OUR LAGUNA:Winter arrives at Sawdust

The Winter Fantasy is one more reason for locals to give thanks.

Opening Day of the 16th annual show was Saturday. The show will run for the next three weekends, starting today, at the Sawdust Festival grounds, 935 Laguna Canyon Rd.

The Winter Fantasy provides an appealing alternative to the mall madness and sameness — dare we use the work “unique.”

“It is Laguna’s gateway to the holidays,” exhibitor Sally Wilde said. “We light our tree before the city does.”

(City and Chamber of Commerce officials usher in the holidays on Hospitality Night, always the first Friday in December).

The Winter Fantasy Opening Day included entertainment that started outside the entrance with the Scarlet Sisters stilt walkers and performances inside by rocker Jukebox Scandal, Steven Ybarra, and Don Covel, and traditional holiday music by the Laguna Community Concert Band, Lil’ Dickens Carolers and Top of the World honors Chorus.

Of course, Santa Claus was there to light the tree. So was Mayor Pro Tem Toni Iseman, who welcomed the crowd to the opening day ceremonies and assisted Sawdust Festival and Winter Fantasy Community Relations Manager Rebecca Meekma in the presentation of awards for the three best-trimmed trees and the four best-decorated booths.

Top tree honors went to Brownie Troop 444, SchoolPower and the American Legion Auxiliary. The gorgeous welcoming tree trimmed by the show committee was not eligible for an award.

Fifteen community organizations decorated trees this year, including newcomers Friends of the Hortense Miller Garden, Laguna Presbyterian Church Preschool, Blue Water, Laguna Beach Parents Club and the two top vote-getters.

Previous participants included the auxiliary, the Boys and Girls Club of Laguna Beach, Brownie Troup 594, Cub Scout Pack 38, CSP Youth Shelter, First Thursday Art Walk, Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce and Laguna Outreach Community Arts, better known as LOCA. The trees are displayed in the Towne Center, on the Main Entertainment Deck and at the Upper Waterfall.

Ket Youngstead was judged first in the booth decorating. Karen Joy came in second, Missy Belland, third and Judy Kerby received the honorable mention.

As a veteran judge, I can tell you that it was an even tougher job this year. Be sure to look at the booths as well as what’s in them. And don’t miss the castle created by Ryan Gourley.

Although the Winter Fantasy is a separate enterprise from the summer Sawdust Festival, many of the exhibitors participate in both shows and many of the same attractions are offered, including glass-blowing demonstrations and art classes. Refreshments are available.

The BIG difference, of course, is the snow field, where children can romp.

“We had high hopes when we started the show, but trying to get artists was the hard part,” show committee member Dennis Junka said. “Now, we have 175 artists and a waiting list.”

The committee also includes Barbara Barnett, Dave Nelson and Youngstead..

“I am really glad we are using the grounds for more than just the summer show,” sales booth manager Jay Grant said.

Grant and Patti Ohslund have compiled photographs and text for “The Sawdust Festival Early Years 1965-1979.”

“Most of the photos are by [local photographer and painter] Doug Miller and Irene Suess,” Grant said. “The two written histories are by Dolores Ferrell and Dion Wright.” It was a labor of love by Patti and me for the Sawdust.”

The book is for sale at the sales booth for $25.

Show hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $5.75 for adults, $4.75 for seniors, $3 for children 6-12 and free for five and under.

Upcoming events include an art auction at noon, Dec. 3, to benefit artists in need and an auction of one-of-a-kind wreaths created by 16 exhibitors a 1 p.m., Dec. 19 — proceeds to benefit the Winter Fantasy Educational Fund.

For more information, call (949) 494-3030.

WOMEN ARTISTS

Participants in the Laguna Beach Woman’s Club fall show for local female artists ranged from first-time exhibitors Kelly Garrison, Heather Ritts and Carol Zavala to four-year veteran Sandi Morgan.

Some of the exhibitors are painters. Others work in ceramics or yarn and several design jewelry. One thing they all have in common — they live in Laguna.

The show was open from 2 to 6 p.m, Saturday and Sunday.

Zavala began taking watercolor classes just a year ago through the city’s Irvine Valley College Emeritus Program.

“I find joy and delight in discovering the fluid nature of the materials and often some of my favorite images just seem to arrive by chance and whimsy,” said Zavala, a management consultant to non-profit organizations.

Ritts is inspired by the environment and her imagination, painting her visions in watercolor and guache and pens. She has attended classes at the Laguna College of Art & Design for four years.

Garrison majored in creative writing and minored in studio arts in college. Most of the charcoals she exhibited at the show were portraits, but she plans to expand her subject matter.

Veteran exhibitor Morgan expresses her passion for animals in acrylics and colored pencils on rocks rather than canvas, which she feels gives her work a special edge.

Edie Pickett and her daughter-in-law, Debbie, have been exhibiting at the Woman’s Club events for three years.

Debbie has lived in Laguna since 1975. Edie arrived a year earlier. Both design jewelry.

The entry fee for exhibitors was one piece of their work for the silent auction to benefit club projects.

Karen Fadel, a photographer who has exhibited in the Festival of Arts for four years, donated the first purse she created for a new line she will sell.

Maria Morris donated one of the caps she knitted from yarn she spun herself.

“Most spinners are weavers, but I have always knitted,” Morris said. “Really, I am here to advertise spinning. People think it is a lost art, but it isn’t.”

Other exhibitors included Renee Bergstein, Allison Goode, Lisa McMillan, Judy Hoy, Maria Martini, Suzanne Pitts, Daryle Lynn, Scot Eastman, Kiri Brooke, Susan Tucker, Cherrill Doty, Kathleen Brown and Paulette Adams with Nia Evans, 14, a Laguna Beach High School student, whose jewelry is shown at Muse.

Veronica Nice chaired the show, assisted by Brenda von Loggem.