Festival of the arts
Preview Pageant of the Masters 2009 The Muse Behind the Scenes at the Pageant of Masters Artist Preview Festival of the Arts Pageant of the Masters Press Preview with Joyce Chow
DATES/TIMES Festival Art Show: July 5 through August 31 open daily 10 am to 11:30 pm (Closing on August 29
at 2 p.m. for a fundraising event)
PLACE Irvine Bowl Park, 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 (near downtown, five-minute walk from ocean)
ADMISSION Festival Art Show: Gate entrance is a season pass, $7 ($4 seniors and students),
PASSPORT TO A special promotion this year offers patrons the opportunity to purchase a Passport to the Arts
THE ARTS for only $19. Receive unlimited admission all summer long to the Festival of Arts – California’s
TRANSPORTATION From June 26-August 30, free city shuttle buses run continuously, 10 am to 11:30 pm, from Laguna Canyon
EXHIBIT Approximately 145 painters, sculptors, ceramists, jewelers, photographers and other artist’s display and sell
original works on the Festival grounds in this juried show.
EDUCATION DAYS Participants will be exposed to a wide variety of visual arts. Call for reservations (949) 464-4234.
Materials fee: $10 per child.
SPECIAL EVENTS Every Thursday, July 9 – August 27, Art, Jazz, Wine & Chocolate 5 pm – 8 pm
DINING/SNACKS Tivoli Terrace, a full-service, garden-setting restaurant overlooking the art exhibit
LAGUNA BEACH Information and reservations available from Laguna Beach Visitors Bureau
Our mission is to promote, produce and sponsor events and activities that encourage the appreciation, study and performance of the arts
Essential information about the 2009 Pageant of the Masters
DATES/TIMES Pageant: Themed “The Muse” July 8 through August 31; staged nightly at 8:30 pm
PLACE Irvine Bowl, 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(near downtown, five-minute walk from ocean)
ADMISSION Pageant: Pageant tickets, $20-$100 (depending on seat location and night of the week);
a Pageant ticket also acts as a season pass to the Festival exhibit. Gala tickets $50-$350.
Our mission is to promote, produce and sponsor events and activities that encourage the appreciation, study and performance of the arts.
THE MUSE
The 2009 Pageant of the Masters
ACT ONE
1. Sarcophagus of the Muses Unknown Marble 2nd cent. AD Roman
2. Venus Victorious Antonio Canova Marble 1805-08 Italian
3. Divine Inspiration
a. Allegory of Faith Johannes Vermeer Oil c. 1670 Dutch
b. Madonna of Port Lligat Salvador Dali Oil 1950 Spanish
c. Mahana No Atua Paul Gauguin Oil 1894 French
4. Palau de Musica Catalana E. Arnau & Lluis Bru Mixed Media 1905-08 Spanish
5. a. Dragonfly Ornament Rene Lalique Gold/Gems c. 1898 French
b. Nouveau Lamps C. Jonchery Gilt Bronze c. 1900 French
c. Mermaids with Seashells Raoul Larche Gilt Bronze 1900 French
6. Le Dejeuner sur L’Herbe Claude Monet Oil 1866 French
7. a. Morning Maxfield Parrish Oil 1922 American
b. Land of Make Believe Maxfield Parrish Oil 1905 American
c. Garden of Allah Maxfield Parrish Oil 1918 American
8. The Angel of Death… Daniel Chester French Marble 1926 American
9. Questioner of the Sphinx Elihu Vedder Oil 1863 American
10. Roger Delivering Angelica J-A-D Ingres Oil 1819 French
11. Beauty vs. Beast
a. Creature…Black Lagoon Universal Lithograph 1954 American
b. Tarzan and His Mate Warner Bros. Lithograph 1934 American
c. The Mummy Universal Lithograph 1932 American
d. King Kong RKO Warner Bros. Lithograph 1933 American
ACT TWO
12. Frida and Diego
a. The Making of a Fresco Diego Rivera Mural 1931 Mexican
b.-1. On the Borderline Frida Kahlo Oil 1932 Mexican
b.-2. Tree of Hope Frida Kahlo Oil 1946 Mexican
c. Dream of a Sunday… Diego Rivera Mural 1948 Mexican
13. The Book of City of Ladies Unknown Illustration 1405 French
14. a. Joan of Arc Anna Hyatt Huntington Gilt Bronze c. 1914 American
b. El Cid Campeador Anna Hyatt Huntington Bronze 1927-1943 American
15. a. Mme. Victoire Adelaide Guiard Oil 1788 French
b. Mme A. de France Adelaide Guiard Oil 1787 French
c. Mme. Louise-Elizabeth Adelaide Guiard Oil 1788 French
