Laguna Beach City Guide 2014 Summer | Page 14

COURTESY OF PAGEANT OF THE MASTERS Investigating the Masters GET AN INSIDER’S LOOK AT ONE OF THE MOST BELOVED TRADITIONS IN LAGUNA BEACH. BY BRIA BALLIET Artwork comes to life at Pageant of the Masters. A mix of mediums is represented at the event, from jewelry and sculpture to classic oil and watercolor paintings, photography, printmaking, digital and mixed-media art, with about 15 to 30 new exhibitors each year. Only original artwork is allowed—no prints or reproductions may be exhibited—and organizers pride themselves on the festival’s quality. Jurors select exhibitors and then score artists again during the summer, asking about 30 percent to repeat the jury process the following year. “We invest a lot of time and effort in that process,” says Fred Sattler, president of the Festival of Arts. “… We like to think we have the best that southern Orange County has to offer.” SAWDUST ART FESTIVAL This year marks the Sawdust Art Festival’s 48th edition, presenting JODY TIONGCO W ith three annual arts festivals, summer is when Laguna Beach comes alive. The ocean air buzzes with excitement as festivalgoers make their way up the canyon to explore this showcase of the best creative work in Laguna, Southern California and beyond. The Festival of Arts, a juried art show that started more than 80 years ago, presents premier artists from southern Orange County and the acclaimed Pageant of the Masters, a show of