BRIEFLY IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

LAM reports successful auction

Laguna Art Museum has reported that its Feb.10 art auction broke records for the number of artworks sold and the amount raised by the event.

The auction grossed close to $130,000, and 125 of the 143 works of art sold.

Based on the success of the new format, the museum plans to produce an encore in Feb. 2008, the year of the museum’s 90th anniversary.

Lew Geiser bequest sculptures installed

Two sculptures by French artist Vincent Magni that were bequeathed to the city by the late Lew Geiser have made their permanent home at the corner of Bluebird and Oriole Drives.

The pieces were installed last week; in honor of Valentine’s Day, neighbor Linda Sharp has continued the tradition of decorating them for the holidays.

Art history lecture at Rohrer Fine Art

Ann Dumas, an art historian and curator from the Royal Academy of Arts in London, will speak at Rohrer Fine Art at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Dumas’ recent exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York will be the subject of her lecture. The exhibition featured Ambroise Vollard, an art dealer who lived in Paris in the late nineteenth century and whose taste and business savvy were influential in developing the careers of Cezanne, Gauguin, Van Gogh, Picasso and Matisse.

The 45-minute, illustrated lecture will explore Vollard’s influence on the development of modern art.

Dumas will also speak about an original Monet painting and Degas pastel which will be on display in the gallery.

RSVPs are required, as seating is limited. For more information and to RSVP, e-mail jennifer@rohrerfineart.com or call (949) 494-8200.

DjangoFest returns to Forum Theater

The third annual DjangoFest Laguna will run March 2 and 3 at the Forum Theatre, on the Festival of Arts grounds.

The gypsy jazz festival is a celebration of and tribute to music inspired by gypsy-guitar legend Django Reinhardt.

Performers traveling from Europe to participate in the Laguna concerts include Swedish guitar virtuoso Andreas Oberg, French accordionist Ludovic Beier and French master guitarist Angelo Debarre.

John Jorgenson, former lead guitar player for Elton John, and Gonzalo Bergara of Trio Gonzalo will also be featured.

Concert tickets are $34 to $40, and are available at www.ticketleap.com

For more information on concerts, master classes, workshops and the lineup, visit www.djangofest.com

Art That’s Small due at City Hall

Artwork for the 2007 Art That’s Small at City Hall open exhibition will be accepted from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday, March 24 at the City Council Chambers, 505 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach.

All artwork must have attached applications. Entry fees must be received during this time.

All works deemed acceptable will be exhibited at City Hall from March 26 through May 3.

Entries will be accepted from residents of Orange County (proof required), aged 18 or over. All entries must be original and have been executed within the past two years.

The first place entry will be awarded $350, second place will receive $200, third place will receive $50 and the City Hall Choice will be awarded $50.

A $15 fee will be charged, with only one entry allowed per artist. Payments by check must be made payable to the City of Laguna Beach. Cash payment is accepted.

Artwork must be no larger than 12 inches along any edge — including the frame — and 3 inches in depth.

Artwork may include oil, acrylic, watercolor, photography, drawing, mixed media and relief. It must be dry, suitably framed, secure and wired for wall hanging. No saw tooth hangers or sandwich glass will be accepted. The Arts Commission reserves the right to reject submissions it deems inappropriate.

A reception and award ceremony will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. at City Hall on April 5, prior to First Thursday’s Art Walk.

The exhibition closes from 9 a.m. to noon on May 4. Artwork not collected by noon will incur a $10 per day charge.

The applications are available at the city’s website, www.lagunabeachcity.net.