16. The Hunt Harriet Frishmuth Bronze 1921 American
17. Bacchanale Malvina Hoffman Plaster 1925 American
18. The Horse Fair Rosa Bonheur Oil 1853-1855 French
19. a. L’Age Mur Camille Claudel Bronze 1894-1903 French
b. La Valse Camille Claudel Plaster 1893 French
c. Fortune Camille Claudel Bronze pre-1904 French
20. Last Supper Leonardo Da Vinci Fresco 1495-1498 Italian
(program subject to change)
(4/30/09)
DATES/TIMES Pageant: Themed “The Muse” July 8 through August 31; staged nightly at 8:30 pm
PLACE Irvine Bowl, 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(near downtown, five-minute walk from ocean)
ADMISSION Pageant: Pageant tickets, $20-$100 (depending on seat location and night of the week);
a Pageant ticket also acts as a season pass to the Festival exhibit. Gala tickets $50-$350.
THEME When a painter faces a blank canvas or a sculptor picks up a chisel and confronts a mute block of
Our mission is to promote, produce and sponsor events and activities that encourage the appreciation, study and performance of the arts.
present six-acre Festival site from the Irvine Company with funds including monies “gifted” to the city by the Festival of Arts. That summer, the Festival of the Arts and Pageant of the Masters were held for the first time in their new permanent home.
The Festival of Arts – California’s Premier Fine Art Show – is one of the longest-running art exhibitions in the state; it has exhibited artworks by hundreds of Southern California artists every year since 1932, except during the years of World War II, when the Festival and Pageant were dark.
From its humble beginnings, the Festival of Arts has grown into a world-famous cultural institution, awarding hundreds of thousands of dollars in college scholarships and grants to art and cultural organizations. And yet the mission of the event remains the same: to promote, produce and sponsor events and activities that encourage the appreciation, study and performance of the arts. The juried fine art exhibition is one means of fulfilling its mission – providing local artists with a venue where they can display and sell their art. Media include, but are not limited to, paintings, mixed-media, sculpture, pastels, drawings, serigraphs, photographs, ceramics, jewelry, fiber arts, etched and stained glass, hand-crafted furniture, and even scrimshaw. Pageant ticket revenues enable the Festival to subsidize the art exhibits, calling for only a nominal fee from participating artists, and a Junior Art Gallery showcases the best work by students from Orange County schools.
“The Festival of Arts is truly fortunate to count among its exhibitors some of the most talented artists in the country,” says Festival of Arts president Wayne Baglin. “It’s not only our mission but our privilege to provide them with a forum in which to share their creativity with hundreds of thousands of visitors each summer. And since their works are available for purchase, patrons have the opportunity to bring home amazing, original pieces to be enjoyed for a lifetime.”
The spirit of the founders remains strong after more than 75 years, summed up by the Festival of Arts tagline: “Excellence in art, entertainment and community support since 1932.” And John Hinchman’s goal is realized year after year.
The 2009 Festival of Arts – California’s Premier Fine Art Show runs from July 5th through August 31st (closed August 29th at 2 pm for a fundraising event). Festival admission prices are $7 for general admission and $4 for seniors and students. All general admission tickets to The Festival of Arts – California’s Premier Fine Art Show are season passes. Patrons are encouraged to visit the Festival again and again all summer long to enjoy all the art, activities and events offered. Laguna Beach residents and Military personnel with ID receive free admission, as do children under the age of 12. Tickets for Pageant of the Masters are $20-$100 (depending on seat location and night of the week). Pageant of the Masters ticket holders can present their stub at The Festival of Arts front gate for free admission.
