IN THE ARTS

Historic sculpture to be renovated

The 1924 “Boy and Dog” sculpture by artist Ruth Peabody located at Jahraus Park in North Laguna Beach will be removed for renovation today, City Manager Ken Frank announced in his Sept. 5 Friday Update to city staff.

The work will be undertaken by a local company and it is anticipated the sculpture, site repair and renovation will be completed by early January, Frank stated.

The City Council approved the $26,000 renovation in July, after a $5,000 donation was received from local resident Mark Porterfield. The $21,000 remainder will be from the Arts Commission Special Programs budget, funded by the Business Improvement District.

The sculpture is believed to be the oldest public artwork in the city.

“” Cindy Frazier

Museum board to celebrate 90 years

The Laguna Art Museum will celebrate the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Laguna Beach Art Assn. at the organization’s annual members’ meeting, 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 23 at the museum, 307 Cliff Drive. The art association created the museum.

The invitation-only event will include special presentations and recognition of individuals who have been longtime museum supporters.

For more information, call the museum at (949) 494-8971.

Women artists invited to submit work

The Laguna Beach Woman’s Club is holding its annual Women’s Art Event, art show and sale, Nov. 8 and 9.

Any female artist living and/or working in Laguna Beach who would like to participate is invited to call event chairwoman Kimberly Salter at (949) 230-1169.

Jazz diva Karen Gallinger performs

Jazz vocalist Karen Gallinger will perform Wednesday, presented by Laguna Beach Live! in Jazz Wednesdays at the Hotel Laguna.

Regarded as one of Southern California’s finest jazz singers, Gallinger blends artistic passion and mastery of her craft into a dynamic and unique package. A gifted composer and lyricist, her lyrics to a number of Bill Evans songs have been recorded by Tierney Sutton and Roseanna Vitro, among others. Gallinger currently headlines regularly in and around the Southern California area and has appeared at concerts, festivals and nightclubs in the USA, Europe and Asia.

A writer and educator as well as a performer, she is currently on staff at the Orange County High School of the Arts teaching vocal jazz and theater, and is demand for clinics and master classes. She recently published her first book, “The Zen of Singing,” and is working on a new book about performance and creativity.

Gallinger started her jazz career in 1975 by performing with guitarist Tony Verheyen.

She has opened for such notables as Tony Bennett, Toni Tennille and Kenny Rankin and also played the lead in the 1996 musical “Is It Just Me or Is It Hot in Here.”

Jazz Wednesdays are in the outdoor Rose Garden of the Hotel Laguna, 425 S. Coast Hwy., from 6 to 8 p.m. Cover charge is $10. Doors open at 5:15 p.m. For more information, visit www.lagunabeachlive.org

Film Society previews Neil Burger film

The Laguna Beach Film Society will preview a new film, “The Lucky Ones,” by Neil Burger (director of “The Illusionist”) at 7 p.m. Thursday at South Coast Cinemas in Laguna Beach.

The film revolves around three U.S. soldiers, Tim Robbins, Rachel McAdams and Michael Peña, who decide to pool their resources even though they have just met, and rent a van to get home after their flight from New York is canceled.

Their journey takes them from barroom brawls to high school dances, and the chance to discover “home” and “family” far different from their memories. A wine and hors d’oeuvres reception takes place at 6 p.m. at the Wells Fargo Bank, Community Room. The total cost is $20.

Memberships in the film society are $150 individual or $225 for two, and entitle members to view more than 15 films each year, free, along with prefilm refreshments, discussions, and the chance to meet the writers, directors and cast. To join, call JoAnne Story at (949) 494-8971 ext. 201 or e-mail jstory@lagunaart museum.org

Art-A-Fair honors year’s ‘best’ artists

Winners have been announced for the “best” artists of this season’s Art-A-Fair.

Exhibitors were eligible to vote for their favorite in 15 categories. The winners were announced by Vicki Burkhard, vice president of marketing.

?Oil “” (tie)Jack Wang, and Jie Jhou;

?Watercolor “” Marcia Smallwood;

?Acrylic “” Carol Heiman-Greene;

?Mixed Media “” Lynn Welker;

?Sculpture “” Elaine Cohen;

?Pastel “” Mary Aslin;

?Varied Media “” John Michael Dickenson;

?Jewelry “” (tie)Bob Johnson and Victor Dworak;

?Photography “” (tie)Chuck Benes and Michael Cahill;

?Fiber/Fabric Art “” Sachiko Sukeguawa;

?Gourd Art “” Booker Preston;

?Ceramic “” Lilia Vernier;

?Glass “” Mickey Stuewe;

?Wood “” Richard Trujillo;

?New Artist “” Agnes Copeland; and

?Booth Display “” Rosemarie Rush.

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People’s Choice

During the festival, all visitors are invited to vote for the People’s Choice Award which, for the second year, was given to third-year exhibitor Nancy Pace.

Pace paints with a unique process involving plastic freezer bags that came to her as a result of helping her mother decorate wedding cakes. By applying thick layers of paint in this way, her two-dimensional depictions of flower fields take on a three dimensional quality.

Originally from Connecticut, Pace studied at the University of New Haven and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

She lives in Laguna Hills.

New ‘Catechism’ show at Playhouse

The Laguna Playhouse will present the world premiere of Maripat Donovan’s new solo work, “‘Til Death Do Us Part: Late Nite Catechism 3,” from March 31 to May 3.

“‘Til Death Do Us Part” replaces the previously announced “All the More to Love” in The Laguna Playhouse’s 2008-09 season schedule. A new date for “All the More to Love” has not been announced.

Donovan is the creator of the popular solo comedy shows “Late Nite Catechism,” “Late Nite Catechism 2” and “Sister’s Christmas Catechism,” all of which have been staged at The Laguna Playhouse.

After teaching countless students all about the saints, venial sins, guilt, limbo and more, Sister is now offering up lessons on the Sacraments of Marriage and Last Rites, including her own wacky version of The Newlywed Game. Classroom participation is a must, so coupled audience members must be prepared for some quality time with Sister, the feistiest new couples counselor in town. As always, each performance is unique and will appeal to people of all ages and faiths.

“We’re thrilled to be able to bring Maripat Donovan and her latest creation to The Laguna Playhouse,” said Andrew Barnicle, artistic director.

“Her ‘Late Nite Catechism’ plays all had long runs here and proved to be very popular with our audiences “” in fact, ‘Sister’s Christmas Catechism’ is our special holiday production this December. I’m sure audiences will have a fun-filled evening of theater when they experience Maripat’s hysterical take on love and marriage.”

Donovan has toured internationally, receiving rave reviews for her work in Chicago, Boston, Rhode Island, New York, Toronto, Philadelphia, Seattle, Portland, London and Dublin.

She has worked in Chicago theater for more than 20 years, winning Joseph Jefferson citations for her work in “Portrait of a Shiksa” and “The Good Times are Killing Me.”

For her work in “Late Nite Catechism,” she was nominated for the coveted Outer Critics Circle Award in New York for outstanding solo performance, and she won the Drama Critics Circle Award for best solo performance in Los Angeles.

For ticket information, call (949) 497-2787 or visit www.LagunaPlayhouse. com