Upcoming events at Laguna Art Museum

Check out these upcoming events at Laguna Art Museum (LAM). From topical discussions and participatory storytime to a book signing and figure drawing workshop, the line-up beckons.

Click on photo for a larger image

“Lizard from the Park” by Mark Pett is the featured Lit to Life on June 25

–Saturday, June 25 from 10-11 a.m. – Lit to Life at LAM: Lizard from the Park

Bring literature to life during a participatory story time that will have you making and moving. On the fourth Saturday of each month, you’ll craft a storytelling experience inspired by a museum artwork or exhibition to foster children’s understanding of art’s role in their lives. Read-alouds will be supplemented with mindfulness exercises, art-making projects, or in-gallery activities that promote meaningful connections with caregivers and others. Sessions are designed for PreK-2 learners and their families. Cost: Museum members, $7; Non-members, $14. All children receive free admission. Tickets are required for accompanying adults only. For tickets, go here.

Click on photo for a larger image

T. Jefferson Parker will discuss his book “A Thousand Steps” and hold a book signing on June 25

–Saturday, June 25 from 6-8 p.m. – Hippie Mystery: A Night with author T. Jefferson Parker

Laguna Beach in the 1960s is the setting for New York Times bestselling author T. Jefferson Parker’s latest novel A Thousand Steps. Join Parker as he discusses his new book, his time in Laguna Beach and a brief reading of the novel. Afterwards, you’ll have the opportunity to get your very own copy of A Thousand Steps signed by Parker at a book signing.

Parker was born in Los Angeles and has been a life-long resident of Southern California. He grew up in Orange County and earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of California, Irvine in 1976. He has written numerous novels and short stories and is the winner of three Edgar Awards (Silent Joe, California Girl and the short story “Skinhead Central”), as well as the recipient of a Los Angeles Times Book Prize for best mystery (Silent Joe). Before becoming a full-time novelist, he was an award-winning reporter.

A Thousand Steps is a beguiling thriller, an incisive coming-of-age story, and a vivid portrait of a turbulent time and place. Matt is 16, broke and never sure where his next meal is coming from. His mom’s a stoner, his deadbeat dad is a no-show, his brother’s fighting in Nam…and his big sister Jazz has just gone missing. The cops figure she’s just another runaway hippie chick, enjoying a summer of love, but Matt doesn’t believe it. Not after another missing girl turns up dead on the beach. Advance tickets recommended. Cost: Museum members, $7; Non-members, $14. For tickets, go here.

Click on photo for a larger image

Peter Zokosky will lead a figure drawing workshop on June 26

–Sunday, June 26 at 10 a.m. – Artist Workshop: Figure Drawing

Taking inspiration from the exhibition Striking Figures: Francis De Erdely, join Peter Zokosky, Chair of MFA Drawing + Painting at LCAD, for a figure drawing workshop. Learn the basics on how to draw the human form with a live model. Supplies included with purchase of ticket. Limited space available. Advance tickets recommended. Museum members: $20; Non-members: $30. More information can be found here.

Click on photo for a larger image

Join the discussion on “Introduction to Realism” on July 10 

–Sunday, July 10 at 7 p.m. – Introduction to Realism: 1600 to the Present

Join Curatorial Fellow Jean Stern as he discusses Realism, from Dutch 17th century paintings to the present. Learn the differences between Traditional and Contemporary Realism with masterwork examples of the development of Realism throughout history. Advance tickets recommended. Museum members: $7; Non-members: $14. More information can be found here.

–Thursday, July 14 at 7 p.m. – Live! At the Museum: Duo Ondine

Join Duo Ondine as they perform on the harp and flute at the museum. Live! at the Museum is presented in partnership with Laguna Beach Live! Arrive early and enjoy the museum’s gallery and social time. More information can be found here.

Laguna Art Museum is located at 307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach. For more information, visit www.lagunaartmuseum.org.

Join the Great Plein Air Art Experience

Celebrate more than 100 years of plein air art at Crystal Cove State Park. Come spend a relaxing day capturing the beauty of Crystal Cove on canvas with the guidance of a Crystal Cove plein air artist.

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Courtesy of Crystal Cove Conservancy

Plein air painting at Crystal Cove

Classes are offered Tuesdays and Thursdays from July 5 through August 30 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and are likely to sell out. Register now.

Sessions are held in Cottage #13 (The Beaches Cottage) in Crystal Cove State Park’s Historic District.

The cost is $100 per workshop; $85 for Conservancy Members.

All supplies are provided. Class size is limited to 12 people, ages 18 and up only. www.crystalcove.org.

15th Annual Fête de Musique tomorrow will fill streets with returning favorites, new additions – all to the crowds’ enjoyment

Join the 2022 Laguna Beach Fête de la Musique on Saturday, June 18, where the streets of Laguna Beach will be filled with joyful music and memorable performances. Presented by the Laguna Beach Sister Cities Association, this year’s event celebrates the Fête de la Musique’s 15th annual anniversary, and of course, the start to a beautiful summer. The Fête de la Musique is an international event, taking place in approximately 1,000 cities around the world.

