BRIEFLY IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Artist honored by prestigious organization

Laguna Beach artist Mitch Ridder was recently honored with a California Watercolor Assn. Signature Membership for his recent painting, “Dublin Door.” It is now showing in the California Watercolor Assn.’s 39th National Exhibition in San Francisco.

“A Signature Membership is a lifetime membership,” Ridder said. “To qualify, an artist must have been accepted into three prior national shows. Although it’s the third time that my work has been accepted into the CWA National Exhibition, this is my very first Signature Membership for any watercolor association. It is a real honor.”

More than 700 entries from 30 states and three Canadian Provinces were submitted, but only 91 juried in.

Ridder’s artwork will be on exhibit, and for sale, at the Festival of Arts “” California’s Premier Fine Art Exhibition, in Laguna Beach, from July 6 through Aug. 30.

For more information, call (949) 494-1145.

Gallery celebrates two years of exhibits

Endangered Planet Gallery, which showcases art with environmental and sustainability themes, celebrates its second anniversary with a two-month exhibition of sculptures, paintings and limited edition prints from all the artists featured in the gallery’s first two years.

Works by internationally-known Swedish painter and sculptor Karl Momen, who had a one-man show at Endangered Planet in September and October 2006 and an exhibition at the same time at Marion Meyer Contemporary Art, will be represented in the Endangered Planet group show with sculptures, paintings and two giclee images published by the gallery.

Other artists to be featured include Laguna Beach’s artist and sculptor Nicholas Hernandez, Los Angeles painter and collage artist June Phelps, San Francisco artist Keef Ward, Laguna Beach painter and collage creator Terrell, Northern California painter Dieter Tremp, and Laguna Beach artist Karen Adams.

Also to be exhibited are a new limited-edition print by the late master artist Laurel Burch, a new global-warmed themed sculpture from Norman Deesing, and new work by Laguna College of Art and Design student artist Francisca O’Toole, who is participating in a gallery mentoring program.

The exhibition opens Monday and will run through Jan. 31. The gallery will host a reception during Art Walk Dec. 6 to honor several of the artists attending, including Terrell, Hernandez, O’Toole and Adams. The event begins at 6 p.m.; admission is free and open to the public.

Endangered Planet Gallery is located at 384 Forest Ave., No. 13, in the Lumberyard Mall. Call (949) 497-5690 for more information or go to endangeredplanet.org.

The gallery is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Festival welcomes fire victims, firefighters

The Sawdust Art Festival Winter Fantasy will offer free admission Sunday and Dec. 9 to all Southern California active duty firefighters and to residents who were under mandatory evacuation due to the fires in October or November.

Firefighters and residents from those areas must show current ID at the ticket window to receive free admission.

The Southern California wildfires of 2007 didn’t reach Laguna Beach, but members of the Sawdust Art Festival knew they needed to reach out to those affected.

“The fires that struck Laguna in ’93 changed a lot of lives and this town forever,” said Sawdust Art Festival spokesperson Rebecca Meekma. “During last month’s fires, the winds pushed the smoke and ash from the Santiago Fire right over us; many people were scared; our school district was shut down for two days.

“At the Sawdust we were in the midst of planning for the Winter Fantasy,” Meekma said. “Right away we knew we wanted do something to help those truly affected by the fires, as well as the brave people combating the fires.”

The Winter Fantasy features 170 artists from Laguna Beach and around the country selling their original artwork directly to the public.

The 17th Annual Winter Fantasy at the Sawdust Art Festival, 935 Laguna Canyon Road, runs weekends through Dec. 9. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.

Ticket prices are $5.75 for adults, $3 for children 6 to 12 and free for children 5 and younger.

For additional information, call (949) 494-3030 or visit www.SawdustArtFestival.org.

Gallerists mentor college students

The 6th Annual First Thursdays Art Walk and Laguna College of Art & Design Student/Gallery Professional Mentor Collaboration will feature paintings by select senior students exhibited in 19 Laguna Beach galleries who have volunteered their time and talent to mentor an LCAD student.

Participating students are enrolled in the Professional Studies course at Laguna College of Art & Design. The course, taught by Robin Fuld, career and job placement officer, is designed to demonstrate the intricacies involved in the business of operating a gallery and professionally exhibiting artwork.

Proceeds from the sale of student artwork will benefit the student artists, Laguna College of Art & Design Scholarship Fund and the First Thursdays Art Walk. Maps are available at participating Art Walk galleries.

Art Spa owner debuts new show

Embodyment Art Spa, 1400 S. Coast Hwy., Suite 101, will feature the first of a new collection, “Indulgences,” by Polina Hryn, from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday.

Entertainment beginning at 7 p.m. will be provided by Laguna comic Lynn Epstein and local talent Victoria Hazlett and Jessica DeStefano, with special comedic guest Laura Hayden.

For more information, call (949) 795-0625 or visit www.polinahryn.com.

Band holds free holiday concert

Laguna Community Concert Band presents a free “Swingin’, Singin’ Holiday Concert” from 3 to 5 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Artists Theatre, 625 Park Ave.

Actress and local resident Lona Ingwerson will be the Master of Ceremonies, while the 60-piece concert band performs holiday favorites and a narration by Ingwerson of “The Bells of Christmas.”

Attendees are invited to join the band in a Christmas sing-along, meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, and listen to Anneliese’s School Children’s Choir.

Candle shop hosts Tibetan bowl performer

Pure Light will host “Holiday Sacred Inspiration,” featuring Tibetan singing bowl musician Jodi Roberts and Bill Protzmann on piano, at 7 p.m. Dec. 7, during Hospitality Night.

The show will feature a combination of Eastern and Western music.

Seating is limited, and advance ticket purchase is recommended.

Tickets and information are available at www.purelightcompany.com, by calling (949) 376-7200, or in person at the store, 821 Laguna Canyon Road.

Babes in arms will not be admitted. All performances run about 90 minutes with no intermission.

Hotel, DeBilzan gallery join forces for show

Diane DeBilzan Arts and Casa del Camino, 1289 S. Coast Hwy., will hold a new exhibit showcasing art and artists throughout the hotel.

An artist reception will be in the hotel lobby from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Paintings by artists Mark Garry, Michael Phillips and Gerard Basil Stripling will be on display alongside Stripling’s bronze sculptures.

For further information, call DeBilzan at (949) 494-5757.