Laguna Art Welcomes Stony Looks

Proving they can make art out of “Sticks and Stones,” 215 artists put their works up for sale Saturday at the Laguna Art Museum’s 11th Annual Art Auction.

About 400 art lovers bid on sculptures, paintings and mixed-media works to raise about $75,000 for the museum’s education programs. The $75-per-person gala included a buffet and wine reception.

For Art’s Sake

The theme of the auction, “Sticks and Stones May Break Your Bones But Art ... ,” was the museum’s way of addressing the controversy about what constitutes art, according to Teri Kennady, co-chairwoman of the auction.

“We came up with the theme after we thought about the problems with grants, the (National Endowment for the Arts) and with artists’ work being questioned,” Kennady said.

Contributing artists could incorporate the sticks and stones theme in their pieces. Before the event, each received a packet of stones for inspiration. One work by artist Olivia Batchelder featured a painting of stones on silk in a frame of cut branches.

“I love it because it looks like you’re looking at the stones through water,” said Jo Ann Erickson, event co-chairwoman, whose husband, John, is museum board president.

Party organizers also followed through on the theme by attaching big balloons to rocks and planting them throughout the museum.

Money Man

Gifford Myers, the evening’s commentator, showed up in the same outfit he wore to last year’s auction: a metallic gold blazer he picked up at a garage sale and a bow tie printed with a $50 bill “for good luck.”

“The more I made a fool of myself last year, the higher the bids were,” he explained.

Myers contributed to the auction a miniature sculpture that offered a wry commentary on how the recession has changed the face of real estate in California. The piece features two identical houses with tiny swimming pools, one covered in a copper glaze to look like gold and the other in plain pewter.

Before the live auction, guests enjoyed a buffet organized by the Renaissance Cafe that featured specialties from local restaurants. Among the offerings were Ruby’s hamburgers, smoked salmon and tomatoes stuffed with chicken salad from Las Brisas and blackened calamari tacos and cucumber salad from Five Feet.

Guests included Lita Albuquerque, Darrel Anderson, Serge Armando, Tim and Debbie Bremner, Bill Bridgford, Suzanne Cameron, Jim and Diane Geocaris, Marsha Grinberg, Ellen Marshall, Dennis Menke, Diane Nelson, Pat Patel, Janet Peters, Joni Rehnborg, Don and Claudette Shaw, Sue Spaid, auctioneer Dale Stulz and Sheryl Ulgate.

All That Jazz

The Peralta Hills home of Mark and Susan Thompson was transformed into the Delta Queen on Friday as guests took an imaginary trip down the Mississippi for the Founders Plus Annual Gala.

“Razz ‘Ma ‘Tazz and All That Jazz” was the theme of the $100-per-person dinner-dance, attended by 153 founders of the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

Sentimental Journey

Ann Pange, event chairwoman, chose the theme after her own trip to New Orleans this month had to be postponed.

“We had read all about New Orleans, so when we weren’t able to go we decided to build a party around it,” said Pange, whose husband, Russ, dressed up for the party as Mark Twain complete with white, bushy mustache and wig.

To set the mood, guests were greeted at the Thompsons’ front door by a banjo player, while “Captain” (and Founders Plus Chairman) Chuck McCune and his first mate, Frank Gumbinger, welcomed them aboard.

After a journey through the elegant home, guests were led outdoors to a large, white tent dubbed “Cafe du Monde,” after a well-known New Orleans restaurant. (Because of an unexpected thunderstorm, a tent had to be erected that day -- no small feat for a hostess.) Underneath, tables were set with multicolored cloths and napkins, with Mardi Gras masks, plastic beads and ribbons for centerpieces.

Massive floral arrangements with large papier-mache masks towered over five buffets. The Southern fare featured jambalaya, crepes with shrimp creole, blackened fish filets and chicken, seafood creole in hollowed-out bread loaves, beef tenderloin, Cajun fish filets and--for dessert--ice cream puff sundaes with Irish coffees.

Reaching Out

Founders Plus is a service organization that provides cultural opportunities to the underprivileged. The group gathers unsold tickets to center performances and distributes them to people in need.

“It’s an important group. We could sit back and not do anything, but we want to do something for people who might not ever see the inside of an auditorium,” said Nora Jorgensen, event co-chairwoman.

Vesta Curry was honored for her work on behalf of Founders Plus.

“I think they’re honoring me because I’ve been around a long time,” joked Curry, who sported one of her trademark hats.

“Founders Plus has such a noble purpose,” she said. “That’s why I love it.”

Faces in the crowd included honorary hosts Charles and Feryne Margolin, Maurice Allard, Don Castle and Sharon Stewart, Frank and Joy Curry, Howard and Lucy Clark, Harry and Shari Esayian, Maxine Gibson, Joe and Ethel Hunt, Keith and Barbara Johannes, Tom Kendrick, Judi Morr, Ed and Carole Kim, Jan Landstrom, William and Rosalie Lyske, Sandy McCune, Maggie Murdy, Roger Ohanesian and Bill and Betty Palmer.