Seeman gate selected for Bluebird

Artist Jon Seeman was approved as the sole finalist in the Bluebird Park Gate Competition after he presented his plans at the Arts Commission’s April 14 meeting.

This follows Seeman’s other solo-finalist nomination earlier this year for the Community and Senior Center, which was rejected by the City Council due to site compatibility issues; it hopes to use Seeman’s proposed art at another location.

Commissioners asked about the gate’s safety and construction features before nominating Seeman, who designed a colorful, kinetic structure that matches the colors of the park’s playground equipment.

The project will go to the Design Review Board for approval before going to the City Council.

In other news, two finalists were selected for an artist-designed bench competition for benches to be installed in front of Art-A-Fair and the Sawdust Art Festival.

Sue Winner was described by Commissioner Joan Corman as the artistic favorite for the project, but the commission also selected Doug Snyder to prepare a scale model for the commission. It will make its final nomination at a future meeting.

The board also recommended that the following organizations receive Community Assistance Grants:

 CaDance, $7,000;

 Gallimaufry Performing Arts, $7,000;

 Laguna Beach Live, $7,000;

 Laguna Beach Community Concert Band, $6,000;

 No Square Theatre, $8,000; and

 STOP-GAP, $3,000.

Laguna Beach Film Society wasn’t recommended because it is part of Laguna Art Museum, which receives Business Improvement District funds already.

The Sawdust Art Festival’s request for funds for two new programs, Autumn Art and January Jewelry, was turned down because people must pay to participate in the programs.

Laguna Outreach for Community Arts was recommended to receive $4,000; three commissioners recused themselves from the vote, and Commission Mary Ferguson wasn’t present at the meeting, so a quorum couldn’t be achieved. There won’t be enough commissioners present at the next meeting to comprise a majority vote, either, so Cultural Arts Manager Sian Poeschl will write a memo to indicate the committee’s recommendation.

Artist Gerard Basil Stripling received approval to host the temporary sculpture exhibition site in Heisler Park through May 2009. It was previously hosted by Diane De Bilzan.

CANDICE BAKER can be reached at (949) 494-5480 or at [email protected].