Paper Crane Folding Event to Support Japan

To help raise hope and spread awareness for the victims of the recent Japanese earthquake and tsunami, Segerstrom Center for the Arts and the Philharmonic Society of Orange County are hosting an origami paper folding event on Tuesday, April 19 from 5 – 9 p.m. in the lobby of the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. The community is invited to learn to fold and make paper cranes, with the ambitious goal of creating 1,000 cranes. In Japanese culture, the crane is a symbol of hope, luck and prosperity and folklore says the act of folding 1,000 cranes grants a wish. The completed cranes, with our wish of health and recovery for the Japanese people, will be sent to cultural arts organizations in the affected areas of Japan.

The paper folding event coincides with a concert by the internationally acclaimed Tokyo String Quartet in Samueli Theater. Members of the Tokyo String Quartet and Japanese Consul General Junichi Ihara are expected to be on hand to participate in making cranes. The ensemble is performing as part of the Philharmonic Society’s JapanOC, a festival being held in partnership with Carnegie Hall to explore the fascinating diversity of Japanese and Japanese-American arts and culture. While by no means necessary, donations for Japanese relief efforts will also be accepted at the concert.

The public is invited, and origami paper will be provided.

-Blythe
on my iTunes: Chris Brown's "Yeah 3x"

A few fun ideas for the weekend

Hershey Felderr: Monsieur Chopin - Starts tonight and runs through 2/27 at Laguna Playhouse's Moulton Theater. Created by the same team that brought George Gershwin Alone to life, Monsieur Chopin begins at Fryderyk Chopin’s salon at 9 Square d’Orléans in Paris. Monsieur Chopin will teach a piano lesson that actually took place on March 4, 1848, just days after the February 1848 revolution. As the piano lesson unfolds, he reveals secrets about the art of the piano and composition, as well as secrets about himself. Considered by his contemporaries, and now by history, as the true “Poet of the Piano,” Monsieur Chopin features some of the pianist-composer’s most beautiful and enduring music. Tickets start at $30. Call (949) 497-2787 for more info.

Second Year MFA Art Review - Starts tonight and goes through 3/4 at UCI's Art Gallery and Room Gallery. Grad students exhibit original works. FREE admittance! Call (949) 824-9854 for more info.

Macbeth - Begins tonight and runs through 2/26 at Chapman University's Waltmar Theatre. Not recommended for kids (which makes it a bit more appealing, does it not?) Tickets $15-20. Call (714)744-7087 for more info.

Love 'em and Leash 'em - This Saturday! See our post below (or by clicking here)

There's a few ideas to keep you preoccupied and happy this weekend!

-Blythe

on my iTunes: St. Vincent's "Actor"

MaeMae Paperie on Martha Stewart's blog!

Some of you might remember when we included a spotlight on Megan Gonzalez of MaeMae Paperie about a year and a half ago? We were so excited to find out that MaeMae Paperie was featured on Martha Stewart's Wedding blog last Thursday! We couldn't be more thrilled- we love seeing local artists grow and receive recognition! Keep it up, Megan!

Read our article on MaeMae Paperie here (on p. 18)
Check out Martha’s blog to see MaeMae’s feature!
Visit MaeMae's blog too!

-Blythe

on my iTunes: Beirut's "Nantes"

Call for Entries

Are you a high school senior into graphic design? Maybe you know someone who fits that description?


The Art Institutes and Americans for the Arts (the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts) announced a call for entries for their 8th annual Poster Design Competition. High school seniors from the U.S., Canada (excluding Quebec), and Puerto Rico are invited to submit entries. The national winners will earn up to a full-tuition scholarship to one of The Art Institutes schools.

This year’s competition challenges entrants to submit a poster that addresses the theme “Life is better with art in it.” The deadline to submit entries is February 4, 2011. Full entry requirements can be viewed at http://www.artinstitutes.edu/postercompetition.

According to Gregory J. Marick, president of The Art Institute of California – Orange County, “Industries today are fueled by creativity. We are privileged to educate students with the talent and the drive to enter a design field. The Poster Design Competition is a platform for students to channel their talent and turn it into something tangible.”

“The Poster Design Competition brings out and showcases a diverse pool of remarkably talented high school students,” says Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. “The entry pieces are not only vibrant and exciting, but also a great reminder of how much art can touch us in our everyday lives.”

To learn more about The Art Institutes and Americans for the Arts Poster Design Competition, visit http://artinstitutes.edu/postercompetition or contact Hope Adams, Associate Director of Admissions at The Art Institute of California – Orange County at hadams@aii.edu.   