Similar to previous years, the festivities begin on the Main Beach Cobblestones. Starting at 11 a.m., the Laguna Community JaZz Band, with 15 musicians and vocalists Lisa Morrice and Ginger Hatfield, will be performing right up to the opening ceremony. Opening Ceremony festivities include short speeches by local dignitaries, the singing of both the U.S. and French National Anthems and the Official Welcome by Laguna Beach Mayor Sue Kempf.

Immediately following at 1:20 p.m., the attention will shift to the spacious elevated stage at the cobblestones, thanks to the generosity of Platinum Sponsors – The Ranch, Hobie Sports and Tuvalu. From 1:20-3 p.m., one of the locals’ favorite bands, Pilot Touhill, will kick it off with their reggae-infused rock. Then, continuing the fun from 3-3:20 p.m., JJ and the Habibis, the Laguna Beach belly dance troupe, will be putting on a lively and vibrant show. Filling the final hours with their rock covers from the ‘80s, the CoverUps, a six-piece band, will be performing from 3:20-5 p.m.

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Photo by Steve Orlick

Bluegrass Band performed at Tuvalu Corner at a previous Fête

Simultaneously, between 1:30-4 p.m., performers will be spread across 32 different locations throughout downtown. There will be 14 performance venues along Forest Avenue, 11 along Pacific Coast Highway and another seven along Ocean Avenue. 

At the lower end of Forest Avenue, Laguna Tenor Rick Weber will once again enthrall audiences with his opera songs. At the opposite end of the Promenade on Forest, long-time Fête performers Lenelle Hamil and April Walsh will be respectively performing at Moulin Bistro and 2bella. The musical bliss doesn’t end there. Just across the street, Tuvalu Corner will once again be occupied by the Grey Hill Gospel String Band, with six members, each playing an instrument, and several members singing, with no amplification. 

Continuing up Forest Avenue, across from Hobie, Jaszy Lady will be singing Jazz and R&B standards in the Landmark Plaza. Slightly further up Forest Avenue, in the Peppertree parking lot connecting Forest and Ocean avenues, the gears shift to specialized Argentinian folk music performed by Los de Alla, a six-member band. 

In previous events, the delightful Rose Garden of the Laguna Beach Presbyterian Church has been solely used to showcase local students. However, this year, the beautiful garden will also serve as the venue for a very special event, a concert by American Idol Top 12 contestant Ava August, from 2:30-4 p.m. 

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Photo by Mary Hurlbut

This Argentinian Folk Music Band will once again perform at the Peppertree parking lot 

At the steps of the Forest Avenue mall, across the street from the Presbyterian Church, Christi Hardy and The Pancakes will be performing fan favorites. Singer/songwriter Eric Alcouloumre will be performing in front of Miche Art Jewelry. And in Lumberyard Plaza, brother/sister duo Sandro and Tamara Eristavi will be performing international songs in several different languages. 

At the end of Forest Avenue, will be the six-member South Laguna Garden Band, located in the Laguna Beach County Water District’s Waterwise Garden.

“We are so proud of our collaborations with our local partners, the city and the county. And we are especially grateful for the volunteers and Fête committee for their devotion and passion to continue to bring joy to the streets of Laguna,” said Karyn Philippsen, founding president of the Laguna Beach Sister Cities Association. “We look forward to celebrating our 16th anniversary honoring our relationship with our first sister city, Menton, France. See you next year at the Fête de la Musique on June 17, 2023.” 

Finally, the Fête de la Musique is back, and it is time to fill the streets of Laguna Beach with music, fanfare and lots of smiles.

Laguna Playhouse presents Saturday Night Fever, the hottest musical of the summer

“You Should Be Dancing” at Laguna Playhouse when they present the hottest musical of the summer, Saturday Night Fever, based on the Paramount/RSO Picture and the story by Nik Cohn, adapted for the stage by Robert Stigwood in collaboration with Bill Oaks, musical arrangements and orchestrations by David Abbinanti, featuring songs by The Bee Gees, musical direction by Ricky Pope and directed & choreographed by Karen Babcock Brassea.

According to Executive Producing Director Ellen Richard, “What Kind of Fool” would miss this sizzling musical to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday and Summer in Laguna Beach?  It would be a tragedy if you missed this show that spent many ‘Nights on Broadway’ and is sure to be the theater party of the season!”

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Courtesy of Laguna Playhouse

Dorian Quinn stars as Tony Manero in “Saturday Night Fever”

Synopsis: Tony Manero doesn’t have much going for him during the weekdays. He still lives at home and works as a paint store clerk in his Brooklyn, N.Y. neighborhood. On the weekends, however, he is the king of the dance floor at the local disco where he and his friends go to dance the night away. When a big dance competition is announced, he wrangles the beautiful and talented Stephanie to be his partner. As the two train for the big night, they start to fall for each other as well. Packed with disco classics including the Bee Gees’ hits “Stayin’ Alive,” “How Deep Is Your Love,” “Night Fever,” “Tragedy” and “More Than A Woman,” the musical is filled with explosive energy and sensational choreography.                         

