In The Arts

Book signing benefits pet rescue

Laguna Beach Books, 1200 S. Coast Hwy, Suite 105 will feature an appearance and reading by Garth Stein, author of the New York Times bestseller, “The Art of Racing in the Rain,” from 3 to 4 p.m. Tuesday. Cost is $25 and includes a signed copy of the book, wine and snacks. Ten percent of the proceeds with benefit Animal Crackers Pet Rescue. To reserve a seat, call (949) 494-4779.

Erotic Story on Ocean Avenue

Katharine Story, 226 Ocean Ave., will host her annual Erotic Art Show from 6 to 9 p.m. during First Thursday’s Art Walk.

The racy event will feature sexually expressive art by new artists including L.A.-based ceramicist Tony Brown and Laguna artists Roarke Gourley, Vertigo Home, Warren Ellson, Jorge Dubin, Laura Georgopoulos, Tim Carmody and Jim Olarte.

“I’m excited to have a ceramicist who will bring an entirely new element to the show,” Story said.

Special features will include a poetry reading by Pamela Burras, Keith Haring inspired condom designs and a juicy surprise, which Story said she hopes will “push the buttons of eroticism in people.”

For more information, call (949) 497-7097 or visit www.katharinestory.com.

Pirate surf film to screen at Forum

The Laguna Beach Film Society will premiere, “Sea of Darkness,” the second documentary in their Sea Tales series at 7 p.m. Feb 12 at the Forum Theater.

Directed by Michael Oblowitz, the modern day pirate tale explores the terrific risks that some surfers take by smuggling to fund their Indonesian journeys to remote jungle spots, all for their passion to ride the big, heavy waves.

Tickets are $15 and can be bought at 6:45 p.m. at the door.

Smörfs and Gumpfots at Arin

Arin Contemporary Art will host a reception for “Voyage Congolaise,” new work by German artists Julia Venske and Gregor Spänle from 6 to 9 tonight at the gallery, 350 N. Coast Hwy.

The inspiration for this exhibition was derived from a recent visit to the Congo, where the artists floated their carefully crafted, hand-carved marble smörfs and gumpfots sculptures along the Congo River.

Smörfs are a population invented by Venske and Spänle that migrate globally throughout the art market as human companions. A fictional documentary filmed in high-definition will be projected, following one smörf that remained in the Congo in exchange for a Congolese nail fetish, a native figure believed to have protective powers. A cybersmörf is also projected against the gallery display window from the inside, interacting with and attempting its next invasion into the outside population.

The walls of the gallery will be covered in photography wallpaper, with a group of renegade smörfs seemingly emerging from inside the wallpaper. Impossible to be overlooked is also the 1,600-pound sauger directly attached to the architecture using the gallery space as a host.

These sculptures and their journey through the Congo will be on display until March 28.

For more information, call (949) 715-4554 or visit www.arincontemporary.com.

Discussion with Peter Clothier

The Laguna Art Museum will feature a discussion and book signing by artist and author Peter Clothier at 1 p.m. Sunday in the California Gallery.

Clothier will talk about his new book, “Persist: in Praise of the Creative Spirit in a World Gone Mad with Commerce,” which addresses the predicament of artists in a cultural climate in which celebrity and established commercial track record too often count for more than talent and quality of work.

This event is free to museum members and free to nonmembers with paid museum admission.

This event will take place the week that Auction 100 artwork is on display.

Fore more information, call (949) 494-8971 or visit www.lagunartmuseum.org.

‘Stay Tuned for Murder’ benefit

The Laguna Playhouse Youth Theater will present “Stay Tuned for Murder,” a musical murder mystery at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 5 and 6 at Neighborhood Congregational Church, 340 St. Ann’s Drive.

Written by Tom Shelton and Alyssa Canann, the play takes place in a ‘40s Hollywood broadcasting studio where a serious and deadly problem is bound to arise. The event will benefit the Playhouse’s Youth Theater program.

Tickets are $75 and can be bought by phone at (949) 497-2787 or at www.lagunaplayhouse.com.