Arts Fest for the Game Boy Generation

After three years of operating independently, the Imagination Celebration of Orange County is carving out a unique identity.

Already the largest and longest-running children’s festival in the Western United States--it spans 16 days at 48 venues and attracts nearly half a million visitors--the festival this year coincides with Cinco de Mayo, the Mexican holiday. What better for an event whose theme is “Art Across Cultures”?

A host of events today during the Artist Village Street Fair in Santa Ana, most of them free, will kick off the festivities. But leading up to today’s opening has been three bustling years of independence for the event’s organizers

During its first 11 years, IC was operated by the Orange County Performing Arts Center. Like a restless teen trying to move out of the parents’ home, the IC made a push three years ago to become independent and expand its goals. The organization moved to its current Irvine location in 1998. It’s in its 16th season.

“It’s going to take a while before people realize we’re not part of OCPAC,” said Daniel Stekol, executive director of the Imagination Celebration and a member of its 14-member board. He heads a staff of six and more than 2,500 volunteers. “OCPAC is now just a presenter of Imagination Celebration.”

Opening events at the Artist Village will feature hundreds of professional and student performers showcased on a new $15,000 temporary stage and in dozens of art exhibits and hands-on workshops on pottery, printmaking and painting.

The diversity is apparent. Egyptian, Russian, Polish, South American and Asian artists are involved. Windsocks will line the streets leading to the fair as thespians, musicians and dancers of Ballet Folklorico, European, Vietnamese, Polynesian, Persian and tribal groups take the stage.

Celebrities such as Baywatch actor Jose Solano, singer Florence La Rue, actor Ron Lester, model Gloria Torres and actors James Hyde, Luis Avalos and Ramon Franco will lead workshops and interact with children.

“That’s the great thing about IC; it fosters so many partnerships and arts collaboration,” said Jim Gilliam, arts administrator for Santa Ana, which will host nine events. “Each event is a labor of love for the individual community and students involved.”

The annual $1.2-million celebration promotes the visual and performing arts.

The program was created in 1986 by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., to reach families and youths and encourage creativity. The festival has rooted in Texas, Colorado and New York; Utah and Oregon are expected to join the list.

Since Orange County’s event is the only one of its kind in California, it draws a third of its visitors from as far as Kern, Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and San Diego counties.

“We want to touch as many kids as we can,” Stekol said. “Art is a viable tool for the kids to expand their understanding of different cultures and a way to express themselves.”

As the number of after-school programs in theater, dance, music and art increases, organizers say, the festival offers youths more opportunities to strut their feathers and meet like-minded artists.

Art is an alternative to the distractions of theme parks such as Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, or video games, Stekol said.

“We designed the workshops to get the kids away from the Game Boy and computers to build art projects,” Stekol said. “We want families to step away from the TV set and come out of the house and interact and have fun together.”

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Vivian LeTran can be reached at (714) 966-5835 or by e-mail at vivian.letran@latimes.com.

SHOW TIMES

“Arts Across Cultures,” Imagination Celebration of Orange County, countywide, today-May 20. Opening events, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Artist Village Street Fair, Santa Ana. Most events are free. Information at https://www.icfestival.com.

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IMAGINATION CELEBRATION HIGHLIGHTS

Today

Artists Village Street Fair/Cinco de Mayo, Santa Ana Artists Village, Second Street between Broadway and Main Street, Santa Ana. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. $2 parking. (714) 571-4229 or (714) 542-6579.

From stage to street to gallery, kids of all ages can make a mask, paint a picture, create with clay, prance or pirouette during this family festival. The fair will feature a variety of hands-on cultural art workshops, continuous entertainment and exhibits of artwork from the Santa Ana Unified School District.

“Art Across the New Millennium,” Laguna Art Museum, 307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. (949) 494-8971.

An array of hands-on activities enabling children to explore the world of the future. Other activities include a treasure hunt, performances by local school choirs and dance groups, refreshments and prizes.

“Art Off the Wall,” Irvine Fine Arts Center, 14321 Yale Ave., Irvine. Through May 20. 1 p.m. (949) 724-6880.

“Art Off the Wall” is a display of sculpture and other three-dimensional art by Orange County student artists. Children ages 5-18 explore three-dimensional art using a variety of media. There is an artists’ reception Sunday, 1 p.m.

Photography & Multimedia, Huntington Beach Art Center, 538 Main St., Huntington Beach. Through May 18. (714) 374-1650.

