Sawdust known for art, but the builders make it happen
Leave it to the artists to get all the attention.
As the Sawdust Festival revs up for its 50th anniversary this June, everyone will be telling stories about the colorful, eccentric artists, but none of it would happen without the little-known booth builders.
They started a few weeks ago and will be pounding and painting up until opening day June 24.
About 70% of the more than 200 booths are built by local contractors, said Tom Klingenmeier, general manager of the event.
Several of them build multiple booths year after year, and they end up taking care of their own.
“Here’s some extra wood, here’s a rack of nails,” said John Schroeder, a master builder describing how the contractors share among themselves. Schroeder was helping build Bill Darnall’s booth.
Darnall is a ceramics artist and former Sawdust president.
“I think the booth is an expression of who you are,” he said. With a white apron and a hammer, Darnall was working with Schroeder to craft the layout of his tight, triangle-shaped booth.
A retired local high school teacher, Darnall took some time off from the Sawdust after exhibiting for 31 years in a row. Now he’s back at it, trying to put a little more money in his pocket for traveling with his wife during the off season.
Schroeder said the average booth will take anywhere from about 24 to 36 hours for the general construction, which is usually just wood framing and drywall. But there are exceptions — and complications.
Like a tree in the middle of the booth.
Or fickle artists who change their minds.
The costs typically range from $1,500 to $2,000, but fancier booths can run up to $4,000 just in materials.
Jay Grant’s booth, for example, has fancy reclaimed wood lining the walls and a shingle-like roof.
The flooring can run up the cost too.
And for shoestring artists, these costs add up, which is why some prefer to do the building themselves.
Doug Miller famously makes his own in perhaps the most difficult space of all — a sliver by the central stairs.
After a long day of hammering and trying to find the right pieces of wood, Miller was clearly worn out. I asked him why he didn’t just hire one of the guys to help him.
“Why spend $2,000 to have someone build a piece of crap when I can build a piece of crap for nothing?” he joked.
Miller said cryptically that he tried to hire someone a few years ago but “it didn’t work out.”
Which I took to mean “fickle artist.”
Professional contractor Schroeder, meanwhile, admitted that the differences between the builders and the artists were not hard to spot.
“It’s two different communities,” he said, trying to be polite.
If you were to walk around the construction zones, it quickly would become apparent who wears the Old Spice.
Contractors have industrial tools. Artists have rechargeable household screwdrivers that last about 7 minutes before needing another charge.
Contractors have burly coffee thermoses — or just leftover Styrofoam from 1982. Artists have artisanal decaf paper cups with soy milk.
Contractors work without seeming to work. Artists are known to stare blankly at the shell of their booth for long periods of time.
Despite the differences, there is a camaraderie, and the Sawdust grounds is a testament to that.
Everywhere there are wood scraps, drywall, nail guns, ladders, post hole diggers, tarps, conduits, saw horses, levels, miter saws, compressors and boom boxes.
Somehow, it will all come together. It always does.
This year the artists were encouraged by the festival organizers to recognize the anniversary with something special, either a booth design or other activity. In addition, there will be the customary live entertainment, art demonstrations, classes and outdoor cafes.
The Sawdust has been operating since 1966 with a mix of fine art and craft. The wide range of art includes hand-blown and fused glass, painting, jewelry, ceramics, clothing, sculpture, photography and more.
The festival will run from June 24 to Aug. 28, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. For more information, visit sawdustartfestival.org.
DAVID HANSEN is a writer and Laguna Beach resident. He can be reached at hansen.dave@gmail.com.