Plein Air heading around town Fifty of...

Plein Air heading around town

Fifty of the best in the country have been invited to Laguna Beach

to compete in the 6th annual Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting

Invitational today through Sunday. The community is welcome to watch

every step of the way.

The “Quick Draw Paint Out” is one of the highlights. From 10 a.m.

to noon today at the north end of Heisler Park, the artists will

compete with only two hours to complete a park scene. The winners

will be announced at the gala.

Saturday is the Gala Dinner and Collectors Preview Sale at the

Laguna Art Museum. Guests who attend this event will have the first

opportunity to purchase paintings completed during the invitational,

mingle with the artists and attend the awards presentation.

The final part of the invitational is the free exhibit and sale of

the work at an exhibit at the museum from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on

Sunday. Pieces that are still available can be purchased at that

time.

A limited number of tickets are still available to the Gala and

Collector’s Preview event. All other events are free. To purchase

tickets, call the museum at (949) 494-8971, Ext. 200. The Laguna Art

Museum is at 307 Cliff Drive.

New family days at Sawdust Festival

Sawdust marketing and community relations director Rebecca Meekma

said two “Family Fun Days” have been added to the menu for this

summer.

The first is Tuesday, with the second on Aug. 24, and will feature

an “extra-special lineup of entertainment and art activities geared

toward families with children.” Tuesday features entertainment by

Heebie and Jeebie of Cox 3’s “Kurtoon Time.”

Complimentary children’s art activities will be offered at the

Children’s Art Booth and Ceramics Space, where children receive

one-on-one instruction at the potter’s wheel. Other classes include

painting with acrylics, watercolor and more.

“Balloon Diva” April Strong is a longtime balloon artist who can

make anything in balloon form in seconds. Children can see her create

right in front of their eyes. Bluegrass music by “Foxfire,” a band

comprising teenage siblings, will also be performing, as well as

other entertainment throughout the day.

Sawdust Art Festival is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. through

Sept. 5. Sawdust is at 935 Laguna Canyon Road. Admission is $6.50 for

a one-day adult pass; $5.50 for seniors 65 and older; $2 for children

6 to 12 and free for children 5 and younger. A season pass with

unlimited entry is $12, while an annual pass to both the summer and

winter shows is $16. For information, call (949) 494-3030 or visit

online at https://www.sawdustart

festival.org.

Get wild at the Festival of Arts

From noon to 4 p.m. July 24, the Festival of Arts is having its

annual day of exotic animals coming to the grounds for their “Walk on

the Wild Side.”

Wildlife artist Chris Hoy will be on hand to illustrate wolves,

several cats, a red fox, a wallaby, a kinkajou and other animals.

Veteran trainer and actress Apache Tonya will even introduce the

starring wolf, Two Socks, in “Dances with Wolves.” A Caribbean steel

drum band will provide the live music.

The event is free with Festival of Arts admission with entry free

every day for Laguna Beach locals with proper identification.

Festival of Arts is at 650 Laguna Canyon Road. For information,

call (949) 494-1145

Master stone-carvers offer multi-level class

Learn the techniques of this time-honored art form using both hand

and pneumatically driven tools working in a variety of available

stones.

Master stone-carvers Marvin Johnson and Joseph Sovella teach the

Stone Carving Class summer workshop. It’s held at Laguna College of

Art and Design, 2222 Laguna Canyon Road, through Aug. 28.

No prior experience is necessary. The class is available for

beginners to advanced carvers. Technical skills will be taught as

part of the art process.

To register for the workshop or for information, call Caroline

Butler at (949) 376-6000, Ext. 233. Cost for this eight-week class is

$250. There is a free makeup class.

‘Music in the Park’ starts July 25

July 25 is the first concert of the nine-week season of “Music in

the Park.”

The schedule at Bluebird Park is the LA Mambo Combo, performing

Latin music July 25; swing music by Jumpin’ Joz Aug. 1; blues by Mojo Filter Blues Aug. 8; Latin rock by Savor Aug. 15; Lion Heart performs

reggae Aug. 22; Hot August Night is a Neil Diamond tribute band

performing Aug. 29; folk-rock by Thornbird Sept. 5; Eagles tribute

band Desperado Sept. 12. The final concert is at Riddle Field on

Sept. 19 with pop-rock band Cloud 9.

The nine-week concert series is a partnership between the city of

Laguna Beach, the Arts Commission and Music in the Park, Inc. All

concerts are free and go from 5 to 7 p.m. except the final concert

from 4 to 6 p.m. For information, call (949) 497-0722.