20 LAGUNA BEACH CITY GUIDE
CELEBRATING CREATIVITY
LAGUNA ’ S FESTIVALS GEAR UP FOR ANOTHER FUN-FILLED SUMMER OF ART , MUSIC AND MORE .
BY JULIA CLERK
LAGUNA BEACH IS KNOWN FAR AND WIDE FOR its eclectic arts scene , a legacy of producing and promoting art that stretches back to the early 20th century when Norman St . Clair ’ s paintings were the talk of the 1904 Annual Spring Exhibition in San Francisco .
Capturing the essence of the Southern California coastal city , St . Clair ’ s watercolor landscapes attracted other artists to Laguna Beach . So many , in fact , that by 1918 they were inspired to start the Laguna Beach Art Association .
The city has never looked back and , each summer , the Laguna Beach arts scene ramps up again with a variety of creative events that attract visitors and locals alike .
Laguna Art-A-Fair
After years of wandering from venue to venue , the Laguna Art-A-Fair found a permanent home in 1988 in the heat of the action on Laguna Canyon Road . Staged in a whimsical garden setting , this year ’ s event is scheduled for June 28 to Sept . 1 .
“ This summer ’ s art show has me absolutely energized ,” says Art-A-Fair President Robert “ Bob ” Ross . “ We have a phenomenal lineup . Not only will we see 80 of our favorite returning artists showcasing their work , but over 30 new artists will be joining us as well . This influx of fresh talent brings a wave of exciting new energy and perspectives , making it a show unlike any we ’ ve seen before .”
What sets Art-A-Fair apart from similar events is a lack of residency restrictions on creative participants , according to Kim Brandon-Watson , the festival ’ s vice president of publicity and marketing . This year ’ s artists were chosen from a field of 253 applicants from eight countries and 16 states , many discovered through social media channels . “ All our new artists are very diverse in their mediums ,” she says . “… We have [ exhibitors who work in everything ] from fiber art to sculpture to glass and woodwork — just a great variety .”
Beyond exhibiting artists ’ work , Art-A-Fair will also host 21 different four-hour workshops spread across various dates . And musicians will perform genres from folk to jazz , reggae , R & B and
THIS SPREAD , FROM LEFT : COURTESY OF LAGUNA ART-A-FAIR ; CHRISTOPHER BLISS ; FESTIVAL OF ARTS