In The Arts

Plein air painting invitational begins

Plein air painters will descend on Laguna Beach today through Oct. 17, when the Laguna Art Museum and Laguna Plein Air Painters Assn. host the 12th annual Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational. Fifty artists from across the country have been invited to participate and paint the landscape of Laguna Beach and surrounding areas.

The Invitational is a weeklong celebration culminating in the Collectors’ Soirée and Sale on Oct. 16 at Laguna Art Museum.

An anticipated 200 guests will attend the Soirée and have the first opportunity to view and purchase, in advance of the general public, artworks created throughout the week by the invited plein air artists, with cocktails, food and live music.

The Collectors’ Soirée will also feature “Trust Your Plein Sight.” All paintings in this portion of the Collectors’ Soirée and Sale will be 8x10 inches and will be created during the October 10 Paint Out at Treasure Island Park. Each painting will be priced at $300 (although their actual values are much higher). Collectors will need to trust their instincts, because only after the purchase is made will the artist’s name be revealed.

Tickets to the Soirée are $125 for museum members, and $150 for non-members. Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.LagunaArtMuseum.org, at the Laguna Art Museum Front Desk, or by calling (949) 494-8971 ext. s203.

In addition to the Collectors’ Soirée, the Invitational will host the following events:

•Paint Out: From 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, 50 artists will compete in a Paint Out at Treasure Island Park. The artists will create 8x10 inch study paintings that will be offered for $300 at the Collectors’ Soirée and Sale Saturday evening.

•Quick Draw: From 9 to 11 a.m. Oct. 16, overlooking the Pacific Ocean on the cliffs of Heisler Park (adjacent to Laguna Art Museum), and under the gaze of hundreds of onlookers, artists will have two hours to complete a work of art. Then, from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the still-wet paintings will be moved to Laguna Art Museum and offered in a silent auction. Last year, more than 500 people attended this auction.

•From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 17, the museum will be open free for a Public Art Show and Sale. The museum is located at 307 Cliff Drive. For more information, call (949) 494-8971 or visit https://www.lagunaartmuseum.org.

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Playhouse plans costume party

The Laguna Playhouse will present Moonlight Masquerade 2 — a sophisticated Halloween party for adults — from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. on Oct. 29 at Tivoli, Too!, 777 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. The evening includes cocktails, buffet dinner, dancing and entertainment.

Co-chairs Deborah Mayhew and Heidi Miller invite guests to arrive in costume for revelry featuring music by the All Stars Live band, tricks ‘n treats, a fortune teller, costume contests, “mummy madness” opportunity drawings and silent auctions, and more.

“This year our goal is to raise more than last year’s revenue of $95,000,” said Amy Larson, director of development for Laguna Playhouse. Proceeds from the party benefit the many programs of the Playhouse, including award-winning education programs that bring live theater to more than 25,000 school children every year. As a not-for-profit arts organization, the Playhouse relies on contributions to cover 40% of its annual budget.

Table sponsor opportunities, which include tickets to the event, are available at the $1,000, $3,000, $5,000, $7,500 and $12,000 levels. A limited number of individual tickets are available for $125 each.

For more information, contact Leslie Anne Mogul at lamogul@lagunaplayhouse.com, call (949) 497-2787 ext. 217, or visit https://www.LagunaPlayhouse.com.

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Snowboard artist Parillo exhibits locally

210 AR4T is now featuring the work of Mike Parillo, an icon in snowboarding and one of the leading artistic visionaries of the action sports industry.

“Straight to the Head,” on display through Nov. 14, is a collection of work that uses modern digital technology and academic painting techniques. He has no formal art training. Early in his career, the snowboarder lived in a tent on the snow in the mountains of Big Bear, where he dedicated his life to the movement that would soon become one the most popular winter-time activities in the world.

For more information about the exhibit, e-mail info@AR4T.com.

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Literary women to meet

The Montage Resort in Laguna Beach will host “She Writes” from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Limited to 100 women, the event will feature emcee and columnist, Barbara Potter, and an exhibit by artist Robin Wethe Altman, who will unveil her cover art for the upcoming “She Writes” Anthology; a poetry reading by Ricki Mandeville; light champagne lunch; and featured author/speakers Barbara DeMarco Barrett, Jeri Westerson, Lynette Brasfield, Kathryn Jordan and Regina Louise.

Sponsored by Windflower Press of Laguna Niguel, a small independent publisher that recently released “Interstices,” an anthology showcasing Orange County writers and poets, the topic of the day will be how women must risk and what they risk to reach their creative goals.

For more information, visit the salon blog at https://shewritessalon.blogspot.com/.

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Laguna artists raise scholarship funds

JoAnne Artman Gallery in Laguna Beach will host its annual “Meet the Artists” wine and dine event at 6 p.m. Thursday at The Pacific Club, 4110 MacArthur Blvd. in Newport Beach, to help support the Pacific Art Foundation, whose mission is to provide scholarships for art students.

The event will showcase many local artists including America Martin, Jorge Fernandez, Regina Jacobson and Tim Lemen, all of whom will be in attendance to mingle with patrons and discuss their work.

This year’s beneficiary is Laguna College of Art & Design, which will receive 25% of the evening’s proceeds.

Cost is $100 in advance, $125 at the door. For information or tickets, call (949) 955-1123.

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Studio art classes at Sawdust

Sawdust will introduce a Studio Art Class series beginning Oct. 15, where patrons will have an opportunity to try their hand at pottery, ceramics, jewelry, tiles and more throughout the year.

The series is hosted in collaboration with the Laguna Beach Visitors & Conference Bureau, and classes will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Friday and Saturday.

On Oct. 15, patrons can try pendant making with David Ferris; create sushi plates with Thalia Isen; or design wind chimes with Nadine Nordstrom. Linda Ames will give lessons on how to make Tidepool bracelets on Oct. 16; and Klai Brown will teach how to make a sushi plate set.

Cost is $95. Private lessons or custom group classes are also available throughout the week or on the weekend with advance notice.

For a complete schedule or to sign up, visit https://www.sawdustartfestival.org/studio-classes.