A special promotion this year offers patrons the opportunity to purchase a Passport to the Arts for only $19. Receive unlimited admission all summer long to the Festival of Arts – California’s Premier Fine Art Show, the Sawdust Art Festival and Art-A-Fair. Go online for more information and details at
www.LagunaBeachPassport.com or call 949-497-0521. Each passport includes one-time free parking in the ACT V parking lot on Laguna Canyon Road and FREE shuttle service. Offer excludes Pageant of the Masters.The Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters are sponsored in part by Fidelity Investments, KOST Radio 103.5, the Ritz-Carlton of Laguna Niguel, the Orange County Register and Time Warner. The Festival of Arts is a non-profit organization that produces The Festival of Arts – California’s Premier Fine Art Show and the Pageant of the Masters. For general information, call 949-494-1145 or visit the website at www.LagunaFestivalofArts.org. The event is located at 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, California. Proceeds support the arts and art education in and about Laguna Beach.
Laguna Beach Festivals Introduce ‘Triple Value’ Passport to the Arts
One price, one pass, three art festivals all summer long!
Laguna Beach, California
– The three world-renowned outdoor summer art festivals of Laguna Beach – The Festival of Arts, Sawdust Art Festival and Art-A-Fair -- have joined forces with the Laguna Beach Visitors & Conference Bureau and the City of Laguna Beach to introduce the Passport to the Arts for the 2009 season. This is truly a special offer, as the ‘Passport’ allows visitors unlimited admission to all three festivals for the entire summer season. Over 500 amazing and unique artists and 300 hands-on workshops, dozens of special events, and an array of restaurants and other food purveyors provide fun for the whole family; plus one time all-day free parking with each ticket, and much more. All for only $19! Additionally, selected retailers and merchants throughout Laguna Beach are offering special discounts to Passport holders. Whether you’re planning a day trip, weekend escape, or extended stay, the art festivals are a must-see!The grandfather of Laguna’s art festivals, The Festival of Arts – California’s Premier Fine Art Show, was introduced in 1932. It is one of the nation’s most highly acclaimed and attended fine art shows. American Style Magazine listed it as one of the top 10 art shows in the United States two times in the last five years and in 2008 it was voted “Outstanding Arts Organization” by Arts Orange County. Rigorous jurying results in true ‘fine art’ by over 145 of coastal Orange County’s most accomplished artists covering a complete spectrum of media. In addition, there are art workshops, daily docent-led art tours, several dining options, nightly
Laguna Beach Passport to the Arts
2
musical
entertainment and hands-on demonstrations in printmaking, ceramics, painting and paper art. Plus, throughout the summer the Festival of Arts hosts a multitude of special events, including, Art of Cooking, OC Chef Series, Blues Fest, Beatles Classics, Youth Art Education Days, Summer Smooth Jazz Concert Series, and Festival of Artists in Action.The Sawdust Art Festival and Art-A-Fair are both celebrating their 43rd seasons this year. “The Sawdust”, as it’s familiarly known, showcases art created only in Laguna Beach. It
has been voted “Best Festival” by OC Weekly, as well as named one of the country’s top five festivals by American Style Magazine. Located in a beautiful eucalyptus grove, visitors experience the creativity of over 200 local artisans while enjoying the entertainment, artist demos, hands-on art workshops for adults and children, and delicious food and drink. All visitors seem to be drawn to the large glass blowing enclosure where artists show their skill at the furnace. Sawdust artists and craftspeople create and sell unique pieces from a wide variety of media including blown glass, fused glass, jewelry, sculpture, photography, textiles, painting, woodwork, metal, ceramics and much more. The Sawdust also has three stages, where musical artists of all types perform. Other entertainers include dancers, comedians, mimes and balloon artists.Just steps away, and centrally located right between the other two festivals, is the Art-A-Fair in a pastoral garden setting complete with a cascading waterfall. This festival differs from the others in that
there are no geographic requirements for participants, so the 125-juried artists are not only from Southern California, but other states and countries. This year’s Art-A-Fair celebrates the exhibiting artists and invites visitors to “see the world through an artist’s eyes”. Every art form is represented at the show, including oil paintings, watercolors, acrylics, drawings, photography, digital art, mixed media, sculpture, jewelry, ceramics, glass and wood. Live entertainment on weekends, artist demonstrations and free workshops add to the fun. For the third year in a row, the Art-A-Fair will present ‘Opera and Musical Night’ – always a standing ovation event. And, located on the property is Tivoli Too! restaurant, known for fine food and award-winning margaritas.
