IN THE ARTS

Fine arts group opens new gallery

Orange County Fine Arts, a group dedicated to cultivating public interest in the fine arts, has launched the Artist Eye Laguna Gallery, 1294-A S. Coast Hwy.

The gallery opened May 1, and will have a grand opening reception from 3 to 8 p.m. June 8.

It features more than 20 award-winning Southern California artists, and a variety of media including watercolor, oil, photography, sculpture, glass and jewelry.

The nonprofit also operates the Showcase Gallery in Costa Mesa and AvantGarden in Santa Ana.

For more information, call the gallery at (949) 497-5898 or visit www.orangecountyfinearts. com.

Spring choral concert announced

Lagunatunes, Gallimaufry Performing Arts’ community chorus, will present “Rhythms of Life,” its annual spring show, at 8 p.m. May 30 in the Artists’ Theatre, 625 Park Ave.

The show will be Lagunatunes’ eclectic mix of classical, jazz and Broadway tunes, exploring rhythms throughout the ages. The program will feature songs from Vaughn Williams to Fats Waller; madrigals and hymns to the musical “Hairspray.”

The evening is under the dual direction of Christin Cornell and Pat Kollenda with musical accompaniment by Deborah Glass and JD Sebastian. Besides the beautiful choral arrangements, the evening will feature a “four-hands for one-piano” accompaniment to Waller’s “Handful of Keyes” and a special rendition of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.”

Also being featured is a set by the group’s Chamber Singers and a special performance of solos and group pieces accompanied by the Laguna Community Concert Band’s “Swing Set.”

Tickets are $5 for reserved seats, and general unreserved seats will be available at the door 15 minutes prior to curtain.

Visit www.gallimaufry.info/now showing.html or call (949) 499-5060.

Artist selected to show at Louvre

James Verbicky was one of 12 American artists selected to show at the Louvre Museum in Paris.

The Karen Lynne Gallery of Beverly Hills, one of the galleries where Verbicky’s paintings are shown, has been chosen for the second year to participate in the only American delegation ever to be invited to exhibit in the esteemed Societe Nationale des Beaux-Arts (SNBA) exhibit at the Carrousel de Louvre in December.

Verbicky’s 48 x 70 abstract expressionist painting, “Awake Concrete,” was chosen. In addition to the Karen Lynne Gallery, Verbicky’s work is currently being shown in the RE Welch Gallery in Palm Springs and the Madison Gallery of La Jolla.

Gallimaufry offers workshops, auditions

Musical theater professionals will teach acting, singing, dance technique, auditioning, improvisation and more at two summer workshops offered by Gallimaufry Performing Arts.

High school classes will be taught by TV and Broadway star Jonelle Allen; other instructors include Amy Hitchcock, Karen McBride and Ellen Prince.

The first session will be Monday through Friday, July 7 to July 18; the second will be from Aug. 4 to 15.

Classes for fifth to eighth grade will be from 9 to 11 a.m., and are $400 for Boys & Girls Clubs members or $550 for non-members; grades nine to 12 will be taught from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and are $500 for members or $590 for non-members. The non-member fee includes a one-year club membership.

All classes will be at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Laguna Beach, 1085 Laguna Canyon Road.

Auditions for the musical “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 31; rehearsals will be from June 21 to July 18, with performances July 19, 20, 26 and 27 at the Artists’ Theatre. Auditions will be at the Boys & Girls Clubs.

The show will be directed and choreographed by Noah Plomgren, with musical director Amy Hitchcock.

For the full audition listing, visit www.gallimaufry.info/ auditions.html.

For more information, call (949) 499-5060.

Artist shows at Chinese restaurant

Valerie Gorrell is showing her newest series of painting, “Life is a Circus,” at 5’ Contemporary Chinese Cuisine, 328 Glenneyre Ave., through June 29.

Characters ranging from extraordinary animals to fantastical people are brought to life on canvas.

Gorrell is also the co-creator of the bench at the Laguna Beach Library, “Another Beautiful Day in Paradise.”

For more information, call (949) 497-4955.

Rohrer plans exhibition lecture

Rohrer Fine Art will hold a free panel discussion with Nature Morte/Dead Nature artists at 2 p.m. June 1 at the gallery, 346 N. Coast Hwy.

The panel will be led by Roberta Carasso, a local writer and art historian, and will feature contemporary artists Penelope Gottlieb, Andy Taylor and Timothy Tompkins, each detailing the motivation and nuances of their respective work.

Lecture seating is limited. RSVP to [email protected].

For more information, call (800) 949-5211 or visit www.rohrerfineart.com.