Sawdust Art Festival 2011

The 45^th summer Sawdust Art Festival is here!!! As always, my entire family was eager to head over to the festival to see what this year’s show had in store.  With over 200 artists, 30 of them new exhibitors, I knew that we would all find something to enjoy.

For the kids their all-time favorite Sawdust Art Festival activity is the Ceramic Canter’s potters wheel. Here, they get to have a hands-on experience with throwing clay. We opted for the $15 option, so we could get the clay fired, glazed and shipped to our home. The kids are now starting a collection of bowls and cups that they've made over the years at Sawdust.

I always look forward to seeing what the new theme will be at the Patch Toe ring booth. This year it is 'Toe Story.’

See if you can find all the toe rings.

This year I brought my sister along for her first visit to Sawdust. She fell in love from the moment we crossed through the front gates. The Sawdust Art Festival seems to have that affect on people. You get transported to another place while inside…its walls under the canopy of eucalyptus trees, the feeling of wood chips under your feet and music floating in the air.

My sis gravitated toward the Earl Reid booth where his sterling silver and gold hair comb clips are one of the most popular items at the festival.

By far, the most exciting part of our day at Sawdust was learning about rings that were passed down to us from our Mother. When I began writing for the Laguna Beach Visitors Bureau my mom told me that the rings she had given my sister and I were purchased at the Sawdust Art Festival in the 70s. So this year my mission was to find the jeweler that made those rings. And we did! John Skaggs has been exhibiting at Sawdust for over 40 years making beautiful jewelry. His stylized rings are recognized by Laguna Beach locals and as soon as we walked up to his booth, we knew that we had found the jeweler that made our mom’s rings.

John Skaggs’ stylized rings

Mom’s ring from the 70’s

Another family favorite are the sculptures of Dion and Ruth Wright. We enjoy seeing the creative ways they manipulate sterling silver utensils and other common items into all sorts of sculptures. My twins especially liked the Pegasus and fish. You can often find Dion and Ruth working right in their booths manipulating metal.

After our first of what I am sure will be many visits to the 45^th Sawdust Art Festival, it looks like it's going to be an exciting year!

Sawdust Festival

Open now through August 28^th

10am to 10pm Daily

Mark your Calendars for these special events:

Wine-tasting Wednesdays - Every Wednesday, 6-10 pm

Hawaiian Surf Day – Saturday, July 9

Green Day – Saturday, July 23

80s Day – Thursday, August 4

Artists' Benevolence Fund Auction - Sunday, August 7, 2-5 pm

Beatles Day - Saturday, August 20

Original Collectors' Panels Auction - Sunday, August 21, 3-5 pm

Honda Car Raffle - Sunday, August 28, 4 pm

For complete listing of Special Events HERE 

A Passport to the Arts season pass can be purchased for $19 and allows unlimited access to Art-A-Fair, Sawdust Art Festival and Festival of Arts all summer long. You will also receive a free, one-time parking pass and various merchant discounts around town.

By Anne-Marie S.

Sawdust Art Festival

Walking into the Sawdust Art Festival you are transported into another world, one that can be explained in one word…community. Every time I have visited the festival over the last six years or so, I have the same whimsical feeling that I always had as a child growing up in a small town, that feeling of being surrounded by friends.  That is what Sawdust is, a place for friends to meet and to share in the beauty that both life and creativity have to offer.

A few of the bright spots my family and I found this year:

The Ceramic Center is what stirred that old comforting feeling of community and creativity.  On a first come, first serve basis, you can throw your own pot on a potter’s wheel. You have the opportunity to make something for free taking home your project that day, or pay $15 to have your creation fired and glazed and then mailed to you. What a great hands on experience of art!

Just about everyday you can count on live music at Sawdust in three different venues. The Main Deck is nestled high among the eucalyptus trees that provides a shady and cool getaway to kick back and listen to the music rise.

Every Wednesday is ‘Walkabout Wednesdays,’ which is a self-guided tour to observe artist performing their craft. We saw Nita Skaggs painting and my children were captivated! They had seen a “real, live artist” painting and they couldn’t seem to get close enough to her.

I couldn’t pass up on an all-time favorite spot…Patches Cunningham’s toe ring booth. These rings, which you can get in gold or sterling silver, are perfectly fitted to your toes. Each year the booth is cleverly named after a popular film, this year it is AVATOE!

Can you spot the toe rings?

All in all there is something for everyone at Sawdust Art Festival. The staff is helpful, the artist are there to speak with and are more than happy to answer questions, and of course you may find something unique and inspiring to purchase. For all the happenings at the Sawdust Art Festival visit: www.sawdustartfestival.org

By Anne-Marie S.