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The 80th Season of the Festival of Arts in
Laguna Beach kicks off on July 1st.
The Festival of Arts is California’s premier fine arts show, and brings
together 140 of Orange  | | Jacquie Moffett |
County’s artists together in one place. This year’s festival has 28 first time showcased
artists, and 17 artists that have showcased at the festival of arts for over 30
years or more.
The Festival of Arts opened in the summer of 1932 when
the country was suffering the ravages of the Great Depression. A group of Laguna Beach artists decided they
were ng to do something to lift the spirits of those around them (and
perhaps the hopes of earning a little bit of money!) They transformed the main street of Laguna
Beach into an outdoor art gallery, and that was the beginning of The Festival
of Arts. These two dozen artists came
together hanging their art on fences, trees and buildings. Other artists open their home-studios to the
public turning the town of Laguna Beach into an enormous art gallery.
The eight week festival is an opportunity for people to
view and purchase original paintings, sculpture, printmaking, photography,
ceramics, jewelry, and furniture from some of the most well-known artists of Orange
County. It is continually named one of
the top ten art shows
New to the festival this year includes a free audio art
tour. With your cell phone you can call
into a number, and you will be able to listen to messages from some of the
exhibiting artists showcased at the festival.
The festival is also bringing TGIF@FOA (Thank Goodness it’s Friday at
Festival of Arts!) This event features Microbrew
beer, gourmet pretzels, and live music while browsing through the artist’s
exhibits.
Life in LA was invited out to the media preview night
for the Festival of Arts. That evening,
there were three exhibiting artists being showcased: Jacquie Moffett, Kirsten
Whalen, and Cheyne Walls.
Jacquie Moffett has been exhibiting at The Festival of
Arts for 45 years. That is quite the
feat considering each year, the Festival of Arts is a juried show. Jacquie continually  | | Kirsten Whalen |
works with
watercolors. Her paintings always start
with a photograph, and then are transformed onto her canvas. These photographs are taken by either her or
her husband. In her words, “whoever has
the camera at the time is the one taking the photograph.” She will be showcasing her work at Booth #70
this year. To me, her work was
beautiful whether it was a flower blooming in California, or a painting from
one of her travels, or to a painting she rarely does that focused upon people,
it was great to see where we’d go next with her artwork.
Kirsten Whalen is a 5 year Festival of Arts
exhibitor. She has currently been
working with watercolors. She truly
likes watercolors because of how forgiving they are, and the ease of being able
to clean them up. She also likes the
fact that you can pick up your artwork, carry it with you, and it keeps you
from not procrastinating. She likes
being able to tell a story through her paintings, and by looking at her work,
that’s exactly what she does. One day
she would love the opportunity to be a children’s book illustrator. She is the
featured artist on the Festival of Arts poster this year.
For Cheyne Walls, this year is a big year for him, as
this is his first year showcasing at The Festival of Arts. He grew up in Dana Point, and showcasing at
the Festival has been a dream of his. He
just turned 30, and loves the opportunity of putting his work out there. When asked what his favorite photograph was
he answered with, “His last shot?” Does
that mean his last photo taken is always his latest masterpiece? One thing he’s truly looking forward to
getting out of the show this year is meeting the other artists. From the perspective of another photographer,
his work is truly beautiful. Whether he
is showcasing a beach scene, a beautiful sunset, or the glimmer of a sun’s
reflection off a rock in Utah, he has an eye for photography and capturing the
beauty that surrounds him.
 | | Cheyne Walls |
These are just 3 of the 140 artists that will be
showcased at the show this year. And let
me tell you, their work is beautiful to look at, and they’re very easy to talk
with.
The
Festival of Arts opens on July 1st and runs through August 31st:
July 1-4: 10am to 6pm
July 5-August 31: 10am to 11:30pm
August 25: 10am to 3:30pm
General Admission: Weekdays: 7 dollars, Weekends: 10
dollars
Students and seniors: Weekdays: 4 dollars, Weekends: 6
dollars
Free Admission for Children 12 and under, Military, and
Laguna Beach Residents
Passport
to the Arts:
This is a special promotion running this year with the
help of Bank of America. With the
purchase of Passport of the Arts for 21.50, you will receive unlimited
admission all summer long to the Festival of the Arts, The Sawdust Art Festival,
and Art-A-Fair, plus it includes a one-time, all-day free parking pass with
each passport purchased. For more
information check out www.lagunabeachpassport.com
or call (949)497-0521. Passports can
also be purchased on site at each festival location throughout the summer. This
offer does not include Pageant of the Masters.
The Festival of Arts has various events and activities
happening throughout the summer. For
more information please check out www.lagunafestivalofarts.org Photo Credits: Jamie Gall
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