Colored orange for years

Color It Orange, which showcases the art of Orange County students from every district, has spent almost four decades giving recognition to youth and the arts.

On Sunday, the art event will celebrate its 37th year at the Laguna College of Art and Design.

“This event inspires our youth, encourages their creative talents and presents an opportunity to enrich our children’s lives,” Designing Women President and Color It Orange Coordinator Nancy Lawrence said in a statement. “Over the past three and a half decades, thousands of young people have been given an opportunity to exhibit their work publicly and have been recognized for their talents.”

Designing Women, a volunteer support group of the college, presents the event every year.

Students from private and public schools, grades K-12, are invited to apply. More than 4,500 applications are expected in every medium from painting and photography to sculpture and drawing.

A panel of judges, which includes LCAD alumna Elizabeth McGhee, Julita Jones of Community Art Project and Laguna Beach artist Pat Sparkuhl, will choose 800 works for the exhibit as well as select 10 high school students to receive a scholarship for the summer portfolio development class at LCAD.

The student pieces will be on display at the main gallery at LCAD and at several studios throughout the city.

“By valuing creativity, by celebrating the work of children, and by honoring the dedication of their teachers, Color It Orange has added inestimable value to the life of Orange County and has been instrumental in strengthening the arts throughout the region,” Lawrence said in a statement.

The event is free to the public and guests are invited to attend the opening reception at 11a.m. Sunday. The exhibit will be available for viewing until March 20.

LCAD is at 222 Laguna Canyon Road. For more information, visit lagunacollege.edu.