Happy designing!


-Blythe


on my blip: Simon & Garfunkel's "El Condor Pasa (If I Could)"

Phantoms Phorever: Art + Language at MCAS El Toro

The OC Great Park has got a great event coming up this Thursday, Dec. 9. At 8:00 in the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, the "Phantoms Phorever: Art + Language at MCAS El Toro" exhibit will commence. A group of photographers, known as the Legacy Group, who were documenting the base closure found scads of old paintings and drawings left behind on walls and other blank surfaces by artistically inclined Marines looking for a way to express themselves. The buildings themselves are already mostly gone, but the artwork still remains thanks to The Legacy Group. You might remember the Legacy Group from their work on "The Great Picture," the world's largest photo made by the world's largest camera at El Toro's historic hangars. We featured Legacy Group member Jacques Garnier a few months ago within the pages of The OC Gazette. 


The exhibit is kind of like Inception, except instead of a dream within a dream, you get artwork within artwork. And unlike Inception, you won't leave questioning your existence, but rather enriched with Orange County history and culture from a bygone era. The show features oversized photographs from all 6 members of the Legacy Group documenting the artwork made by marines who served at El Toro between the 1943 and 1999. Head over to The OC Great Park webiste for more details here. 


- Amy
Listening to: Jarrod Gorbel's "I'll Do Better"

This Weekend in OC

 

There used to be a cartoon called The Weekenders about a rag tag group of kids who I can only assume, since I never actually saw the show, lived for the weekend (their theme song ended with the line, "I'm living for the weekend"). It may only be Wednesday today, but it's always nice to have something to look forward to (i.e., the weekend). For us Orange Countians, there's always something fun to do on the weekend.

Take this weekend, for example; you have a whole slew of fun events to choose from:

 

Tomorrow, hit the 1st Thursday Artwalk in Laguna Beach, where you can check out galleries for free, see cool local artist demonstrations, live performances, etc:

Beginning Friday, the Laguna Beach Hunger Bowl, which includes music, art, a silent auction, and food, all to raise awareness about Hunger and Homelessness. Your ticket gets you 6 soup tastes in a handmade ceramic bowl that's yours to take home, a soda, and a dessert:

Also on Friday, the Taste of San Clemente! Foodies rejoice! The event goes from 6-10:30pm at the Rancho San Clemente Tennis Club, and includes food, wine, entertainment and dancing:

Friday night is also Astronomy Night at Rancho Sonado in Silverado Canyon! Grab the kiddos, strap on your boots and warm clothing, and head up for a sunset hike with an evening under the stars with constellation stories. Only $5/person! 6:30-8:30pm. Reservations required: (714) 708-3885

 

Another Friday night idea: the Irvine Holiday Faire at the Irvine Fine Arts Center. From 5-9pm, More than 150 artists will showcase unique, handmade items for purchase. Never to early to start your Christmas shopping! Event also includes live music and food. The Faire continues on Saturday:

Any chocolate lovers out there? I hope you're sitting down for this: On Friday night, the OC Chocolate Fest will be held from 5-9pm at Miles Square Park in Fountain Valley. Wowzers. Over 100 vendors of fine chocolates, wine tastings, and gifts:

Finally, on Saturday morning, you can attend a Composting Workshop from 10am-noon at the OC Great Park for FREE. Learn to recycle your greens to make a healthy substance for plants and soil:

There you have it, folks; plenty of fun things to do this weekend, and plenty of time to plan to do them! Let us know if you go to any of these events, and send us your pictures!

By the way, all of these events and many more are included in the November Events page in this month's issue of The OC Gazette. Be sure to check out the Events page every month for more great local events!

-Blythe

on my iTunes: "Tiny Dancer" by Elton John

The Big Group Show at the Surfing Heritage Museum

Good Morning Orange County! After all the Halloween parties and decorating and trick-or-treating, I am ready for a weekend of laying low. Which is why "The Big Group Show" at the Surfing Heritage Museum and Gift Shop is at the top of my list. Surfing adopts that great idea of island time. It's all about the mellow, brah (throw up the shaka). That's why surfers are some of my favorite people. They just seem to have life nailed down; It's not about the destination, it's about the adventure, so why rush it? This weekend will be no different: just a group of great people enjoying some great surf art, over a good glass of brew or vino from Longboard Vineyards.

