Sawdust holds Fun Family Day

Kids and families can get hands-on art experiences at the Sawdust Art Festival’s first-ever Creatively Fun Family Day, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 18, on the Sawdust Art Festival grounds.

The event is part of the 24th annual Imagination Celebration.

Imagination Celebration is presented by Arts Orange County and the Orange County Department of Education, and includes more than 100 free or affordable events in 31 cities.

“Creatively Fun Family Day” will feature various hands-on fine art and craft projects, demonstrations, displays and entertainment by various community artisans and local non-profit and performance groups.

Highlights include:

?Glass-blowing Demonstrations: The Sawdust’s glass-blowing booth will provide demonstrations by Sawdust glass masters John Barber and Christopher Jeffries.

?Ceramics Booth: Also known as the “Mud Hut,” the ceramics booth offers visitors a chance to try their hand at the potter’s wheel and “throw” a clay pot to take home.

?Sawdust Studio: Sawdust artisans Suzette Rosenthal, Cherril Doty, Donita Lloyd and Sue Winner will teach collage and dimensional art projects using mixed media.

?Children’s Art Spot: A wide variety of children’s art and craft projects will be taught, including “Polymer Clay Figures” with Patti Klingenmeier and “Acrylic Butterfly Paint” with Charleine Guy.

?Fine Art & Craft Projects with Sawdust Artisans: Other Sawdust artisans will feature fine art and craft projects at two gazebo locations and throughout the festival grounds, including acrylic painting with Doug Miller; paper flowers with Lupe Blanton; cartooning with Michael Hallinan, finger knitting with Mary Keating, masks and tiaras with Judy Kearby and Susan Leonhard, recycled critters with Reem Khalil, and pinwheels with Carmen Flores-Tanis.

?Live Entertainment: The day’s entertainment includes performances by Laguna Laughter Club, Laguna Community Concert Band, Soka University’s Ghungaroo dance group, Arts & Learning Conservatory, singer/songwriter Brooke Ramel, Sabine’s Kids Yoga, and No Square Theatre.

?Local Community Groups: More than a dozen local organizations will offer informational displays and give-a-ways. Among the groups, the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach will offer an art craft and sell food and beverages as a fundraiser.

Designed to provide visitors a low-cost day of art appreciation and creative exploration, admission into the Sawdust’s “Creatively Fun Family Day” is free for children younger than 5, $2 for children 5 to 13, $4 for adults, and $10 for a family four-pack (two adults, two children).

Metered parking is available along Laguna Canyon Road, with complimentary parking on Frontage Road courtesy of the city of Laguna Beach.

The Sawdust Art Festival is at 950 Laguna Canyon Road.

For more information call (949) 494-3030 or visit www.sawdustartfestival.org.