Laguna Beach Passport to the Arts
The Laguna Beach Passport to the Arts can be ordered online at www.LagunaBeachPassport.com, by calling 949-497-0521 or purchase a passport on-site at any of the festival box offices during the run of the shows. Passport offer excludes Pageant of the Masters.
Also available online or at any of the box offices is a complete list of local businesses offering discounts during the summer festival season. And Laguna operates a free shuttle service from the parking lot, as well as throughout town for the duration of the summer.
www.LagunaBeachPassport.com: 949-497-0521
The Festival of Arts: July 5 – Aug. 31; www.LagunaFestivalofArts.org
Sawdust Art Festival: June 26 – Aug. 30; www.SawdustArtFestival.org
Art-A-Fair: June 26 – Aug. 30; www.Art-A-Fair.com
Laguna Beach Visitors & Conference Bureau:
www.LagunaBeachinfo.com
California’s Premier Fine Art Show!
July 6 – August 30, 2008
We're Here with Tat Shinno at the Festival of the arts
We’re Here at the Festival of Arts Artists Preview Party
We’re Here with Jason McQuaid & Gavin Heath
EXPERIENCE THE FINE ART OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AT THE FESTIVAL OF ARTS - CALIFORNIA’S PREMIER FINE ART SHOW
Voted One of the Top Ten Art Festivals in the U.S.
Laguna Beach, CA
— Establishing that you don’t have to go to a museum to enjoy fine art, The Festival of Arts- California’s Premier Fine Art Show returns this summer for its 76th season with 154 of “The O.C.’s” most renowned artists July 6 through August 30, 2008 in Laguna Beach, California (closed August 23). This annual event is California’s longest-running outdoor fine art exhibition and has been voted one of the top ten art festivals in the United States by readers of AmericanStyle Magazine two years in a row.
“Each year this Festival continues to grow and we are always delighted with the outstanding artisans that come to showcase their incredible talent and skills. Whether they are painters, sculptors, ceramists, jewelers or photographers, their works represent the finest original art from the coastal cities of Orange County,” comments Marketing and Public Relations Director Sharbie Higuchi.
During this prestigious juried show, artisans display and sell strictly original works in an open-air gallery setting. “The Festival is the perfect place to find affordable and unique art treasures for your home or business,” said Higuchi. The caliber of work on exhibit at the Festival each year attracts buyers and collectors at all levels of connoisseurship. Many Festival artists have their work in the private collections of leading art collectors, celebrities, and museums around the world.
One program that supports the non-profit Artists Fund is the annual Art-To-Go Program. This is a “must see” display of exhibiting artists works and great way to buy signature fine art. Artists display over one hundred original miniature originals created and donated by Festival exhibitors. Any remaining pieces will be sold by auction on Saturday, August 16.
In addition to the arts exhibition, the Festival offers a wide range of daily activities that the whole family can enjoy, including free daily art workshops and seminars for children and adults; special guided art tours and demonstrations—meet the artists and learn firsthand about their artwork and techniques; daily live entertainment including visual and performing arts; and other special attractions during the eight-week event. Free art tours are 11 am and 3 pm daily.
This year, the Festival will host a number of special events. The following is a sampling of the calendar of events. For a complete list of activities, visit the Festival website at www.LagunaFestivalofArts.org:
Every Wednesday, July 9 – August 20 Youth Arts Education Days, Noon – 2 p.m.
Every Thursday, July 10 – August 28 Art, Jazz, Wine & Chocolate, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Every Sunday, July 13 – August 24 Art of Cooking: Southern California Chefs
Series, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Every Sunday, July 13 – August 24 Blues Fest, 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Every Sunday, July 13 – August 24 Beatles’ Classics, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
July 12, August 2, 16 & 30, Saturday Summer Smooth Jazz Concert Series, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
July 26, Saturday Art Goes Green: Planet _ Peace _ Purpose, 1p.m. – 4p.m.