The exhibit is part of the Surfing Heritage Museum's mantra to help spread "understanding and appreciation of surfing as a sport, lifestyle, and culture." Featured artists include: Jay Alders, Meredith Ambruso, Matt Beard, Big Toe, Esteban Bojorquez, Drew Brophy, Candy, Ron Croci, John Culqui, Norm Daniels, Danica Elbertse, James Finch, Damian Fulton, Roy Gonzalez, John Holm, Calvin Knott, Wade Koniakowsky, Rick Rietveld, Heather Ritts, Phil Roberts, Kevin Roche, Blakeney Sanford, Joshua Serafin, Kevin Short, Tyler Warren, Alex Weinstein, Susan Wickstrand, and Jeff Yeomans. While you're checking out these artists, you can also check out the historic surfboards, photographs and other items chronicling the sport throughout the years. Help support the surfing sport, lifestyle, and culture by heading down to South Coast Plaza for this great event. 

For more info call the Surf Heritage Museum at (714) 800-1654.

Who: The show is 21+ (sorry kids).

When: Saturday, November 6 from 5-8pm
Where: Surfing Heritage Museum at South Coast Plaza

The Surfing Heritage Museum is located in the Crate & Barrel/Macy’s Home Store Wing at South Coast Plaza.  3333 Bear Street, Costa Mesa. 

- Amy

Listening to: Andrew Bird's "Tenuousness"

A Weekend For Kids in OC

JFK said, “Children are the world's most valuable resource and its best hope for the future.” This weekend you can do your American, and familial, duty to cultivate these precious "resources" and expose them to some really fun and intellectual local events.

1. Irvine Global Village Festival

Sat 2nd, 10am - 6pm @ Bill Barber Park, Irvine

Bring the world to your children's fingertips at Orange County's LARGEST multicultural festival! The festival represents 50 countries and entertains over 13,000 guests who come to enjoy the food, music, and entertainment. The festival is kid and family friendly offering hands-on art projects, games, puppet shows, and activities in a giant, interactive Kids Village.

2. 49th Annual Sandcastle Contest

Sun 3rd, 10am - 4pm @ Corona del Mar State Beach

Let your kids exercise their artistic skills by taking them down to Corona del Mar to take part in this Orange County tradition. Whether they're building a sandcastle hands on, or practicing their artistic critiquing skills, it's bound to be a good time for everyone! Did I mention there will be cash prizes? The perfect segway to give your kids a little lesson on how hard work pays off - or for the losing parties, the value of good sportsmanship! Sign up forms are on the website. You can turn them in on the day of the contest starting at 9am.

3. 17th Annual Irvine Mighty Rubber Ducky Derby

Sun 3rd, 11am @ Wild Rivers Waterpark, Irvine. 

This needs little explanation to spark excitement: 15,000 rubber duckies floating down a lazy river in a race to the finish while you're cheering on your duck from the Nairobi Express water slide. That's right, participation in the Rubber Ducky Derby gets you into the waterpark for free! Purchase one duck for only $10 and you get a day free. You can't beat that. PLUS it's for a good cause. Every duck purchased raises money for the Children's Bureau's child abuse prevention programs. As if this weren't enough incentive to attend, the event also includes prizes, including a 2011 Nissan Versa and a chance to win a MILLION DOLLARS!  

- Amy

Listening to: The Cranberries' "Linger"

OC Fashion Illustrator Danny Roberts

There is certainly a lot to be excited about lately. Sometimes, I just can't take it. For instance, in this month's issue of The OC Gazette, we spotlight a local fashion illustrator Danny Roberts. Danny has created stunning illustrations for the likes of Gwen Stefani, Forever 21, Lancôme, and many more. And we were able to nab his time to answer our questions!

[one of Danny's designs for Forever 21]

See what I mean? Stunning. And I keep seeing his stuff popping up places, beautifying new items and space. For example, I recently realized that this popular sidebar icon for the blog-reader site Bloglovin' is one of Danny's illustrations,

Danny also has a YouTube channel with a bunch of cool videos of his artistic process, like these two,





Visit Danny Robert's website, blog, or YouTube channel.
Read our article on Danny Roberts on The OC Gazette website.

Happy September everyone- and happy Friday! TGIF!

-Blythe

on my blip: Simon & Garfunkel's "Keep the Customer Satisfied"

Culture Crash Course at OCMA

[Lawrence Schiller, Tippi Hedren and Alfred Hitchcock, Los Angeles, 1962]

Alright, we both know you're long overdue for your dose of cultural enrichment. But don't worry, I've got just the thing for you. OCMA has an exhibit going on through October 3rd called "15 Minutes of Fame: Portraits From Ansel Adams to Andy Warhol." As the name obviously infers, the show covers a wide and varied range of photographers and styles: early modernism, the 1930s to 1960s, photojournalistic street photography, and contemporary portraiture. It's like a crash course to get you up to speed on all the culture you've been missing out on!



