In The Arts

Artistic ‘Persuasion’ at Salt Fine Art

Salt Fine Art will feature “Persuasion,” an exhibition of new works by artists Ronald Morán and Luis Fernando Ponce, Feb. 4 through 25 at the gallery, 1492 S. Coast Hwy.

An opening reception will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Feb. 4, and another will follow from 6 to 9 p.m. Feb. 11 that will feature an appearance by Morán.

Named by Exit Madrid as one of the 100 most influential contemporary Latin American artists of our time, Morán, from El Salvador, addresses the silence of aggression by wrapping entire rooms, objects and paintings in dense layers of white cotton whose benign appearance belies their true nature.

In one of his installations, “Home Sweet Home” at the Venice Biennale of 2007, he created a view into the hushed realities of domestic abuse and the seeds of violence in childhood. He uses a wide variety of media including video, animation, painting, photography and installation.

Morán has participated in more than 150 exhibitions throughout the United States, Latin America, Europe and Asia.

In addition to the Venice Biennale, he has exhibited at the Bienal Cuvee in Austria, the Tenth Habana Bienal, the Dorsky Curatorial Project in New York and the Margulies Collection in Miami with a recent invitation to the Beijing Biennale in 2010.

With a recent solo exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art Guatemala, the last decade has seen Luis Fernando Ponce catapult from a background in graphic design into the world of photography and sculpture.

The “everyday” objects recreated by Ponce bring into stark contrast the influence of one culture over another. In the case of his bronze sculpture, “Duck” it is the object driven culture of America reigning over that of Guatemala, a country in which many of its people cannot enjoy the luxury of a bathtub much less the adornment of a rubber duck.

He has exhibited collectively and individually in Guatemala, El Salvador, Panama, Costa Rica, Argentina and the United States.

His work forms part of the permanent collections at the Museum of Modern Art “Carlos Mérida” in Guatemala, the Bibliotèque Nationale of France, and the Museum of Art and Contemporary Design in Panama.

For more information, call (949) 715-5554 or visit www.saltfineart.com.

Lumberyard features Iris Bourne

The Lumberyard Restaurant recently named local painter Iris Bourne as this year’s featured artist, whose work will be on display throughout the establishment as well as on the labels of the Lumberyard Syrah and Chardonnay, wines crafted specifically for Lumberyard by winemaker Bryan Babcock of Babcock Vineyards in Santa Barbara County.

As part of its commitment to support the community and its artists, the restaurant established a feature artist program when it opened last year.

The inaugural artist was Ryan Gourley, a painter who has been displaying vibrant scenes of the town and beach at the Sawdust Festival for more than 30 years.

“We wanted to choose an artist whose work was very different from Ryan’s in order to change things up,” said Lumberyard owner Suzanne Redfearn. “Iris’ work is vibrant and colorful like Ryan’s, but is more abstract and whimsical. The series displayed in the restaurant is all about food, women and wine. It’s very eye catching and fun.”

A Canada native who studied in France and Italy before settling in Laguna Beach, Bourne’s work is based on abstraction, which is done in a variety of media including paint, industrial materials and cement sculpting with stainless steel.

Her passion is placing juxtaposed color on the canvas to express the beauty she sees in life.

Her work is available for purchase through the restaurant as well as directly from the artist. For more information about Iris Bourne, visit www.irisart.ca.

‘Connections’ discussion on computers

Watercolorist Kirsten Whalen will lead this month’s Connections discussion group, “The Computer: An Artist’s Most Powerful Tool,” sponsored by the Southern California Artists Assn.

Whalen will share her expertise in the use of computers in both the creative process and in the business of art from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at 3251 Laguna Canyon Road, No. F3.

Using her computer to find source material, modify images and store them, the computer is critical to the generation of her watercolor imagery. Records of her completed pieces are cataloged in her computer, tracking her images, their dimensions, where they have been shown and who owns them.

Client mailing lists, show and exhibition schedules, vendor and resource information, and sales records are all handled on her computer.

Art grant applications sought

Applications for the Festival of Arts Foundation 2010 Art Grants are available through Feb. 15.

Nonprofit organizations that have programs that promote fine arts in and about Laguna Beach may apply.

Grant applications are available at www.LagunaFestivalofArts.org or may be picked up at the Festival of Arts administration office, 650 Laguna Canyon Road.

For more information on the grant application process, call (949) 494-1145, ext. 200.

Auction 100 benefits Museum programs

Auction 100, presented by Laguna Art Museum, features 100 works of art from 100 premier California artists in a live and silent auction from 6 to 10 p.m. Feb. 6, with a buffet by Las Brisas, cocktails, music and curbside valet parking are included with the price of admission.

Art may be previewed from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 30 through Feb. 5 at the museum or online.

Any works unsold will be available in a post-auction Feb. 7.

Auction 100 is a fundraiser benefiting the education and exhibition programs at the museum.

“As a fundraiser for the museum, a nonprofit institution, Auction 100 financially supports and strengthens the art education and exhibition programs at Laguna Art Museum,” said museum Executive Director Bolton Colburn.

“The museum’s purpose is to provide the public with exposure to art and to promote understanding of the role of art and artists in American culture through collection, conservation, exhibition, research, scholarship and education.”

Artists in Auction 100 have more work available due to the economic slowdown and this represents a rare opportunity for collectors, according to museum officials.

“The new economy is forcing artists to adjust their pricing accordingly,” Colburn said. “With fewer sales, artists have more inventory and are more likely to give work to the museum than they would not in rosier times. Down economies offer some of the best conditions for buying art. All in all, you will see higher quality work at better prices in this Auction 100 than in prior years.”

The event will feature a live and a silent auction. Chuck Dreyer will present the work during the live auction assisted by Jacqueline Bunge, the museum’s curator of education.

“When you purchase a work of art at Laguna Art Museum you are not only making a private investment, you are also making an investment in the creative capital of California,” Colburn said.

Tickets are $125 for museum members and $150 for non-members, and can be bought online or by calling Dawn Minegar at (949) 494.8971, ext. 203.

‘Arts Can’ project fights hunger

The Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters have united with Arts Orange County, the Community Action Partnership of Orange County and 23 additional art organizations to help fight hunger by holding an “Arts Can” food drive now through Feb. 14.

The festival will collect canned food donations at its administrative offices, 650 Laguna Canyon Road. All donations will go to the Orange County Food Bank.

“As an arts organization that relies so much on our volunteers who help to put on the pageant year after year, we were eager to unite with other arts organizations in providing relief for those who are in need and enjoy giving back to our community,” said festival head marketing rep Sharbie Higuchi.

Individuals may also contribute to the campaign through the OC Food Bank’s “Virtual Food Drive” by visiting www.ocfoodbank.org.