August 16, Saturday Art-To-Go annual fundraiser for the Artists Fund
In addition to the adult Festival of Arts exhibition, the Festival’s Junior Art Exhibition is another huge attraction. Comprised of over 300 pieces of artwork from Orange County school children (K-12), the quality of art represented in the Junior Art Exhibition will astound art lovers of all ages. Also for the kids, the Festival hosts Youth Art Education Days, every Wednesday from July 9 through August 27. The classes will give children 6-12 the opportunity to experience a wide variety of arts-theater, music, painting and more ($20 material fee per student/per class).
Dining is available at two fabulous locations on the Festival grounds. Tivoli Terrace Restaurant serves lunch and dinner during the Festival season in a beautiful garden setting. Live jazz is featured nightly. Tivoli Terrace will feature its Summer Pageant Menu with an array of salads and sandwiches and fresh seafood for lunch and a variety of traditional American cuisine for dinner.† Gina’s Alfresco offers casual Italian fare and is a complement to the Festival’s artistic atmosphere.
Festival admission prices are $7 for general admission and $4 for seniors and students. A special 75th Anniversary promotion grants everyone 75 cents admission after 7:50 p.m. every day of the week. All general admission tickets to The Festival of Arts – California’s Premier Fine Art Show are season passes. Patrons are encouraged to visit the Festival again and again all summer long to enjoy all the art, activities and events offered. Laguna Beach residents and Military personnel with ID receive free admission, as do children under the age of 12.
The Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters are sponsored in part by Mercedes-Benz Dealers of Southern California, Fidelity Investments, KOST Radio 103.5, the Ritz-Carlton of Laguna Niguel, the Orange County Register and Time Warner. The Festival of Arts is a nonprofit organization that produces The Festival of Arts – California’s Premier Fine Art Show and the Pageant of the Masters. For general information, call 949-494-1145 or visit the website at www.LagunaFestivalofArts.org. The event is located at 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, California. Proceeds support the arts and art education in and about Laguna Beach.
(C) MBN 2008 William Hoehne
Top 10 Reasons to visit the Festival of Arts – California’s Premier Fine Art Show!
July 6 – August 30, 2008
10 You can’t find a more beautiful place to be on a summer day! Nestled in the canyon and only a few blocks from the ocean in Laguna Beach, the Festival of Arts is located in one of the most picturesque places in the world. FREE city shuttle bus service from 10 am to 11:30 pm makes spending the day easy!
9 Enjoy live music and entertainment every evening. Come down for Jazz, Music, Wine and Chocolate Tasting every Thursday evening, 5 to 8 pm or a Blues Fest every Sunday, 2 to 4 pm. Add the beautiful work of over 150 of “The O.C.’s” finest artists to the mix and you’ve got a great place to be on a summer night!
Bring the kids! Free sessions daily, from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; supplies provided. Free Design Workshop; daily, except Saturday 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Hands-On Printmaking; daily 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Remember, kids under 12 get into the Festival of Arts free!
7 Pay the $7 admission once and get a Festival of Arts season pass – unlimited admission! Come back again and again to enjoy all the special events and activities week after week! Free admission for Laguna Beach residents and Military Personnel with proper ID. Everyday of the week admission is 75 cents after 7:50 p.m.
6 Things are cooking at the Festival of Arts. Enjoy the Art of Cooking Series showcasing the O.C.’s top chefs every Sunday July 13 through August 24 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. If you’re a fan of Bravo TV’s Top Chef, on Sunday, August 24th you can meet and get recipes and cooking tips from celebrity chef Marcel Vigneron from Season Two.
5 FREE guided art tours for art novices and connoisseurs alike, conducted at 11am and 3pm daily. Meet the artists and learn firsthand about their artwork and techniques through discussions and free art demonstrations.
4 On-site dining options make spending the day even easier! Tivoli Terrace offers a full-service, garden setting restaurant overlooking the beautiful Festival of Arts grounds. Gina’s offers a casual Italian “Alfresco” menu. After lunch, don’t forget to stop by the Gift Shop to pick up unique commemorative Festival items that you’ll cherish for years to come.