Saturday Night Fever begins previews on Wednesday, June 29; will open on Sunday, July 3 at 5:30 p.m. with performances through Sunday, July 17.

Tickets range from $55-$95. For tickets and more information on all shows and programming, visit www.lagunaplayhouse.com. 

Laguna Playhouse is located at 606 Laguna Canyon Drive, Laguna Beach.

Upcoming events at Laguna Art Museum

Check out these upcoming events at Laguna Art Museum (LAM). From topical discussions and participatory storytime to a book signing and figure drawing workshop, the line-up beckons.

Click on photo for a larger image

Photos courtesy of LAM

Join the Pride celebration and panel discussion on June 18

June is officially Laguna Beach Pride Heritage and Culture Month, so come celebrate with the Laguna Art Museum and Laguna Pride 365. Join a panel discussion on the rich history & cultural importance that the LGBTQ+ community has in Laguna Beach. Arrive early for a Champagne reception and stay afterwards to continue the celebration with entertainment, hors d’oeuvres and libations. The Laguna Art Museum will offer free admission to the celebration from 4-8 p.m., and a separate, ticketed entry to the panel discussion at 5 p.m. Tickets to the panel: Museum members, $7; Non-members, $14. For more information and tickets, go here. 

Click on photo for a larger image

“Lizard from the Park” by Mark Pett is the featured Lit to Life on June 25

–Saturday, June 25 from 10-11 a.m. – Lit to Life at LAM: Lizard from the Park

Bring literature to life during a participatory story time that will have you making and moving. On the fourth Saturday of each month, you’ll craft a storytelling experience inspired by a museum artwork or exhibition to foster children’s understanding of art’s role in their lives. Read-alouds will be supplemented with mindfulness exercises, art-making projects, or in-gallery activities that promote meaningful connections with caregivers and others. Sessions are designed for PreK-2 learners and their families. Cost: Museum members, $7; Non-members, $14. All children receive free admission. Tickets are required for accompanying adults only. For tickets, go here.

Click on photo for a larger image

T. Jefferson Parker will discuss his book “A Thousand Steps” and hold a book signing on June 25

–Saturday, June 25 from 6-8 p.m. – Hippie Mystery: A Night with author T. Jefferson Parker

Laguna Beach in the 1960s is the setting for New York Times bestselling author T. Jefferson Parker’s latest novel A Thousand Steps. Join Parker as he discusses his new book, his time in Laguna Beach and a brief reading of the novel. Afterwards, you’ll have the opportunity to get your very own copy of A Thousand Steps signed by Parker at a book signing.

Parker was born in Los Angeles and has been a life-long resident of Southern California. He grew up in Orange County and earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of California, Irvine in 1976. He has written numerous novels and short stories and is the winner of three Edgar Awards (Silent Joe, California Girl and the short story “Skinhead Central”), as well as the recipient of a Los Angeles Times Book Prize for best mystery (Silent Joe). Before becoming a full-time novelist, he was an award-winning reporter.

A Thousand Steps is a beguiling thriller, an incisive coming-of-age story, and a vivid portrait of a turbulent time and place. Matt is 16, broke and never sure where his next meal is coming from. His mom’s a stoner, his deadbeat dad is a no-show, his brother’s fighting in Nam…and his big sister Jazz has just gone missing. The cops figure she’s just another runaway hippie chick, enjoying a summer of love, but Matt doesn’t believe it. Not after another missing girl turns up dead on the beach. Advance tickets recommended. Cost: Museum members, $7; Non-members, $14. For tickets, go here.

Click on photo for a larger image

Peter Zokosky will lead a figure drawing workshop on June 26

–Sunday, June 26 at 10 a.m. – Artist Workshop: Figure Drawing

Taking inspiration from the exhibition Striking Figures: Francis De Erdely, join Peter Zokosky, Chair of MFA Drawing + Painting at LCAD, for a figure drawing workshop. Learn the basics on how to draw the human form with a live model. Supplies included with purchase of ticket. Limited space available. Advance tickets recommended. Museum members: $20; Non-members: $30. More information can be found here.

Click on photo for a larger image

Join the discussion on “Introduction to Realism” on July 10 

–Sunday, July 10 at 7 p.m. – Introduction to Realism: 1600 to the Present

Join Curatorial Fellow Jean Stern as he discusses Realism, from Dutch 17th century paintings to the present. Learn the differences between Traditional and Contemporary Realism with masterwork examples of the development of Realism throughout history. Advance tickets recommended. Museum members: $7; Non-members: $14. More information can be found here.

Laguna Art Museum is located at 307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach. For more information, visit www.lagunaartmuseum.org.