Through the rain, plenty of action

EYE ON ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

The vibrant colors that the rain is creating seem to be art in and of

themselves. Driving through Laguna Canyon, I marvel at the green

beaming from the hills and the coast, I love the contrast of the dark

gray sky and the waves -- it’s quite ominous and beautiful.

The crazy thing about all this rain is that it makes most want to

stay inside -- except for the least likely suspect -- my cat Pacific.

Perhaps it’s his name that draws him to the water, but my cat loves

playing in the rain. He’ll come in soaked, grab a bite and run out

for more. It’s enjoyable to watch him have so much fun.

ART WALK CELEBRATION

It’s hard to believe that this coming Thursday is First Thursday’s

Art Walk for March, since there is still a lot of buzz about the

fifth anniversary bash last month.

“During the anniversary event, the galleries from north, downtown

and south and the sidewalks were filled with about 3,000 art lovers,”

gallery owner Marion Cuddyer said. “Mixed in with the tourists, the

majority of celebrating participants were local residents, visiting

new exhibitions at galleries where artists, including international

artists, were in attendance.”

City arts coordinator Sian Poeschl said the anniversary was an

opportunity to thank all who had attended the art walk over the

years, as well as the galleries that have enthusiastically

participated and supported First Thursday’s.

“It was wonderful to see so many people celebrating the fifth

anniversary of First Thursday’s Art Walk,” Poeschl said. “Over a

thousand people attended the post party alone. Many thanks go to Mark

and Tim Orgil of [seven-degrees] for the multimedia experience.”

Cuddyer said that the highlight of the evening was the post-party

from 9 to 11 p.m. at the Festival of Arts grounds.

“Even though it was freezing cold, viewers [maybe 500] stayed for

the entire performance of Elvis Schoenberg and his Orchestre,”

Cuddyer said. “More amazing than can be described, it was a

combination of music, comedy, carnival -- you name it.”

Another popular attraction was Kimberly Bixler Leeds representing

the California Choreographer’s Dance Festival, who danced to local

Evren Ozan’s music. Evren is a 9-year-old Native American flute

prodigy who played his flutes and bongo drums. The crowd enjoyed

hearing him performing “Winter Hawk” and “Soaring,” two of his

original songs off his “Images of Winter” CD.

Cuddyer, as did others, noted the hand-created decorations

throughout the grounds.

“It was fun for everyone young and old,” Cuddyer said, “It was a

fun cultural event, free of charge. Gallery owners could enjoy the

festivities at the Festival Grounds at the end of a successful

evening in Laguna.”

She and the other gallery owners credited Poeschl and the Art

Walk’s Board of Directors and volunteers for working hard behind the

scenes to make the event possible.

“They arranged the sponsors and everything,” Cuddyer said. “It was

nice to see a successful, appreciative turn-out.”

Poeschl added that on a personal level she has enjoyed working

with the gallery community.

“They have shown not only enthusiasm, but persistence, innovation

and energy in continuously presenting a professional event,” Poeschl

said. “First Thursday’s has certainly put Laguna Beach on the

cultural map -- its future is exciting. Really, anything is possible

and the galleries have the capability of making innovative inroads in

the arts with the support of the Laguna Beach community.”

GALLERY ROW CELEBRATIONS

Peter Blake Gallery will celebrate its 10-year anniversary from 6

to 9 p.m. on Saturday. Don’t forget to congratulate Peter and his

wife, Fetnah. The gallery has brought a lot to the local art scene.

Peter Blake Gallery is at 326 North Coast Highway. For information,

call 376-9994.

The newly opened GCG Greenwood Chebithes Gallery next to Peter’s

gallery at 330 North Coast Highway will have an opening, which will

run through March 31, of new works by Deborah Davidson and Kenna

Moser with an artists’ reception from 6 to 9 p.m. tomorrow. For

information, call 494-0669.

LAGUNA ART MUSEUM HAPPENINGS

Laguna Art Museum will present the exhibit “Waking Dreams: The Art

of Leonard Kaplan,” on March 9. It will run through July 6. The

exhibition includes surrealistic drawings and mixed-media collages by

Kaplan, produced in the 1980s.

Kaplan opened a studio and antique shop when he came to Laguna

Beach in 1945, which allowed him to indulge his curiosity in the

past.

“Kaplan is known as an artist who has explored various media

ranging from whalebone carvings to photomontage,” said Stuart Byer,

the museum’s media relations man. “Following the path of the

surrealists, Kaplan ventures to penetrate and visualize the

unconscious through fluid, yet convoluted mazes in his images.”

Seminal historian Nancy Dustin Wall Moure donated Library of

California Art to Laguna Art Museum in honor of Laguna Art Museum’s

85th anniversary. The collection of more than 1,000 volumes on California art and art history includes landmark books , Byer

explained. Moure very carefully built the library over the last 30

years. The collection also includes 6,500 slides.

The Laguna Art Museum will hold a sale of art books on March 6 in

conjunction with the First Thursday’s Art Walk from 6 to 8 p.m.

Proceeds will benefit the museum.

“This is a ‘must attend’ for the art book lover,” said Carol

Reynolds, museum librarianLaguna Art Museum is at 307 Cliff Drive.

For information, call 494-8971 or go online to

www.lagunaartmuseum.org.

* SUZIE HARRISON is a reporter for the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. She may be reached at 494-4321 or suzie.harrison@latimes.com.