In The Arts

Editor’s note: This adds the day the LOCA event is happening.

Lee Rocker to be honored at Art Star Awards

The Laguna Beach Alliance for the Arts will be honoring homegrown rockabilly musician Lee Rocker with the “Visionary Arts” award during the Fifth Annual Art Star Awards on April 1 at [seven-degrees].

The Laguna Beach resident achieved fame in the ‘80s as the bassist for The Stray Cats.

Rocker recently came off a tour, not for his band but for the musical “Million Dollar Quartet” on Broadway.

“I’m genuinely honored to be receiving the 2011 Laguna Beach Alliance for the Arts Award,” Rocker said in a statement. “The community is my adopted home and where my wife and I raised our family. The Laguna Beach community is well known for its support of the arts, and living here I’ve been able to find my creative, personal and professional home base.”

Rocker will be the keynote speaker at the Art Star Awards. Louis Longi sculptures will be presented to winners in other categories, such as Best New Arts Program, Arts Patron of the Year and Laguna Beach Artist of the Year.

In addition, one of three finalists will win the $5,000 [seven-degrees] inspiration grant. The finalists are: Katlin Evans, Jodie Gates and Roark Gourley.

“The three finalists represent very different and unique art forms. We thank [seven-degrees] for not only hosting the event, but for funding this amazing grant opportunity,” event chairwoman Lisa Mansour said in a press statement.

To purchase tickets, e-mail information@lagunabeacharts.com.

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LOCA art day at Marine Mammal Center

The Pacific Marine Mammal Center and Laguna Outreach for Community Arts are teaming up for a day of environmental education, along with an art workshop Saturday.

After a docent-led tour of the facility, including a peek at the seals and sea lions, LOCA artist Liz McGhee will lead a paperweight-making workshop. McGhee will help participants make a sea-themed paperweight using paint and other materials.

Anyone older than 6 is welcome. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for kids ages 6 to 18. The event starts at 9 a.m.

To buy tickets, e-mail locaarts@yahoo.com or call (949) 363-4700 with your contact information.

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Playhouse thanks Parallax Capital Partners

The Laguna Playhouse has announced a new honorary producer for their latest production: Parallax Capital Partners.

Tickets only cover about 70% of the nonprofit theater’s costs, so honorary producer sponsorship is integral to the institution’s future, according to a statement from the Playhouse.

Parallax Capital Partners, a technology company based in Laguna Hills, will be backing Noel Coward’s “Private Lives,” which runs to April 10.

“Supporting theater is my passion, and I’m delighted to be able to share a live theater experience with our customers, employees and greater Orange County community,” Lisa Hale, a managing partner of Parallax Capital Partners and a member of the Playhouse’s Board of Trustees, said in a statement. “It is our honor to support the Playhouse in this special way, during its historic 90th Anniversary Season.”

To learn more about the Laguna Playhouse, contact (949) 497-2787.

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Art Squared at Woman’s Club

Laguna Outreach for Community Arts will host Art Squared at the Laguna Beach Woman’s Club from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Sunday. The fundraising event highlights LOCA’s skilled art educators.

More than 40 originals, all created by local people under the tutelage of LOCA staff, will be auctioned off at the club. Besides bidding on artworks, guests can enjoy wine, hors d’oeuvres, drawings and live music by Jason Feddy.

Honorary chairwoman and co-owner of Studio Arts Gallery, Rebecca Barber, hopes the event will urge locals to take advantage of LOCA classes.

“I loved taking my Art Squared class. The LOCA instructors really made it easy,” Barber said in a statement. “I learned a lot and my piece came out better than expected!”

Guests must register in advance. For more information, go to LOCAarts.org or call (949) 363-4700.

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Laguna Beach Live hosts jazzy fundraiser

Laguna Beach Live! is hosting a night of dancing and jazz, the “Jerry Mandel Swingin’ the Standards Jazz Band” fundraiser on April 14 at the Woman’s Club, 286 St. Ann’s Drive.

Mandel, the former president of the Orange County Performing Arts Center, will play classic swing songs with an eight-piece band.

Guests will be free to hit the martini bar and get dance lessons during the night.

The event starts at 6 p.m. For more information, visit https://www.LagunaBeachLive.org or call (949) 715-9713.

—Compiled by Joanna Clay