IN THE ARTS

Sandy Taylor to host reception Saturday

Sandy Taylor will host a reception for her new works of art at 6 p.m. Saturday at Masterpiece Showroom, 1945 Laguna Canyon Road.

The event will feature wine, food and music by world violinist Mischa Lakirovich. Valet parking is required, at no charge. For more information, call (949) 394-7867.

Jazz Wednesdays begin this week

Laguna Beach Live! presents the Frank Potenza Trio with special guest Holly Hofmann on from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday the Rose Garden of Hotel Laguna. The trio features the jazz guitar of Frank Potenza, Joe Bagg on organ, and Steve Barnes on drums.

Hofmann has been called the most authoritative, swinging flutist in jazz today. In addition to performing throughout the world, she also composes, conducts clinics and workshops, and books a number of jazz concert series.

Potenza is a protégé of the late Joe Pass and an educator, composer and performer with seven solo albums to his credit. In addition to his extensive freelance recording experience, he has performed in concert with Dizzy Gillespie, Mose Allison, Red Holloway, and many others. He is a professor and chairman of the Studio/Jazz Guitar Faculty at USC’s Thornton School of Music. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, and a Master of Arts degree from Cal State Los Angeles.

Cover charge is $10 and food is available for purchase. Light jackets are suggested at sundown. Doors open at 5:15 p.m.; reservations for groups of eight or more may be made by calling (949) 715-9713. For more information, visit www.lagunabeachlive.org.

Cute and Dangerous art exhibit to open

The public is invited to “Cute and Dangerous,� a free art exhibition from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. June 12 at [seven-degrees] featuring modern works of 16 artists from seven countries.

The event, hosted by graphic artist Mugen Suzuki, will display collections of renowned artists, illustrators, graphic and toy designers, painters and sculptors, and will also feature live paintings by Jon Burgerman and Luke Feldman.

Artists include Nathan Jurevicius, Meomi, Anita Mejia, Angela De Reis, I Heart Guts, Hsinping Pan, Jupey Krusho, Mylan Nguyen, Le Merde, JAW Cooper, Meghan Murphy, Julian Callos, Leslie Levings and Andrew Wilson.

Attendees will have the chance to interact with the artists as wells as purchase sculptures, designer toys, original illustrations and prints.

Photo ops will be available at the step and repeat wall, and professional videographers will be filming the event’s proceedings.

Raffle drawings will also be held throughout the night.

For more information, e-mail [email protected].

Taste of Afghani fundraiser is Thursday

The first annual Afghani Cultural Fundraising Festival and Feast will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, at Khyber Pass Afghanistan Fine Rugs and Collectables Galley and Cultural Center in Laguna Beach.

The event will feature guest speakers Masaru Emoto, author of the bestseller “The Hidden Messages In Water,� and human health rights advocate and author Dr. Leonard Horowitz.

Emoto’s work was featured in the hit Indie film, “What the Bleep Do We Know?,� a documentary about quantum physics and consciousness.

The festival will include a cultural feast accompanied by strolling Afghan musicians, showings by 20 local artists (many of whom will be in attendance), a fashion show by Roya Tawfiq, local musicians, and a silent auction and raffle.

All proceeds and donations as well as 20% of gallery sales from the evening will benefit the Women’s Educational Center and Clinic and the Phoenix School for Children in Harot, Afghanistan.

Sadiq Tawfig, owner of Khyber Pass Gallery, said he wishes to bring equal rights for women and provide safe drinking water in Afghanistan.

“After living in the U.S. for 28 years, I know that giving women and children the same rights and opportunities as men is the best way to go,� he said.

His quest to bring healthy drinking water to schools in Harot was also supported by grants from the Laguna Beach Rotary Club and International Orphan Care (IOC).

Tickets are $35 per person. For reservations, call (949) 233-1424.

Valet parking will be available.

Abscapes to be shown at Artist Eye

Artist Eye Laguna Gallery will feature abstract landscape paintings by Inland Empire artist Evan Roy Dahlke through June, and host a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. June 13.

Dahlke is known for his abstract land and seascapes or “Abscapes� which are created using faux painting techniques.

“My technique consists mostly of putting together colors that are pleasing to the eye and then blending and layering those colors until the balance is perfect and my vision for the piece realized,� he said.

Having started his career faux painting interiors and doing finish carpentry work — he appeared on the TV series “Flip that House� in 2007 — Dahlke said he later took a course in advanced faux painting techniques which introduced him to an entirely different art expression.

“The Faux Effects products opened up a whole new realm of clientele and inspiration to exercise my artistic abilities,� he said.

Artist Eye Laguna Gallery features the works of 18 award-winning Southern California artists.

The gallery exhibits a variety of media including watercolor, oil, photography, sculpture, and jewelry.

For more information about the event, call (949) 497-5898.

Collector’s Choice returns to College

Laguna College of Art & Design will host its 20th Annual Collector’s Choice Fine Art Event and Auction today on the grounds of the college campus at 2222 Laguna Canyon Road.

The event will showcase a variety of fine artwork contributed by more than 120 local and regional professional artists, most of whom will also attend the event, and will include original paintings and drawings in a variety of media, sculpture and hand-blown glass.

The fundraiser provides financial assistance to promising students as all proceeds from this event will benefit the student scholarship fund and provide funds to enhance facilities and technology.

Collector’s Choice is the principal fundraising event of the college each year. Proceeds help with scholarships, library books, and much-needed equipment and supplies. Event co-chairs are Kristi DeCinces and Mary Ferguson.

The main event will begin at 6 p.m. with a cocktail reception and preview of artwork in the college gallery, followed by hosted beverages and dinner buffet, entertainment, raffle and live auction at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $125 each. Dinner, beverages, entertainment, and complimentary valet parking are included.

For ticket and event information, contact Tracy Hartman at (949) 376-6000, ext. 241.