A NOT SO WONDERFUL LIFE : Fourth Annual Day Without Art Shows What the World Might Be Like If AIDS Toll Continues

From a lighthearted musical revue to an exhibit of artwork by both amateurs and professionals, an array of countywide activities is planned for the fourth annual A Day Without Art, Tuesday’s international event designed to underscore the vast destruction AIDS has wrought in the art world.

Some 4,500 institutions in the United States and abroad are expected to take part in the observance by having parades, staging special plays or concerts, or closing galleries to imply what the world would be like without art. Numerous well-known composers, ballet dancers, musicians, actors and visual artists have died from AIDS-related illnesses.

This year, the number of Orange County organizations taking part has more than doubled from 1991. One ambitious project planned is a free, outdoor, lunchtime concert in Costa Mesa by Pacific Symphony, Opera Pacific, the Pacific Chorale, the Master Chorale of Orange County, Ballet Pacifica, and musicians sponsored by the Orange County Philharmonic Society. The Orange County Performing Arts Center will present members of the Kirov Ballet.

The cooperative effort “started as everyone’s acknowledgment that AIDS is affecting us all,” said Opera Pacific spokesman Tim Dunn, who has spearheaded organizing efforts for the concert.

Another ambitious effort is “Lagunatics: A Musical Roast of Life in the Village,” an original revue presented by the Laguna Playhouse lampooning the city’s idiosyncrasies. South Coast Repertory pitches in with “Vital Readings,” a melange of readings and songs relating to AIDS. It coincides with the Costa Mesa concert and begins at 12:15.

Many of the events are fund-raisers for AIDS causes. Proceeds from a concert at Fullerton Museum Center will benefit the AIDS Services Foundation of Orange County, as will donations collected at SCR and the Costa Mesa concert.

The following activities all take place on Tuesday, except for Laguna Playhouse’s “Lagunatics,” scheduled for Monday:

Fullerton Museum Center, 301 N. Pomona Ave., Fullerton. “Listen Up!” a concert performed by classical musicians from throughout Orange County, including Alison Ed wards, a music instructor at Rancho Santiago College, performing works by Liszt and others. 8 p.m. Admission is $5. All proceeds donated to the AIDS Services Foundation of Orange County. Also, AIDS literature available. (714) 738-6545. Museum closed for installation.

UC Irvine Fine Arts Gallery, UC Irvine, near Bridge and Mesa roads. “The AIDS Show: Community Responses to a Crisis,” a non-juried show of works in all media solicited from the community. All who care to contribute may deliver works on Sunday, between noon and 4 p.m. Runs Tuesday through Dec. 11. Artist Mark Niblock-Smith, who learned he had the AIDS virus in 1986, will lecture Tuesday at noon. Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free. (714) 856-8351.

UC Irvine Student Center, Center Hall Gallery, Bridge Road and Pereira Drive. “This Is Our Yard,” photographic portraits by Mary-Linn Hughes and Jerry McGrath, on view through Dec. 4. Some 60 other works in the gallery by students, faculty and others will be draped. Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Admission is free. (714) 856-5806.

Laguna Art Museum, 307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach. Four black banners will be hung on the museum exterior wall facing Pacific Coast Highway where colorful banners normally hang. A large red ribbon, symbolizing compassion for people with AIDS, will adorn one banner. Literature will be distributed by Laguna Shanti, an AIDS service organization. Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $3 adult, $1.50 seniors and students, children under 12 free. (714) 494-8971.

Newport Harbor Art Museum, 850 San Clemente Drive, Newport Beach. Jonathan Borofsky’s sculpture, “Ruby,” which sits atop the museum roof, will be draped. Museum closed for installation. (714) 759-1122.

Orange Coast College Art Gallery, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa. Gallery closed for the day, but “Artists’ Reflections on AIDS” will be on view through Dec. 10. The mixed-media exhibit contains work by Los Angeles and Orange County artists Kim Abeles, Jerry McGrath, Mirella Moses, Mark Niblock-Smith, Ben Sakoguchi and Patrick Sparkuhl. Hours: Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; first and third Mondays, 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; second and fourth Tuesdays, 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Admission is free. (714) 432-5726.

The Works Gallery, 3333 Bear St., Costa Mesa, in Crystal Court. AIDS-themed installation art by Patrick Sparkuhl. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (714) 979-6757.

Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. “Lagunatics: A Musical Roast of Life in the Village,” a revue lampooning Laguna Playhouse itself, the city’s parking problems, its tourists, environmentalists, Pageant of the Masters and other local idiosyncrasies. Benefits Laguna Shanti, a local AIDS service organization. Monday, 8 p.m. A silent auction of restaurant meals, theater tickets and other goods and services begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35 and $55. (714) 497-9244.

Pavilion Amphitheater at The Lakes, Anton Boulevard and the Avenue of the Arts, Costa Mesa. A free outdoor presentation from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. by the following: The Pacific Symphony Brass Quintet, Opera Pacific’s Overture Company, the Pacific Chorale Children’s Chorus, tenor John Nuzzo of the Master Chorale of Orange County, and Ballet Pacifica, performing an excerpt from “No Less Than Every,” choreographed by Rick McCullough. In addition, the Orange County Philharmonic Society will present Too Many Bongos, a percussion group, and the Orange County Performing Arts Center will present members of the Kirov Ballet. Patrons may bring their lunch. Monetary contributions or canned food will be donated to the AIDS Services Foundation of Orange County. Free. (714) 546-7372.

South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. “Vital Readings,” excerpts from literature, drama, news stories and songs relating to AIDS performed by SCR resident and guest actors. Staged by SCR literary manager John Glore. Lunches from Cafe on the Lakes will be sold for $5 beginning at 11:45 a.m. and may be eaten in the theater. The program runs from 12:15 to 1 p.m. Free, with suggested donation of $10 for the AIDS Services Foundation of Orange County. (714) 957-4033.

Cal State Fullerton, 800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton. The Main Art Gallery is closed in commemoration, but panels from the AIDS Memorial Quilt, an international memorial to those who have died of AIDS, will be displayed at Titan Pavilion. An auction to benefit the Orange County Names Project, the local chapter of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, will be held at the Art Institute of Southern California on Dec. 5. Some art made for the auction displayed at two Laguna Beach restaurants--Five Feet and Cafe Zoolu--will be draped on Tuesday. (714) 490-3880.