- Amy
On my Blip.fm : Neko Case's "Pretty Girls"

15 Minutes of Fame: Portraits From Ansel Adams to Andy Warhol

Exhibit: Goes through Oct 3rd

Museum hours: Wednesday - Sunday - 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Thursday - 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Location : OCMA,  850 San Clemente Drive, Newport Beach, California 92660
Admission : Adults - $12, 

      Students (w/ valid ID) & Seniors (65+) - $10, Children under 12 - Free
      Members - Free
      Second Sunday of the Month - Free

A Tale of Two Kings

Tucked in the trees in Garden Grove's historic center lies the Festival Amphitheater, where this and every summer talented actors perform some of Will Shakespeare's best plays. Last month, Shakespeare Orange County featured the lighthearted romp “Two Gentlemen of Verona,” filled with love triangles, laughs, and even a really adorable dog (I hear he's a union actor.) For nine performances in September, the theater takes a serious turn as it presents “King Lear,” a tragedy considered one of Will's best.

The title character will be played by Dennis Krausnick, a well-known theater guru and a founder of Shakespeare & Company: located in Massachussetts, the company is one of the country's most prestigious. Other actors include Evelyn Carol Case, Carl Reggiardo, Kim Blair-Shively, Michael Nehring, and Ryan Shively. Against the late-summer sky, the actors perform their roles in the outdoor theater unamplified and with a thorough knowledge of the work, making for an intimate experience. I've been lucky enough to see a few of Shakespeare Orange County's plays, and as a non-scholar I've been amazed at how understandable and moving the Elizabethan English is when performed by great actors.

After the show, you may need some cheering up (It is a tragedy, after all). Head just down Main Street to the Azteca Mexican Restaurant for an experience fit for a king... or rather, the King. Azteca Mexican Restaurant is home to the Crooner's Lounge, an over-the-top bar devoted to none other than Elvis. With a phenomenal kitschy collection dedicated to the King, you'll swear you're in Graceland. On Thursday nights, the lounge hosts “Drink and Draw,” when local artists come out to work on their projects while sipping beer in the cushy booths. The lounge also hosts a serious karaoke crowd on the weekends, has generous and sweet bartenders, and happens to be where the thespians like to imbibe post-show, so you'll likely rub elbows with some of the actors.

“King Lear” will be performed every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night at 8 p.m. from September 2nd to 18th at the Festival Amphitheater in Garden Grove. Friday, September 3 is the official opening night and will be followed by a wine and cheese reception. Tickets are $32 general admission and $30 for students and seniors. Purchase tickets online at seatadvisor.com. For the budget-conscious, stop by for “Pay What You Will” Thursdays, where you can treat yourself to top-notch Shakespeare for a donation of your choosing.

Check out the Facebook event or the Shakespeare Orange County web site for more details. See you there!

-Alex

in my earbuds: Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs-  "Repo Man"

In The Heights Hits OCPAC

[In The Heights National Touring Company. Photo by Joan Marcus]

Every great American story starts somewhere else. It’s just the basics of how America began, and why it remains the final stop on a universal brand of “Manifest Destiny.” This land of promise only remains a greener-looking pasture because of that torch-bearing, copper lady of freedom standing in New York Harbor, heralding in all people with a somewhat forgotten welcome: "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free… I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"  

In The Heights is like any great American story – just with amazing hip-hop choreography and musical numbers. But besides all the infectious beats and dance, it’s about those who come here and the struggles, lessons, and even humor that accompany different people bringing uprooted lives and cultures to re-root in new lands.

Now playing at OCPAC in Costa Mesa, the Tony-award winning musical In The Heights pivots around the life and relations of young, corner-shop owner Usnavi (whose parents proudly named him after a regal ship they saw while entering America which bore the name U.S. Navy). Usnavi is the hub who connects a community of colorful characters living in Washington Heights, a Latino barrio in northern Manhattan. He and his friends and neighbors come from all over the world with one common dream: to make a home for themselves away from home, to find belonging in a place they seemingly do not belong in.

