Sad but true, time is ticking

EYE ON ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Holy cow, can it be that we scarcely have five weeks left in the

season we call summer?

What is making me even more despondent is that we only have a

couple more weeks to cherish the Festival of Arts and the Sawdust

Festival. Are there any 12-step programs to get over Festival

withdrawal?

So go, go, go and remember that the Festival of Arts is free every

day to Laguna Beach residents with proper identification and the

Sawdust Festival is free on Thursday nights for locals.

Thursday night at the Festival there’s the Wine Tasting and Jazz

Series from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. with the last one on Aug. 22. From 2 to

4 p.m. on Sundays the Festival has a classical music concert and the

last one is Aug. 25.

Both festivals have free art classes to participate in -- so go

enjoy yourself! Don’t be shy.

Asian Arts day at the Festival

This Saturday the Festival of Arts is rolling out the special

event red carpet with a festive Asian Arts Day.

Japanese, Korean, Chinese and Indian arts will be represented and

there will be special hands-on art projects, workshops and

demonstrations in indigenous Japanese painting.

“All of the day’s activities are geared toward the family with

wonderful opportunities for children and adults to participate in

Asian cultural and traditional programs,” said Sharbie Higuchi

marketing director for the Festival.

The special event is from noon to 4 p.m. The Festival is at 650

Laguna Canyon Road. Information: 494-1145.

The Tsunami of Surf Culture continues at LAM

The Museum’s California Gallery is hosting a family event where

stories of the rides of surfers’ lives will be told. Stories will be

narrated by well-known surfers like Renny Yater, Sally Yater, Dale

Velzy, Y, formerly known as Tom Morey, Kenny Price, Billy Al

Bengston, Jericho Poppler and a sprinkling of surprise guests too.

The lecture will be at 11 a.m. Sunday and is free for members or with

paid admission.

At 5 p.m. on Aug. 25 David Carson, the designer of the Surf

Culture book, who has also been a surfer for more than 30 years, will

discuss the relationship between surfing and his design.

Next Thursday the museum will feature two films as part of its

Surf Culture festivities.

“Shelter” is a film that features surfing greats Rob Machado,

Shane Dorian along with Joel Tudor, Nat Young, Mick Fanning and Malia

Jones. Taylor Steele and Chris Malloy direct the film, both will make

a live appearance. Joachim Cooder created the all-original score.

Surfer Brad Gerlach declared it as the best surfing movie he had ever

seen.

The second film, “Fifth Symphony Document,” is a soulful journey

around the world seeking the rediscovery of the wandering spirit of

surf filmmaking, featuring Shane Dorian, Ben Brough, Conan Hayes,

Mikala Jones, Greg Browning and Kelly Slater. Directors Andy Carlson

and Chad Campbell will also be making an appearance.

The surf film series will be shown at Laguna South Coast Cinema at

162 S. Coast Highway, one block south of Broadway.

All films are at 7 p.m. on Thursday evenings and tickets are $10.

Laguna Art Museum is located at 307 Cliff Drive. For more

information, please call the museum at 494-6531.

Dynamic duo has fun raising money for AIDS

Joanne Culverhouse, El Morro principal and Darrin Reed, assistant

to the superintendent of the Laguna Beach Unified School District

recently returned from their accomplished mission in Europe where

Culverhouse pedaled 500 miles over seven days from Amsterdam to Paris

in the European AIDS Vaccine Ride.

Reed was her sidekick, setting up camp and doing other behind the

scenes things to help Culverhouse.

“It was a life changing experience, for seven days with more than

800 people ... everyone striving for the same goal -- it was awesome.

I met a wonderfully dedicated group of riders, crew and Pallotta

staff members and made some great friendships that I hope will last a

lifetime,” Reed said.

Both Culverhouse and Reed were thrilled with the success and the

fact that they raised more than $8,000.

Locals to star at Playhouse

Laguna local Karen Rymar, who is on the advisory board for the No

Square Theatre, is co-producing a duet concert Monday night at the

Laguna Playhouse starring Laguna’s Lisa Richard and Susan Egan.

Egan is a Tony nominated Broadway actress and singer who met

Richard when she was performing in “Inside Out” at the Playhouse and

have been on similar paths.

Egan has appeared in many plays, films and television performances

as well as singing roles, including her own album.

Richard has released her second album just released in April and

has played a variety of musical theater roles.

“We got to be friends we both have so much fun together. We both

have albums out this year and did a duet on each other’s album. And

our albums came out in the same month,” Richard said.

They decided that they needed to do a concert together that will

be their first. They’ll also be performing some solos and stories

Richard said.

Richard has lived in Laguna and has enjoyed her work singing at

the Pageant of the Masters and at the Playhouse.

Their performance is a part of the Laguna Playhouse’s new Summer

Monday Specials. They will perform this Monday at 7 and 9 p.m.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by calling 497-ARTS, online at

www.LagunaPlayhouse.com or at the theater at 606 Laguna Canyon Road.

* SUZIE HARRISON is a reporter for the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. She may be reached at 494-4321.