3 Wait, there’s more! The Festival has a stellar line-up of special Saturday and Sunday events such as Art Goes Green: Planet * Peace* Purpose, Summer Smooth Jazz Concert Series, Beatles’ classic, and the Art of Cooking – OC Chef Series. Check out the Festival’s website www.LagunaFestivalofArts.org for a full listing of dates and times.
2 Find that treasure you’ve been searching for. The Festival’s prestigious juried art show includes a wide variety of media such as paintings, photography, printmaking, sculpture, jewelry, handcrafted wood and furniture, ceramics, glass and more—all by award-winning artists! If you’re on the hunt for that perfect art piece, you’ll be sure to find it at the Festival of Arts.
And the #1 reason to go the 2007 Festival of Arts is…
There’s nothing like experiencing this “Something For Everyone” summer art festival! The Festival of Arts has been voted one of America’s top ten art festivals in the country by AmericanStyle readers. This is the place to be!
Festival admission prices are $7 for general admission and $4 for seniors and students. A special 75th Anniversary promotion grants everyone 75 cents admission after 7:50 p.m. every day of the week. All general admission tickets to The Festival of Arts – California’s Premier Fine Art Show are season passes – unlimited admission. Patrons are encouraged to visit the Festival again and again all summer long to enjoy all the art, activities and events offered. Laguna Beach residents and Military personnel with ID receive free admission, as do children under the age of 12. The Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters are sponsored in part by Mercedes-Benz Dealers of Southern California, Fidelity Investments, KOST Radio 103.5, the Ritz-Carlton of Laguna Niguel, the Orange County Register and Time Warner. The Festival of Arts is a nonprofit organization that produces The Festival of Arts – California’s Premier Fine Art Show and the Pageant of the Masters. For general information, call 949-494-1145 or visit the website at www.LagunaFestivalofArts.org. The event is located at 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, California. Proceeds support the arts and art education in and about Laguna Beach.
Background Feature
THE FESTIVAL OF ARTS HISTORY: 1932-2008
Laguna Beach, CA—Over seventy-five years ago, the United States and the world were suffering from the tight finances, scarce resources, and emotional turmoil of the Great Depression. Even so, artists arriving in Laguna Beach were inspired by the coastline, the rambling hills, the vibrant and ever-changing ocean, and the freedom to follow their dreams. And in 1932, a group of those artists banded together to find a way to raise spirits and, they hoped, sell some of their art.
Elaborating on newspaper editor Sumner Crosby’s idea for an “Intellectual Carnival,” local artist John Hinchman presented plans for a weeklong “Festival of the Arts.” The Laguna Beach Art Association and City Council supported Hinchman’s idea.
That summer, while around two dozen artists hung their paintings on fences, trees, and buildings along Laguna’s main street, hoping to lure tourists to the first Festival of Arts, other artists opened their home-studios to the public. Music, colorful signs and banners, parades and entertainment added to the celebratory ambiance of the event, which turned Laguna Beach into one enormous art gallery. Many artists happily arranged their easels and chairs and painted throughout the festival. And, yes, some even sold their paintings. It was an auspicious start to the Laguna Beach Festival of Arts.
Opening day was on August 13, 1932 and “Flower Stalls” by Virginia Woolley, was one of the first paintings sold. It is now in the Festival of Arts’ permanent collection and was featured as the 1999 Festival of Arts poster.
Today, the Festival of Arts Permanent Collection, expanded annually through purchases made from the exhibiting artists’ work, contains more than 300 pieces of fine art: paintings, sculpture, ceramics, glass, even furniture and jewelry – a collection as eclectic as the festival itself. In the collection’s trust is the Lorna Mills Collection; upon her death, bank president Mills entrusted her entire collection of paintings to the Festival of Arts.
The Private Collection is housed on Festival grounds and occasionally loaned to local institutions like the Laguna Art Museum and Laguna Beach City Hall and others.
In 1933, the artists staged a publicity stunt (the first of many) to draw attention to the exhibit. A parade of local volunteers costumed as characters in famous works of art – “Whistler’s Mother,” “Mona Lisa” and Atlas, among others – marched downtown along the Coast Highway to the location of the 2nd Festival of Arts, where they later appeared, one at a time, inside a tiny, booth-like set, holding their poses as tableaux vivants -- “living pictures.” Together, the parade and show were entitled “The Spirit of the Masters Pageant.”
