Resolute Laguna Backs Museum

Undaunted by firestorms or floods, Laguna’s art patrons turned out in force to support their beloved Laguna Art Museum at the 12th Annual Art Auction.

More than 500 guests--the largest group in recent memory--crowded into the museum Saturday to bid on functional artworks inspired by the theme “The Shape of Things to Come.” Guests paid $75 each to attend the silent and live auctions and sample a buffet dinner. The auction was expected to net at least $100,000 for the museum’s education department, with 25% of the proceeds going to the Laguna Artists Fire Relief Fund which supports artists displaced by the October fires.

Starting Over

Laguna residents put aside their worries and showed up in a festive mood for the auction.

“Our community has been hurt by fire. Now, they want something positive,” said Teri Kennady, event co-chairwoman with Marsha Grinberg.

Charles Desmarais, museum director, had his own theory for the heavy turnout:

“Maybe people are tired of building up sandbag walls in front of their houses,” he said.

More than 200 artists, many of them from Laguna, participated in the show. They contributed clothing, lamps, tables, furniture and other functional pieces as well as paintings, sculpture and mixed-media art.

“The theme was nicely nebulous so artists could translate it however they wanted to,” said Joan Rehnborg, museum trustee.

Rehnborg was ready to bid on one of six denim jackets that were decorated by artists for the auction.

“I’m bidding on the jacket by Lita Albuquerque for (museum supporter) Suzanne Paulson. She lost a major art collection in the fire, and she wants this to start her new collection.”

Art to Wear

Dress is always creative when a group of art lovers get together, and the attire this night proved no exception. Among the eclectic styles: flowy crushed velvet skirts, artsy vests and poet blouses for women, and funky hats, creative ties and black-on-black shirts and jackets for men.

The guests first bid on works at a silent auction, wandering around the museum and studying pieces such as Johanna Goodman’s “Gold Tux,” a chair dressed as a half-man, half-woman in a gold tux with a silver bustier.

Later, they crowded into an auction room to bid on more art. Among the more unusual live auction items: Tom Foolery’s “Late Delivery,” a miniature environment of an artist painting a nude before a film crew, all encased inside a movie light.

When they weren’t appreciating the art, guests were indulging in the food. Local restaurants contributed their specialties to the buffet. Five Feet created chicken tenderloin in a coconut macadamia crust with curried mayonnaise, Cedar Creek Inn served smoked salmon and dill sauce on toast and Las Brisas prepared scallops in a papaya cream sauce and salmon with cream cheese and asparagus. Renaissance Cafe served rich fudge cake and carrot cake for dessert.

Faces in the crowd included: Darrel Anderson, Suzy Appel, Alison Beaumont Hahn, Debi Bremner, Gerald Buck, Doug Cavanaugh, Nancy Daley, John and Joanne Erickson, Scott and Bronwyn Farber, Bill Floyd, James and Diane Geocaris, Sharon Jaquith, Gil and Victoria LeVasseur, Rick Silver and Bill Wood.