Concerts on the Green, Rising Stars Music Series, Art Jazz Wine & Chocolate, Festival Runway Fashion Show, Family Art Day, Sunday in the Park Music Series, Pageant of the Masters, art workshops for all ages, and more – there is something for everyone at the Festival of Arts.
The Festival of Arts Fine Art Show celebrates its 84th year July 5 through August 31, 2016 in Laguna Beach, California. The Festival has been rated one of the top festivals in the nation and each year hosts 140 of Orange County’s most talented artists. Recent accolades include Orange County Register’s Best Place to Buy Original Art, Art Fair Calendar’s Top Five Art Fairs in the West and Top 5 Art Festival in the nation voted by USA Today readers. Live music, hands-on art activities, exhibitions of local student artwork and a wide variety of special events round out one of southern California’s favorite outdoor summer events.
“Avid art collectors and festival-goers will have an outstanding variety of fine art to browse and purchase as they walk among the artists displays,” says Marketing and Public Relations Director Sharbie Higuchi. The Festival of Arts is a professionally juried fine art show featuring a diverse selection of artwork including paintings, sculpture, photography, ceramics, jewelry, and more from artists around Orange County. Since opening in 1932, thousands have shown and sold their artwork at the Festival and many have their work featured in the private collections of leading art collectors, celebrities, and museums around the world.
Artists Vinita Voogd (Printmaking), Carolyn Machado (Mosaic Tile) and Mike Tauber (Fine Art Tiles)
Artist Carolyn Machado will conduct a mosaic tile workshop.
Unleash your inner creativity with a Wine & Painting Workshop, taught by either Mike Taub (L) or Tom Swimm (R).
In addition to the variety of artwork, the Festival of Arts offers a wide range of daily activities that the whole family can enjoy. The 2016 events calendar includes nightly live music, jazz concerts, wine and chocolate pairings, guided art tours and art workshops. Several special one-day events return this year, including the always popular Family Art Day on Saturday, July 6th and Festival Runway Fashion Show on Saturday August 13th – all the costumes are made of recycled, reimagined materials, a must-see for fashion and design buffs.
Since 1933, the Pageant of the Masters has been perfecting the breathtaking artistry of “living pictures” and theatrical illusion. The 2016 Pageant of the Masters sets out in search of stories of compelling collaborations that led to the creation of unforgettable artworks. This year’s production of “Partners” features memorable works from around the world made possible by partnerships – husbands and wives, artists and models, painters and their patrons.
Partners promises a double-dose of theatrical fun and surprises – expect to see the unexpected: Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, the Wright Brothers, Lewis and Clark, Butterfly Brooch by Gaston Lafitte, The Kiss on the Hand – the result of a partnership between artist Gerolamo Induno and his patron, Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, and the surreal imagery of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.
Scott Methvin explains his process in capturing the essence of Frida Kahlo’s powerful artwork.
At the behind-the-scenes media preview event, writers, reporters and social media influencers were able to meet and interview four artists that will be exhibiting and conducting workshops at the Festival of Arts, talk to a number of the artists and volunteers that make the Pageant of the Masters possible every year, and see first-hand the hours of work and incredible detail, design and execution that goes into each tableau.
Set painter David Cooke being interviewed in front of the Lewis and Clark at Three Forks background.
The tools of a set painter.
All costumes are made from un-dyed material to the measurements of characters. Artist Michelle Scrimpsher explains how the process of painting first in three-dimensions and then adjusting colors to resemble those of a two-dimensional painting.
Artist Sharon Lamberg simulating bronze for Don Quixote’s boots.
Around 1,200 people (all volunteers) try out for the show each year, with approximately 500 selected to either act or work behind the scenes. There are more than 50 “living pictures” in the show, enhanced by a full orchestra and live narration.
This summer’s production will find new and exciting ways to tell the stories to be found within a gallery of masterpieces, many appearing on the Pageant stage for the very first time. As a preview, Director Challis Davy said, “We’re planning to incorporate video and live action sequences along with a behind-the-scenes look at how tableaux are created, and how volunteers are selected for the show. We will use the lovely moonlit landscape of our amphitheater as a perfect setting for some of the sculptural tableaux.”
“A Kiss on the Hand” “live” painting at the Pageant of the Masters. {PC: Chris Fleury}
In 2016, the Festival of Arts introduces three new events to the calendar. On Tuesday nights, discover new up and coming musicians on the Festival stage. The Rising Stars Music Series will spotlight emerging performers selected by the Festival’s roster of world-famous musicians. This year at Books and Brunch, attendees will meet bestselling authors Steve Hely and Michelle Gable who will share personal insights about their work and creative process. Event also includes a book signing, author lecture, hard cover copy of book and brunch. For families, Art and Story Time presented by Crayola, is a new weekly series for children 5 and under. Every Monday will feature a different children’s book read aloud and a hands-on art project, along with special surprise visits from illustrators, book characters and more.
DATES & TIMES
July 5 – August 31, 2016
Open daily from 10am – 11:30pm
Early closing August 27 at 1:30pm
TICKET INFORMATION
General Admission: Weekdays $8, Weekends $12
Students & Seniors: Weekdays $5, Weekends $8
Free Admission for Children 12 and under, Military, and Laguna Beach Residents.
Passport to the Arts:
A special promotion (funded in part by Bank of America): Passport to the Arts for only $24. Includes unlimited admission all summer long to the Festival of Arts, the Sawdust Art Festival and Laguna Art-A-Fair. Enjoy works of art by more than 500 artists, 300 hands-on workshops, dozens of special events, plus a one time, all-day free parking pass with each Passport purchased. Order online at www.LagunaBeachPassport.com. Passports also available for purchase on-site at each festival location during the summer. Offer excludes Pageant of the Masters.
LOCATION
Festival of Arts Grounds
650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
FOR INFORMATION & TICKETS
(800) 487-3378
We love hearing from our readers!