The show was so brief that the audience didn’t even sit down to enjoy the spectacle; they merely took a break from viewing the artists’ displays to peek at the “living pictures.” Local vaudevillian Lolita Perine, and businessmen Howard Sheridan and Roy Ropp all had a hand in that first, inauspicious presentation. This effort brought volunteers and artists together; the sense of spirit and community prevailed, and organizers felt the Festival was worth trying again the next year.
In 1935, Roy Ropp took charge of the “living pictures” and transformed their presentation, with help from his wife Marie, into a full production with music, narration and painted backdrops. Ropp also rechristened the performance, “The Pageant of the Masters.” Rapidly evolving into a summer tradition, the Pageant drew an audience of more than 150,000 in 2007, with ticket sales at a premium.
The Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters were transient at first, moving around Laguna from one location to another between 1933 and 1940. In 1941, the City of Laguna Beach agreed to purchase the present six-acre Festival site from the Irvine Company with funds including monies “gifted” to the city by the Festival of Arts. That summer, the Festival of the Arts and Pageant of the Masters were held for the first time in their new permanent home.
The Festival of Arts – California’s Premier Fine Art Show – is one of the longest-running art exhibitions in the state; it has exhibited artworks by hundreds of Southern California artists every year since 1932, except during the years of World War II, when the Festival and Pageant were dark.
From its humble beginnings, the Festival of Arts has grown into a world-famous cultural institution, awarding hundreds of thousands of dollars in college scholarships and grants to art and cultural organizations. And yet the mission of the event remains the same: to promote, produce and sponsor events and activities that encourage the appreciation, study and performance of the arts. The juried fine art exhibition is one means of fulfilling its mission – providing local artists with a venue where they can display and sell their art. Media include, but are not limited to, paintings, mixed-media, sculpture, pastels, drawings, serigraphs, photographs, ceramics, jewelry, fiber arts, etched and stained glass, hand-crafted furniture, and even scrimshaw. Pageant ticket revenues enable the Festival to subsidize the art exhibits, calling for only a nominal fee from participating artists, and a Junior Art Gallery showcases the best work by students from Orange County schools.
“The Festival of Arts is truly fortunate to count among its exhibitors some of the most talented artists in the country,” says Festival of Arts president Wayne Baglin. “It’s not only our mission but our privilege to provide them with a forum in which to share their creativity with hundreds of thousands of visitors each summer. And since their works are available for purchase, patrons have the opportunity to bring home amazing, original pieces to be enjoyed for a lifetime.”
The spirit of the founders remains strong after more than 75 years, summed up by the Festival of Arts tagline: “Excellence in art, entertainment and community support since 1932.” And John Hinchman’s goal is realized year after year.
The 2008 Festival of Arts – California’s Premier Fine Art Show runs from July 6 to August 30, open daily from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. (Closed on August 23) Festival admission prices are $7 for general admission and $4 for seniors and students. A special 75th Anniversary promotion grants everyone 75 cents admission after 7:50 p.m. every day of the week.All general admission tickets to The Festival of Arts - California’s Premier Fine Art Show are season passes. Patrons are encouraged to make repeat visits. Laguna Beach residents with ID receive free admission, as do children under the age of 12. Tickets for Pageant of the Masters are $20-$100 (depending on seat location and night of the week). Pageant of the Masters ticket holders can present their stub at The Festival of Arts front gate for free admission.
The Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters are sponsored in part by Mercedes-Benz Dealers of Southern California, Fidelity Investments, KOST Radio 103.5, the Ritz-Carlton of Laguna Niguel, the Orange County Register and Time Warner. The Festival of Arts is a nonprofit organization that produces The Festival of Arts - California’s Premier Fine Art Show and the Pageant of the Masters. For general information, call 949-494-1145 or visit the website at www.LagunaFestivalofArts.org. The event is located at 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, California. Proceeds support the arts and art education in and about Laguna Beach.
(C) MBN 2008