Laguna
Beach
c o m m u n i t y f e a t u r e | by Kay Murillo
L
aguna Beach stretches seven miles along Orange
County’s Pacific Coast Highway. Nestled at the
base of the Laguna Canyons, this coastal community overflows with art galleries, studios, boutiques and specialty shops. Here, visitors find
both rest and inspiration in Laguna’s beauty, recreation and
the distinctive art festivals.
and for sale. The festival’s most-famous presentation, The
Pageant of the Masters, transforms classical and contemporary artwork into “living pictures” where live models dress
and pose exactly like their counterparts in the original pieces.
Each evening starting at 8:30pm, the show starts with a full
orchestra and live narration accompanying each evening’s
performance in the outdoor amphitheater.
History
Sawdust Art Festival
In the late 1800s, summer tourists hiked down the lake-filled
canyons (called “Lagonas” for lakes) to camp at the beach.
By 1903, tents gave way to the Hotel Laguna, and half of the
town’s 300 residents were artists. Edgar Payne opened an art
gallery in 1918 (which would later become the Laguna Art
Museum) and their Festival of Arts staged its first show in
1932. Hollywood soon discovered Laguna Beach, and the
famed Surf & Sand hotel opened in 1948. The 1960s revolutionized Laguna’s cultural beat. Throughout the 80s and 90s,
concerned citizens and conservationists fought to protect the
tide pools, beaches and parks—preserving Laguna’s natural
beauty and landscape for today’s visitor.
Celebrating the work of local
artists, the Sawdust Art Festival
runs twice a year (next one
opens June 29 to September 2)
and showcases the original artwork of over 200 local artists.
The sawdust-covered ground
creates a casual atmosphere
that allows visitors to interact
with artists and participate in art projects. Strolling musicians
and circus acts provide entertainment, and some of the best
local talent perform on three live stages. These summer and
winter festivals remain a favorite with locals and visitors.
Festival of Arts / Pageant of the Masters
The Festival of Arts (this year from July 1 to August 1) hosts
two signature summertime shows: an art exhibition, open
daily from 10am to 11:30pm, features paintings, sculptures,
photography, ceramics and jewelry. All artwork is original
18
June/July
2007
Art-A-Fair
Laguna’s only international art festival, Art-A-Fair highlights
125 emerging artists, national juried finalists and master
craftsmen (this year from June 29 to September 2). The theme