The dust has settled
A large amount of foot traffic passed by Patches Cunningham’s booth at the Sawdust Art Festival on Tuesday — and a fair amount of foot commerce as well.
As the annual summer festival hosted a preview night for media and invitees of the artists, an impromptu line formed in front of the bench where Cunningham and his team carefully slid rings onto the toes of anyone who stopped to remove his or her shoes. The Laguna Beach resident, who has had a foothold in the jewelry industry since 1975, sells fitted toe rings every year at Sawdust, and Tuesday’s attendees sometimes sported ones bought from Cunningham in previous years as they tried on the latest gold or sterling silver.
What kind of market exists for toe rings in Laguna? Cunningham offered a five-word answer.
“My house is paid for,” he said.
As for his toe ring of choice?
“I’ll have a Band-Aid.”
Celebrating its 48th year, the Sawdust Art Festival, which opens Friday and runs through Aug. 31, is a summertime home to more than 200 Laguna Beach artists who share their creative processes with guests. From paintings to ceramics to original jewelry to handblown glass, and even hand-painted silk and organic bamboo clothing, visitors can see the art, hear the mellow music (Van Morrison tribute, anyone?) taste the food, touch the crafts and smell the eucalyptus.
At a preview Tuesday evening for friends of exhibitors, the open-air Laguna Canyon setting stirred up that old comforting feeling of reconnecting with friends and admiring the handmade artwork. The nonprofit festival anticipates a larger audience than last year with its diverse range of art mediums.
“The booths have done a lot to make it presentable,” said retired Orange County Superior Court Judge Ronald Kreber as he looked around at the variety of exhibitions. “The colors are more distinctive.”
Suzy Kreber, his daughter, spoke about being surrounded by friends at the festival.
“I will not miss opening night,” she said, visiting a friend’s booth. “Everyone comes out, all your neighbors and friends. It’s very local.”
Visitor Carrie Galvin spoke about how the festival has evolved over the years.
“It’s a little bit more formal,” Galvin said. “Some artists would just sing or dance, and now you have to sign up to be on stage.”
Galvin reminisced about spending her childhood summers at the festival. “As kids, we would walk down here, and all the ‘canyon rats’ would meet up with everyone and we would work in the booths,” she said with a laugh.
Guests at the Tuesday preview were quick to point out a few of their favorite venues.
“Reem Khalil [has] a local family feel with hand-painted silk and organic bamboo clothing,” said Clay Leeds as he stood before the crowded clothing booth.
For 25 years, Anja Reich of Reich Enterprises has created an epistolary tribute in her corner booth with personalized note cards in assorted floral designs.
“I’m preserving the lost art of writing,” Reich said. “With everybody texting and emailing, I have to go over the top to encourage writing.”
Reich, who was born and raised in Laguna Beach and holds a degree in biochemistry, didn’t imagine art as her occupation. “I didn’t know this was going to be my livelihood,” she said with a smile as she motioned toward her rows of stationery.
What was once a hobby became a passion for crafting correspondence.
“It’s an artistic expression,” she said. “It’s something you want to share.”
Rachel Goberman, president of the festival, mentioned her favorite part of the event.
“I love meeting people and showing what I love to do,” she said while standing in front of her booth, Rachel’s Jewelry Shop. “The coolest thing is having little kids come up to watch me making jewelry.”
Goberman said the festival is a fun night celebrating the best of Laguna Beach art.
“We hope it’s a good season for our artists,” she said.
If You Go
What: Sawdust Art Festival
Where: 935 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach
When: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, June 27 through Aug. 31 (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on July 4)
Cost: $8.50 for adults, $7 for seniors, $4 for children ages 6 to 12, free for children 5 and under, and free for Laguna Beach residents after 5 p.m. on Thursdays (ID required)
Information: (949) 494-3030 or sawdustartfestival.org