In Fullerton, Night to Warm Anyone’s Art

Every town has its hidden treasures, like that little taco stand that turns out the best carne asada in the county or that quiet, leafy park so far off the beaten path that only the locals know about it.

Residents tend to keep such community jewels to themselves. But Fullerton, a city with an ample supply of visual and performing art venues, apparently can’t help but brag.

Friday night, for the 32nd year running, the community throws open its doors to the public with A Night in Fullerton, an evening of music, dance, drama and visual art at more than a dozen venues, all free of charge.

They’re even throwing in a chauffeur.

According to event chairman Joe Felz, visitors are encouraged to stash cars at one of several public lots either downtown or at the outer boundaries of the event--Felz recommends the Muckenthaler Cultural Center or Cal State Fullerton--then hop free shuttle buses to any or all of the 14 Night in Fullerton venues.

Guests can plan their evening using event directories, available on the buses, at each site and at the main information booth located downtown at the corner of Harbor Boulevard and Wilshire Avenue.

Felz says that A Night in Fullerton, which starts at 7 p.m., is a good way to introduce youngsters--particularly those who may not be able to weather a two-hour concert or a full day at a museum--to the arts. Most performances run 20 to 45 minutes.

“It’s an ideal event for families because it gives a taste of the arts,” said Felz, who is director of the Fullerton Museum Center. “It’s an easy way to have these experiences without making a big commitment of time or money.”

It’s also a pretty diverse lineup. Most locations offer a variety of shows and exhibits. For example, Wilshire Auditorium, one of two new sites this year, will host performances by the faculty of Patrick’s Music School, ranging from classical and folk music on flute and Celtic harp to piano, sax and tuba solos to an hourlong alternative-rock concert.

At Cal State Fullerton, there’s a revue, “From Fullerton to Broadway,” plus the school’s jazz ensemble, dance groups and an art exhibit entitled “Turquoise: Skystone of the Southwest and Beyond.”

And the Hunt Branch Library hosts the Tinkers Own, a local group that specializes in folk music of Ireland and North America.

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The Muckenthaler Cultural Center, which is housed in a picturesque Moorish-style mansion on rolling lawns, hosts “The Art of the Automobile--California,” a collection of painting and sculpture that salutes racing and cars in general.

The former Ice House nightclub, a 1902 structure that served as Fullerton’s first ice factory, has been added to the lineup this year too. Now the home of T.A.G. (The Andelman Group), an advertising agency, it will be the site of continuous performances by the Dave Kraus Jazz Quintet; T.A.G. employees also have planned a children’s painting area and say they’ll exhibit the finished works in their offices.

All performances and exhibits are accessible to general audiences, says Felz, but there are a handful designed specifically for young audiences.

They range from international animal-themed folk tales and puppetry at Hunt library to FMC’s “Anne Frank in the World,” a touring exhibit that re-creates through photos and video the life of Anne Frank and the Nazi regime during World War II. (Felz cautioned that many of the images in the show are graphic and could be disturbing to children younger than middle-school age.)

A Night in Fullerton also will include the unveiling of “Art & Play: Cornerstones of Creativity,” a new mural in the Boys’ and Girls’ Club of Fullerton that was created by Fullerton middle-school and high school students through the community’s “Interact/Connect” program.

Designed by muralist Emigdio Vasquez with ideas from local teens, the piece was painted by students in a program funded by FMC and by the California Department of Justice that is meant to divert youngsters from gang involvement into the arts.

The mural, which was completed early this year and depicts children drawing, painting and playing outdoors, has quickly become a point of pride for Boys’ and Girls’-club regulars, said club spokeswoman Allyson Gold.

“I often see kids just standing there, looking up at it with these half smiles,” said Gold, adding that the artists, their families and Vasquez will be honored at a public reception during A Night in Fullerton.

“It’s a joy to see kids who have had so little exposure to art so obviously enjoying it. They get a big kick out the fact that they can come back [to the club] with their kids and grandkids to admire what they’ve created.”

* What: A Night in Fullerton.

* When: Friday, 7 to 11 p.m.

* Where: 14 sites in downtown Fullerton.

* Whereabouts: To reach the center of attractions, exit the Riverside (91) Freeway at Harbor Boulevard and go north. Parking is available at most event sites and downtown. Free shuttle service between sites.

* Wherewithal: Free.

* Where to call: (714) 738-6575.

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A Guide to a Night in Fullerton

A Night in Fullerton will take place Friday at 14 sites in and around downtown. Free shuttles take visitors via two routes to all sites throughout the evening (last bus departs at 10:30 p.m.). Event directories will be available on the shuttles, at each event site, and at the event information booth at the corner of Harbor Boulevard and Wilshire Avenue. Most performances last 20 to 45 minutes. Times and performers are subject to change. Exhibits, unless otherwise indicated, are open throughout the evening.

* Cal State Fullerton (800 N. State College Blvd.): “Turquoise: Skystone of the Southwest and Beyond” exhibit; student art exhibits; glass-blowing and pot-throwing demonstrations; “From Fullerton to Broadway” musical revue (7 p.m.); modern-dance performance (7:30 to 9 p.m.); CSUF Jazz Ensemble (9 to 11 p.m.).

* Pacific Christian College (2500 E. Nutwood Ave.): Contemporary Christian and sacred music by Ekklesia (7 p.m.); international music by students (8 p.m.); Chryss Gillette Band (9 to 11 p.m.).

* Fullerton College (321 E. Chapman Ave.): Student art exhibit; Bravo! song and dance troupe (7, 9 p.m.); Fullerton Symphony String Quartet (7:30, 8:30 p.m.); scenes from “Noises Off” (7:30, 8:30 p.m.).

* Wilshire Auditorium (300 N. Lemon Ave.): Patrick’s Music School presents performances featuring piano, Celtic harp, flute, etc. (ongoing). Evening closes with 10 p.m. concert by alternative-rock band Ashid.

* Fullerton Museum Center (301 N. Pomona Ave.) “Anne Frank in the World” exhibit.

* Church of Today (117 N. Pomona Ave.): Performances by jazz group Vocal Magic (ongoing).

* First Christian Church (109 E. Wilshire Ave.): Fullerton College Community Band (7:45, 9:15 p.m); Orange Empire Chorus of Barbershop Singers (7, 8:30, 10 p.m.).

* T.A.G. (The Andelman Group) (112 E. Walnut Ave.): Dave Kraus Jazz Quintet; advertising-art display; children’s painting activity.

* Village Art Center (529 N. Harbor Blvd.): George Kyle watercolor exhibit; artist demonstrations (8 to 9 p.m.).

* Eileen Kremen Gallery (619 N. Harbor Blvd.): Kaleidoscope exhibit; Orange Empire Barbershop Quartet (ongoing).

* Fullerton Boys’ and Girls’ Club (348 W. Commonwealth Ave.): Unveiling of youth mural (7:30 p.m.); meet and greet artists and muralist Emigdio Vasquez (ongoing).

* Nouveau Chamber Ballet (1090 W. Valencia Drive): Original production featuring excerpts from classical and contemporary ballets (7:30, 8:30, 9:30 p.m.).

* Hunt Branch Library (201 S. Basque Ave.): “Animal Stories From Around the World” puppet show (7, 8, 9 p.m.); The Tinker’s Own folk band (7:30, 8:30, 9:30 p.m.).

* Muckenthaler Cultural Center (1201 W. Malvern Ave.): “The Art of the Automobile--California” exhibit; Equinox Jazz Quartet (7:30, 8:30 p.m.).