Get into the Pageant

EYE ON ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

I hope everyone enjoyed the holiday season in Laguna Beach. It’s

always exciting to watch the new year evolve -- to make things happen

that might have been simmering on the back burner. It’s interesting

to reflect on what I was doing last year at this time, five years

ago, 10 years ago, etc. The cool thing is, I am thrilled with all the

wonderful things I have in my life. And when I say things, of course,

none of them are material -- rather they consist of memories,

happenings, people, places, experiences and emotions.

PAGEANT POSING

The Pageant of the Masters is looking for volunteers for next

summer’s show. They need men, women and children of all sizes and

ages to be cast members, positions in wardrobe, makeup, headdress and

more. No theater experience is necessary. The only requirement is the

ability to stand still for a few minutes and enjoy the experience.

Casting is tomorrow night from 7 to 9 p.m., Sunday from 2 to 5

p.m. and Thursday, Jan. 9, from 7 to 9 p.m.

Volunteers will be measured, photographed, have fun, partake in

refreshments and meet the behind-the-scenes staff.

Many volunteers have been with the Pageant for 10, 15 or 20 years,

and a lot of people volunteer with family and friends. The Pageant is

staged nightly from July 9 through Aug. 31.

Casting is held backstage at the Irvine Bowl on the Festival

grounds at 650 Laguna Canyon Drive. For information, call 494-3663.

PRESENTING TIM MILLER

Laguna Art Museum will have a performance by internationally

acclaimed performance artist Tim Miller on Jan. 17 and 18. Miller

will be performing his latest work -- “Body Blows,” based on his

newest book.

The performance deals with the adventures and struggles of gay

bi-national couples in America. Miller is leaving the country with

his Australian-British partner because his partner’s visa has

expired.

Miller has gained recognition as a member of the NEA Four and is

regarded as one of the premiere performance artists who specialize in

autobiographical monologues.

Tickets are $15 per performance. Laguna Art Museum is at 307 Cliff

Drive. For information, call 494-8971 or go online to

www.lagunaartmuseum.org.

BENCH COMPETITION

The City’s Arts Commission is holding its annual artist-designed

bench competition and has a budget of $15,000. The competition is

held to add to the city’s public art collection with high quality

art.

To enter, submit a model of your bench design on the scale of 1

inch to 1 foot with simulated finish materials. An artist’s statement

and resume along with a sample of the actual materials that will be

used are needed.

The bench needs to accommodate six to eight people; take up a

space appropriate to the narrow sidewalk; be able to withstand heavy

use and require minimum maintenance; be constructed of materials that

aren’t influenced by heat and stand up to an ocean front environment;

and can not have a shade element or a design higher than 3 1/2 feet.

The site is at 417 S. Coast Highway in front of the Hotel Laguna

and Miranda Galleries. The winning bench will replace the existing

bench at the bus stop.

The deadline is 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3. Submissions need to be

delivered to the City Hall Community Services Department. For

information, contact Sian Poeschl, arts coordinator, at 497-0722, or

e-mail Poeschl at [email protected].

THAR SHE BLOWS

Bones from an 83-foot long, 100-year-old blue whale are on display

at the Friends of the Sea Lion, at 20612 Laguna Canyon Road.

The whale washed up on the shore of Camp Pendleton in the

beginning of October. The whale was delivered to the Marine Mammal

Center. It was quite a scene to see the bones delivered via truck.

Friends of the Sea Lion now has four blue whale vertebrae, each

about 3 feet in diameter, a 5 1/2 feet long partial blue whale rib

and, the most exciting part, a partial blue whale lower jawbone

measuring 19 feet long, weighing about 1,500 pounds and a smaller

part of the same jaw 3 feet long.

Bones such as these usually end up being fish food, with particles

feeding sea life as the bones descend to the bottom of the ocean.

For information, call 494-3050 or go online to www.fslmmc.org. The

friends of the sea lion can always use donations to help our marine

mammal friends.

* SUZIE HARRISON is a reporter for the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. She may be reached at 494-4321 or [email protected].