Families can explore visual images in a variety of media, including photography, animation, digital art, film and computer graphics by students of all ages.

Sunday

“Dia de Arte,” The Bowers Kidseum, 1802 N. Main St., Santa Ana. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (714) 480-1520.

A day of hands-on ethnic art workshops, including recycled material masks, Japanese windsocks, Mexican Trees of Life, paper cutting, model butterfly making, face painting and storytelling.

Pacific Symphony: A Neighborhood Celebration, Pacific Symphony Center, 115 E. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana. Noon-2:30 p.m. (714) 755-5788, Ext. 227.

Children will have an opportunity to play a variety of musical instruments, act out a story, meet musicians from the Pacific Symphony and listen to a live ensemble performance.

May 12

Hands on Dance!, Anaheim Ballet, 280 E. Lincoln Ave., Anaheim 3-5 p.m. (714) 520-0904.

Performances of tap, jazz, hip-hop, and classical ballet. Children can meet dancers and ask questions. For younger children there will be a story corner with storytellers from South Coast Repertory, a “pointe shoe corral” filled with pointe shoes and tutus that can be tried on. There also will be several craft activities. Parents are encourage to bring cameras to get a photo of children with a costumed dancer.

May 13

Second Sunday at the Muckenthaler, Muckenthaler Cultural Center, 1201 W. Malvern Ave., Fullerton. Noon-2 p.m. (714) 738-6595.

Visitors will enjoy an afternoon of art workshops and visual art galleries at the historic Muckenthaler home, built in 1924 and situated on an 8.5-acre estate of lovely grounds and picturesque gardens.

A Family Arts Day, Orange County Museum of Art, 850 San Clemente Drive, Newport Beach. Noon-4 p.m. (949) 759-1122.

Families are invited to experience a variety of cultures through hands-on workshops and performances. Parents and children can stroll galleries, create art inspired by multicultural art forms, and learn about world cultures through music, theater and dance.

May 14

Different Faces, Unique Places, Discovery Science Center, 2500 N. Main St., Santa Ana. $3 parking. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (714) 542-2823.

Guests will encounter eight themed areas, which include more than 100 hands-on exhibits for children, ranging from stretching out on a bed of nails to dancing across a musical floor.

May 15

An Evening of Classical Music Performances, Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. 7:30 p.m. $7 parking. (949) 833-8500.

This is an opportunity to enjoy a performance at Founder’s Hall, featuring student artists from around the county performing classical selections from ballets, operas and plays, as well as instrumental music. This program will be approximately one hour long with no intermission and is appropriate for children ages 10 and older.

Backstage at the Barclay, Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive. 3:30-5:30 p.m. $4 parking. (949) 854-4193

An up-close, behind-the-scenes guided tour of the Barclay Theatre while in production with Opera Pacific’s “Little Women.” Cast members will perform segments of the production for participants after the tour.

May 16

“Cirque: Eos,” Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa 7:30 p.m. $8 admission; $7 parking. (714) 556-2122, Ext. 8234.

A 26-person ensemble from Quebec composed of acrobats, trapezists, clowns, equilibrists and jugglers will perform in Segerstrom Hall.

May 19

Orange County Department of Education’s 25th Annual Very Special Arts Festival, Main Place, 2800 N. Main St., Santa Ana. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (714) 835-8867.

This annual festival honors and showcases the artistic abilities of disabled people. The festival provides a unique venue for disabled people for all ages and abilities in dance, music, theater and visual arts. Performances, workshops, demonstrations and a 1,000-piece art exhibit will be presented.

May 19

San Juan Capistrano Multicultural Arts Series, 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. $7 admission; $3 for children 13 and younger. (949) 248-7469

Elk Whistle is a Native American storyteller and musician who plays flutes of the Lakota, Kiowa, Comanche, Choctaw and Cherokee nations. Blending music and stories, he illustrates the rituals and traditions of each tribe. This event is one of the 20 world music concerts offered annually through the San Juan Capistrano Multicultural Arts Series.

May 20

Parachute Express, Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. $8 admission; $7 parking.

Parachute Express uses a broad range of musical styles and lively choreography to entertain parents and children. Twice honored with the distinguished Parent’s Choice Award, the group’s music has been released by Gymboree and Disney and featured on Nickelodeon. Kids can sing and clap along to the songs in Segerstrom Hall.