February showers bring March flowers

Suzie Harrison

Art lovers should check their closets and find their most comfortable

walking shoes for the 12th annual Sawdust Art Festival Art Walk

Studio Tour, which has been expanded to two days, April 5 and 6.

This annual event allows people a rare opportunity to visit Laguna

Beach artists’ homes and studios all over the city. This year, 61

artists are scheduled to participate, and organizers expect 500

people to attend.

Marketing Director Rebecca Meekma said that the Art Walk Studio

Tour assists the Sawdust in its mission to provide opportunities for

the public to experience art in Laguna. Art enthusiasts are also

afforded a sneak preview of the art being created for the Sawdust Art

Festival and Festival of Arts.

Local artist Michael Hallinan came to Laguna Beach 30 years ago to

attend what was then called the Art Institute in Laguna Canyon. He

has never thought of a reason to leave, he said.

Now he teaches a couple of art classes for Laguna’s recreation

program and also exhibits at the Sawdust -- he’s been a participating

artist since its inception.

“I have been doing this for 12 years,” Hallinan said. “I think we

have an obligation to share part of the heritage of our town. People

should see paintings in other settings than galleries.”

Hallinan has lived in his house on Glenneyre Street for 24 years

and has set up a studio in his garage.

“Laguna is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen, it’s pretty

seductive,” Hallinan said. “I came here in an ancient van with a surf

board and an easel and have never moved.”

The Art Walk Studio Tour is an opportunity to visit studios not

typically open to the public, the idea to start the tour was

instigated by Laguna artist Anne England, who exhibits at both summer

art festivals and is responsible for several art affiliations.

“It’s unique to see the artists’ studios and also see their

habitat,” England said. “The studio tour is exciting, especially for

people to see the process of the artists doing their art, because

what they usually see is the finished product.”

England says she’ll be doing demonstrations all day. Her house is

known as the “Jasmine House” because it is covered in jasmine and

surrounded by layers of flowers. England said she’s lived in that

house for 20 years and has lived in Laguna for 41 years.

“They loved it, loved seeing the art being created,” England said.

“They’ll see me ink a plate and make a mono-print.”

Participants of the art walk check in at the Sawdust grounds

between 10 and 11 a.m. Mimosas, coffee and muffins, as well as live

entertainment, are provided while the art walkers decide between the

north, central or canyon tour.

Meekma said that there are 24 fine artists who paint and draw, 10

glass artists, six jewelry makers, four ceramic artists, three

sculptors, three photographers, two woodworking artists and nine

working in fiber, cloth, bronze, mosaics, stone, leather and mixed

media.

“The shuttles leave every 15 minutes. You can choose however you

want to do it,” Meekma said. “You don’t have to pick one specific

tour. People can go at their own pace and see what they are

interested in.

“For instance, you can say that you’re really into watercolor

painting, look at the information sheet and make sure to go see all

the watercolor artists,” she said.

Mike Tauber, a participating artist, said that he’d be working on

a couple pieces in progress. He’s moving to an expanded studio

location in the canyon and will just have his new studio set up in

time for the tour.

Most of his pieces are large commissioned works, acrylic paintings

and fabricated giant painted mosaics that people from all over

commission, making his work usually less available to see because

he’ll do a piece and then send it out.

“I’ll have a 10-year photo retrospective narrating the turning

points of my career,” Tauber said. “There’s work from Mexico, Brazil

and Australia. All of it will be photographed and mounted on the

wall.”

Canyon wood-making artist Randy Bader is one of the original

participating artists, going on his 12th year.

“The reason I decided to do it is that when I was in college, I

was always borrowing tools, needing help, always looking for a mentor

and knew that at some point I would have the answers,” Bader said.

“I’ve done it because it’s a big payback for all the people there for

me. I get a chance to give back.”

He said that people get into how it’s really done, the process.

After years of getting a little better and better, he has improved,

which makes it look easier to do. He pointed out that when people get

skilled at anything, it looks like they can do it with ease, whereas

that’s not necessarily the way it is.

“The better people get, the more fluid it is and it looks like

it’s less work,” Bader said. “As part of the tour, I get to say

here’s what you do. It’s like being a magician and letting them see

the secrets.”

After the tour on Saturday, tourists are invited to a reception on

the grounds, which will include wine and cheese and an original dance

performance commissioned by the California Choreographers Dance

Festival. Eric Kupers and the Dandelion Dancetheater of San Francisco

will perform “Stories Written Under the Skin.”

On Sunday, there will be a post-walk reception.

Tours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 3

p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $55 for a weekend pass, $45 for a single

day or $40 for seniors and students.

The Sawdust is at 935 Laguna Canyon Road. For information or

tickets, call 494-3030 or go online to www.sawdustartfestival.org.