IN THE ARTS

Forest Avenue fete honors sister city

Laguna Beach’s first annual Fete De Musique will honor its new sister city, Menton, France, from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, on Forest Avenue.

The Infinity Brass Quintet will announce the opening ceremony by playing the French national anthem, La Marseilleise, and the American Star Spangled Banner. The Bolling French Jazz Sextet from the Laguna Community Concert Band will open the celebration at the Presbyterian Rose Garden on Forest Avenue with classical jazz selections from noon until 12:10 p.m. and again immediately following the introduction of various French and Laguna Beach dignitaries by Councilwoman Toni Iseman.

Speaking at the opening ceremony will be Mayor Jane Egly; French Consulate Didier Rousseliere; Robert Fraisse, superintendent of the Laguna Beach Unified School District; Fred Karam of the Alliance Francaise; Karyn Philippsen of the Laguna Beach Visitors Bureau; Odile Dewar, French teacher at Laguna Beach High School; and Amelia M’Baye, formerly of Senegal, who will sing a song of peace in Senegalese, French and English.

Following the ceremony, Forest Avenue will come alive with performing musicians for two hours. Live music will be provided by Doug Miller, violin; Chic McDonald, guitar; James Luby, guitar; Edna Kvochak, accordion; flute ensemble from the Laguna Community Concert Band; a Dixieland instrumental group, Blue Grass group, Infinity Brass group, Bolling Jazz group, and Kevin Fitzpatrick, who will play classical lute. All performers will be playing at private store areas and will rotate from one venue to another.

Following the festivities on Forest Avenue, the public is invited to a free organ concert at the Christian Science Church auditorium at 635 High Drive. Randy Woltz, member of the American Guild of Organists, will play a one-hour concert of French music on the church’s Moller Organ. Call Carol Reynolds at (949) 497-0986.

Sawdust hires Fung as media liaison

The Sawdust Art Festival has appointed Cynthia Y. Fung to the organization’s public relations and marketing staff for the 2008 summer season, General Manager Tom Klingenmeier has announced.

Fung will handle press relations and work directly with the Sawdust marketing department, along with Dolores C. Colin, group sales and marketing associate.

Longtime Sawdust media representative Rebecca Meekma has moved on as a public relations consultant after seven years.

The Sawdust will open Wednesday. Visit www.sawdustartfestival. org.

‘Saving the Boom’ film tickets on sale

John Keitel’s documentary, “Saving the Boom” — about efforts to keep Laguna Beach’s oldest gay bar, the Boom Boom Room, in operation — will have its world premiere at Outfest, the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.

The film will be shown July 15 at the Directors Guild Theater Two, 7920 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. There is parking directly below the theater.

“Saving the Boom” will begin at 7:15 p.m. and runs 32 minutes, and is in the short documentary category.

At 9:30 p.m. there will be a “Saving the Boom” premiere after party at Beige at the Falcon Restaurant and Bar, 7213 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood.

Tickets for the premiere are $12 each.

To order, call (213) 480-7065 or e-mail [email protected] or go to outfest.org on the Internet.

First MFA graduates part of art exhibit

Koplin Del Rio will present a group exhibition of selected work created by the first graduating class of Laguna College of Art & Design’s master’s students. The paintings and works on paper reflect a broad range of approaches in terms of style and narrative content.

LCAD is honoring the memory of Barbara Steele Williams for her endowed support of the college each year since 1996.

The first MFA graduating class’ art exhibition will be held in her honor at the Koplin Del Rio Gallery on July 19 from 6 to 8 p.m. The funds are received from The Barbara Steele Williams Designated Agency Endowment, of the Orange County Community Foundation.

Koplin Del Rio is located at 6031 Washington Blvd., Culver City. Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free.

Liu releases second children’s book

Laguna Beach artist Davy Liu, an independent film producer, illustrator and art director, will release his second children’s book, “Fire Fish,” on June 28.

The book is inspired by the book of Exodus, weaving a tale of adventure, struggle and faith.

“Fire Fish” follows three little fish, Sarai, RaaOn and Sesom, who embark on a quest to find their missing parents.

Never more than a fin-flip away from danger, they tumble from one exploit to another.

Along their journey they encounter helpful friends and deceitful enemies.

All the while, the legend of the Fire Fish inspires them to explore a world bigger than they ever imagined.

In the climax, the Fire Fish returns the lost parents.

“Fire Fish” is published by Kendu Films Inc. and is $19.95.

For more information, visit thefirefish.com.

Art museum launches new show

Laguna Art Museum, 307 Cliff Drive, will debut “In the Land of Retinal Delights: The Juxtapoz Factor” on Sunday.

The show will run through Oct. 5.

The exhibition presents the work of about 150 artists and centers on the art movement represented in Juxtapoz Magazine, now the most widely read art magazine in the country, which focuses on lowbrow art like black velvet paintings, pulp pornography and carnival art.

Admission is $10 for adults or $8 for seniors; children under 12 are free, but parents are warned the exhibition contains explicit material.

For more information, call (949) 494-8971 or visit LagunaArtMuseum. org.