Local art in focus at Camp

A wide array of artwork, including carved gourds, blown glass, oil paintings and photography, will be on display at an artist showcase today at the Camp shopping center.

The Costa Mesa Cultural Arts Committee is holding the event to introduce residents to local artists and their work.

The free outdoor exhibit is from 6 to 9 p.m. at the eclectic center at 2937 Bristol St.

About 35 artists, most from Costa Mesa, will be on hand at the event, said Jana Ransom, the city’s recreation manager and liaison to the committee.

This is the third artist showcase held since November. The first two were held at the city’s Neighborhood Community Center.

“This is our first foray out of city property,” Ransom said. “The Camp is very art friendly, very eclectic and a very hip shopping center.”

The shopping center, which caters to sports- and health-minded shoppers, is more suitable for the art exhibit, she said.

The event, co-sponsored by the Camp, will include live acoustic music performers. The performers are the group Mellow Mood, Robert West and Erick Macek.

Also the AIRe Global Cuisine restaurant will be giving out free samples.

Ransom said one of the committee’s goals is to have Costa Mesa be known by its motto: “City of the Arts.”

About 100 artists participated in the showcases in November and April, and more than 300 people attended the showcases, Ransom said.

Donna Robb’s artwork was among the work displayed at those showcases. The Costa Mesa resident is a professional muralist and illustrator. Robb is also the committee’s chairwoman.

Robb, who has 20 years of experience, said the committee has several goals: One is to create a permanent venue for local artists to showcase their work, and a second is to make local artists more accessible to the community.

“Our goal is to spotlight our guys in Costa Mesa first,” Robb said. “We had such a huge response to the first showcase. We were overwhelmed. There were so many artists and so much interest.”

For information, call (714) 754-5300.