The San Clemente News
The Only Weekly Newspaper Exclusively for the San Clemente Area
June 29, 2012
46th Annual Sawdust Art Festival Opens June 29
The Sawdust Art Festival celebrates its 46th annual season this summer, opening its doors to the public Friday, June 29 with a traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 am. Sawdust President Gavin Heath will make the Opening Day announcement and Laguna Beach Mayor Jane Egly will officially cut the ribbon, unveiling the 2012 summer season. The festival will open daily from 10 am to 10 pm through Sunday, September 2. Over 200 Laguna Beach artists, 18 new artists, excitedly anticipate a new summer season in hopes of drawing an even greater crowd than last year to expose their unique handmade artwork. Visitors can experience the awe in artwork being created before their eyes, including the large glassblowing enclosure where glass masters perform their skill at the furnace. The diverse range of artwork at the Sawdust encompasses all types of mediums, including ceramics, glass, woodwork, jewelry, sculpture, painting, photography, textiles, mixed media and much more. In addition to the newbies joining the Sawdust family, also new this year is the Reset Sundays entertainment series. The Sawdust Entertainment Committee decided to feature a mellow genre of music every other Sunday evening this summer, as a relaxing way for visitors to wind down
their weekends and prepare for a new week. Chamber music groups, jazz ensembles and lighter musical performers are booked every other Sunday at 5 pm on the grounds. In support of the Sawdust’s mission to educate the public, the year-round Sawdust Studio Art Classes will continue to be offered every Friday and Saturday at 10 am and 2 pm. Guests can experience the magic of the Sawdust studio and create their own unique art piece, to wear or to share, in just one two-hour session. For an updated schedule check www.sawduststudioartclasses.com. A variety of fresh and exciting arts and crafts projects will be offered at the Children’s Art Booth and Sawdust Studio One. The new schedule of classes will be available at sawdustartfestival.org/ classes-and-workshops and on the grounds during festival season. The annual Artists’ Benevolence Fund Auction, which supports artists that have experienced a catastrophic event, will take place on Sunday, August 12 from 2-5 pm on the Main Entertainment Deck. This year, the moneys raised at the annual live auction will be especially important, as the Artists’ Benevolence Fund is need of replenishing the funds granted during last winter’s disastrous floods. All Laguna Beach artists, and not only Sawdust artists, benefit from the Artists’ Benevolence Fund. We will
also host our 3rd annual Sawdust Art Education Fundraiser, “2012 Original Collectors’ Panels,” a collection of art panels, each uniquely created by contributing Sawdust artists using all types of media to be auctioned off at the festival. These two fundraisers are great ways for the community to pull together in an effort to support art education and the livelihood of local artists. Other scheduled special events include: Hawaiian Surf Day – Saturday, July 7 Green Day – Saturday, July 21 from 11 am to 5 pm Country Western Day – Saturday, August 4 Beatles Day – Saturday, August 18 Tropical Tuesdays – every Tuesday Residents Nights – Laguna Beach residents are admitted free after 5 pm with ID on Thursday evenings; other local cities will also be featured for free admission after 5 pm on various weekday evenings, TBA on sawdustartfestival.org The Sawdust’s title sponsorship with American Honda will continue for the third consecutive year. Two Honda hybrid vehicles will be on display on the grounds, one of which will be raffled off. Guests will have the opportunity to win a 2012 Civic Natural Gas, last year’s Green Car of the Year; tickets will be sold during the
festival at $5 per raffle ticket or 5 for $20. The winning raffle ticket will be drawn on Sunday, September 2 at 4 pm on the Main Entertainment Deck. At this year’s summer show, guests can also enjoy live entertainment on three stages and roaming acts around the grounds, eye-catching artist demonstrations, hands-on art workshops for all ages, and delicious food and drink, including new beverages offered at the Sawdust Saloon. Don’t miss the diversity in character, creativity and action at the 46th Annual Sawdust Art Festival! To check out more details about the Sawdust Art Festival’s 46th annual summer season and calendar of events, please visit www.sawdustartfestival.org or call 949-494-3030. The Sawdust Art Festival is open 10-10 daily June 29 through September 2, and is located at 935 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach with free City trolley service to and from the Act V parking lot. Admission prices are: Adults $7.75, Seniors (65+) $6.25, Children (6-12) $3.25, Children (5 & under) Free; Summer Season Pass $15; Annual Pass $20. The Sawdust Art Festival is a nonprofit art organization dedicated to educating the public and promoting the art created in Laguna Beach. The Sawdust Art Festival thanks its 2012 sponsors Honda, 104.3 MYfm, Hoegaarden and Kendall-Jackson.
The San Clemente News
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