 [Lexi Lawson, Joseph Morales IN THE HEIGHTS Tour. Photo by Chelsea Lauren]

As much as it could be a story about immigrants, it is a story about humanity, about one of life’s most basic questions: how to find your place, your space, your meaning. In The Heights presents the perfect formula for solving the problem: embrace the humor, the singing, the dancing, the friends, the loved-ones, that make life worthwhile, no matter where you are or where you came from. It’s like Zelda Fitzgerald (wife of F. Scott Fitzgerald) once said, “I don't want to live. I want to love first, and live incidentally.”

The musical soars in story, and it grooves and moves in beat and word. Through rap, rhythm, break dancing, and just good ol’ fashioned vocal-pipe work, a lively, colorful story is told as only Latinos could tell one. The package definitely has Tony’s seal of approval: In The Heights won the 2008 Tony Award for Best Musical; Lin-Manuel Miranda, the show's creator, won the Tony Award for Best Music and Lyrics; Andy Blankenbuehler won for Best Choreography; and Alex Lacamoire and Bill Sherman won for Best Orchestrations. Besides that, the original cast recording won the 2008 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album, and Universal Pictures has acquired the rights to produce a feature film based on the smash-hit musical. Needless to say, I’m not the only one who enjoyed it.

 [Lexi Lawson, Isabel Santiago, Arielle Jacobs, Genny Lis Padilla IN THE HEIGHTS Tour. Photo by Chelsea Lauren, 2010]

In The Heights continues it’s feel-good beat at OCPAC through August 15^th. Snag a pair of tix, enroll an accomplice, and head over to the performing arts center for a night of culture, humor, and melody.

A tip: the dialogue moves fast and the rapping can be hard to understand at points, but think of it as watching a Tarantino film. You’re not likely to catch all the dialogue and deep wit, but you will catch 70%, which in these kinds of productions is more than enough to captivate and delight.

Peripheral entertainment of the night: hearing older show attendees making excited and impressed comparisons to “that boy on So You Think You Can Dance” and Eminem.

Cheers,

Jen

On my iPod: "To The Dogs Or Whoever" by Josh Ritter

Kyle Lightner Stays Gold

 Kyle Lightner’s photography looks like the documentation of modern day, surf-ified Outsiders. It’s all outskirts, outdoors, oddballs, and outsiders in off-kilter worlds bathed in sunlight.

Turns out I’m not the only one who finds his awesome photographs reminiscent of Pony Boy and Matt Dillon… err, I mean Dallas Winston. Nick Maggio, of LA blog A Time To Get (which you should get on your RSS feed ASAP), writes of Kyle: “Kyle focuses in and blurs the lines between extremely opposite lifestyles. It’s like the world depicted in the novel S.E Hinton would’ve written if she had been married to Bunker Spreckles - but having a torrid love affair with Sonny Barger on the side.”

Lightner, a Costa Mesa lad, captures the gritty reality of today’s Southern California fringe culture in a way that feels like yesterdays best-remembered and well-worn nostalgia.

Here's a taste of the good things to come when you go to Lightner's blog or website. Visual euphoria through "Rose Colored Glasses". (There it is: we've reduced this kid's work down to a vintage country song written by a former undertaker.)

Click on the images to make them larger.

Stay gold, friends.

- Jen

On my iPod: The Growlers' "Little Miss Jack"

The Mint Gallery

A couple Saturdays ago, I ventured over to check out The Mint Fine Art Gallery in Dana Point. The Mint was hosting a show featuring photos of the legendary surfer, Buttons Kaluhiokalani. Even better, Buttons was at the show to autograph original pieces of art. Robert Pence also unveiled his latest plein air work, "It's a Natural Wonder." The place was hoppin' - full of art and surf enthusiasts of all ages, finger foods and wine, complimentary (and colorful) surf wax from Waxy Wax, and the opportunity to converse with the artists as they roamed around the gallery.

An impressive array of artwork is currently on display - art by photographers Hank Foto, Lou Gabriel, Squier Pavel, Brad Scott ,and Scott Carter, and fine artists Robert Leeland Pence, James Parkhurst, Casper Brindle, and Paul Bryan Jr., among others.

["Button's Brew" - you know someone's a big deal when they have their own coffee!]

[Artists Pavel and Brad Scott chumming it up]

[Buttons with the photographer]

The Mint Fine Art Gallery is operated by Mark Scabs. Check out The Mint on Facebook by clicking here.
Coming up is another fun event: on July 31st, The Mint will host a Vintage Car Show from noon to midnight.

The Mint is located at:
34085 Pacific Coast Highway
Dana Point, CA 92629
For more information, call: (949) 366-6777

The gallery is open 7 days a week from 10am to 7 pm.

-Blythe
on my iTunes: Beirut's "Postcards From Italy"