BRIEFLY IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Lagunatunes holiday concert Dec. 2

The Lagunatunes Community Chorus, which is now a part of Gallimaufry Performing Arts, will hold its free annual holiday concert, Merry Tunes, at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Artists’ Theatre, 625 Park Ave.

The chorus, under the dual direction of Christin Cornell and Roxanna Ward, will present a mix of both contemporary and classical tunes, including “Ave Maria” and the Charlie Brown Christmas theme.

For more information, call (949) 499-5060.

Belly dancing new Art Walk option

A recital by students of belly dance instructor Jheri St. James will be held from 7:30 to 9 p.m. during Art Walk, Dec. 7, at the Veterans Memorial Community Center, 384 Legion St.

Four levels of students will perform choreographies and original solos. Admission is free and refreshments will be available.

St. James’ next classes will begin in February. For more information on the performance or classes, call (949) 494-5031 or e-mail [email protected].

Festival/Pageant board elects officers

The Festival of Arts/Pageant of the Masters board elected its officers Nov. 17.

Anita Mangels was reelected president. Wayne Baglin was voted in as vice president. New board member Tom Lamb was selected as secretary, and Fred Sattler will continue as treasurer.

Mangels will soon assign members to committees, which currently include Artist Advisory, Audit, By Laws, Exhibits/Art Collection, Finance, Human Resources, Planning, Restaurant and Scholarship.

She will also assign a board member liaison to several departments: Arts Education, Box Office, Marketing and Public Relations, Membership and Special Events, Operations and Production.

For more information on the Festival of Arts and the Pageant of the Masters, call (949) 494-1145 or visit www.foapom.com.

Boom Boom Room to host holiday benefit

The Boom Boom Room, 1401 S. Coast Highway, will host the AIDS Services Foundation Orange County (ASF) annual holiday party, which will benefit ASF’s food pantry program, at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 5.

The venue will offer gourmet holiday cocktails and food, dancing, cowboy Santas and a Christmas carol singalong with Carol Roth.

The $45 admission fee provides an ASF client with approximately 15 days’ worth of food.

For more information or to RSVP, call Mike Young at (949) 809-8765 or e-mail [email protected].

Japanese exhibit at Rohrer Fine Art

A Japanese exhibition featuring work by the contemporary artist Seiju Toda from his Heian collection as well as pieces by 12 contemporary bamboo artists will open at Rohrer Fine Art with an artist reception Dec. 2 from noon to 7 p.m.

The Heian collection of photographs depict animals in wood environments. “Heian” means peace and security.

The bamboo baskets draw on traditional Japanese basket weaving themes but include contemporary designs.

A lecture by Meher McArthur, an Asian art expert and former curator of East Asian art at the Pacific Asia Museum, will be held at 2 p.m. Jan. 14.

“From the Grove to the Gallery: An Introduction to the Bamboo Art of Japan” will describe the characteristics, functions and symbolism of bamboo, and will explore the relationship between basket making and the traditional Japanese arts of the tea ceremony and flower arranging.

The lecture is free, but registration is recommended.

The exhibition will run until Jan. 27. For more information, call (800) 949-5211.

Millard Sheets talk at Laguna Art Museum

In conjunction with Laguna Art Museum’s current exhibition, “Millard Sheets in Mexico, 1932-1942,” curator of collections Janet Blake will lecture on the paintings of Sheets from the 1930s to the 1980s, covering his international travels.

The lecture will be held at 1 p.m., Dec. 3, at the museum, 307 Cliff Drive. For more information, call (949) 494-8971 or visit www.lagunaartmuseum.org.

Townley gallery opens Dec. 1

Gallery 104 of San Clemente will open a new location, Townley Fine Art, at 1294 S. Coast Highway in Laguna Beach on Dec. 1.

A grand opening reception is slated for January.

For more information, visit www.townleyfineart.com.

Armstrong holds open house

Painter and syndicated cartoonist Roger Armstrong, who has been very active in Laguna Beach, will hold an open house and sale at his studio, 23011 Moulton Parkway, Suite H5, Laguna Hills, from 2 to 5 p.m., Dec. 3.

Armstrong, 89, has also released an eight-volume set of his life work, which includes more than 300 paintings dating from 1936 to the present. Most of the paintings in the book will be available for purchase.

Armstrong continues to paint, teach and jury exhibits, including the Art-a-Fair and Festival of Arts, as well as for the National Watercolor Society

For information, call (949) 837-2022 or visit www.rogerarmstrong.com.

Museum collectors visit Getty Villa

The Laguna Art Museum’s Contemporary Collectors Council visited the newly opened Getty Villa and a private collector’s home in Malibu Nov. 11.

The 38 visitors were led by council chair Johanna Felder, museum staff member Bibe Stockman and JoAnne Storey.

The trips are self-funding; non-council members are welcome if space is available. All Laguna Art Museum members are invited to join the council; dues are an additional $100 per person.

For information, call Felder at (949) 497-4525.