused by it all.�

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No Square Theatre to cast ‘Mame’

No Square Theatre is holding auditions for Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee’s “Mame on the Books,� to be performed Feb. 4 and 5 at the Artist’s Theatre.

The musical revolves around the antics of Mame, a fun-loving, wealthy eccentric with a flare for life and razor sharp wit. Her life is suddenly changed when she becomes the guardian of her late brother’s only child. Auditions will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. Monday and 4 to 10 p.m. Tuesday.

For more information, visit https://www.nosquare.org. To make an appointment, contact [email protected].

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Learn the art of gold leafing

Mike Tauber, noted for his gold leaf finishes on the sanctuary walls of St. Catherine’s Church in Laguna Beach, will teach a Gold Leafing Workshop from 10:30 a.m. to noon Dec. 4 at the Laguna Canyon Artists complex, 3251 Laguna Canyon Road.

Students will learn the art of underpainting, laying dry leaf, burnishing and antiquing, and will have the opportunity to create a picture frame to take home.

The class is open to anyone 16 and older. The cost is $45 and includes supplies. Free parking and refreshments will be provided. Advance registration is required; contact Laguna Outreach for Community Arts at (949) 363-4700 or e-mail [email protected].

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First Sundays bring back Sack

Laguna Beach Live! will feature guitarist Alexander Sack in a free chamber music concert from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Laguna College of Art and Design, 2222 Laguna Canyon Road, Studio 8.

The two-time winner of the Randy Rhoads Memorial Award, and twice recipient of the Andres Segovia Award for classical guitar performance, Sack has utilized the electric guitar as a solo instrument, and refined it for music from classical to blues, and contemporary compositions.

The College Art Gallery will open at 2 p.m. For more information, visit https://www.lagunabeachlive.org or call (949) 715-9713.

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Call for public artists

The Laguna Beach Arts Commission is seeking an artist or artist team to create a sculpture garden in a grassy area measuring 23’ x 50’ in Heisler Park. The art works would be inspired by and/or utilize a poem created for the park titled “Sparkle (Giggle Crack)� by Shelley Cooper. The proposed art works should not exceed 6 feet in height and should include multiple elements that could include sculpture, sculptural seating and designs utilizing the pathways.

The contest is open to all artists in California. Honorarium is $100,000. Deadline is Jan. 10. For more information, visit https://www.lagunabeachcity.net/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=6729.

An Artist Designed Bench Competition is also open to who reside in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties. The busy thoroughfare is a bus stop for Orange County Transit, Laguna Transit, summer Festival Trolley service and the monthly First Thursday’s Art Walk, located on the inland side of Mountain Street and South Coast Highway. The proposed designs may include single or multiple components with back rests on some or all elements, and must not include any shade or roof component. The proposal should consider the use of the site.

The honorarium is $10,000 and the deadline is Jan. 7. For details, visit https://www.lagunabeachcity.net/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=6730.

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Cerno designs at Blake Gallery

More than 250 guests attended a recent event hosted by Cerno at the Peter Blake Gallery, where the company — comprised of Nick Sheridan, Daniel Wacholder and Bret Englander — introduced its latest LED lighting innovations.

Sharing the space with the recent works of contemporary artists, Jim Gleason and Chris Gwaltney, the trio of Laguna Beach designers lit up the Gallery with several new designs, including a never-before-seen limited edition collection created in collaboration with Los Angeles fashion designer, Jesse Kamm, whose contemporary fabrics adorned the “Silva� model lampshades.

“My expectations for the event were beyond exceeded, and I am thrilled that we had an opportunity to share Cerno’s designs with so many friends and design professionals,� Englander said. “We view our work as functional art, which worked really well in Peter Blake’s white minimalist museum-esque gallery space.�

“I had seen Cerno’s furniture line and really liked it,� Blake said. “I offered to let them use the Gallery for their event, because I thought it would be a great place to [showcase] their work.� For more information, visit https://www.cernogroup.com.