In The Arts

Auction 100 is Saturday at museum

Laguna Art Museum’s Auction 100 features 100 works of art from 100 premier California artists in a live and silent auction from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday.

Art may be previewed from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. through today at the museum or at www.lagunaartmuseum.org.

Any works unsold will be available for sale in a post-auction Sunday.

Auction 100 is a fundraiser benefiting the education and exhibition programs at Laguna Art Museum.

“The new economy is forcing artists to adjust their pricing accordingly,” said museum Director Bolton Colburn. “With fewer sales, artists have more inventory and are more likely to give work to the Museum that they would not in rosier times. Down economies offer some of the best conditions for buying art. All in all, you will see higher quality work at better prices in this Auction 100 than in prior years.”

The event also features food, music and cocktails. Chuck Dreyer will present the work during the live auction, assisted by Jacqueline Bunge, the museum’s curator of education.

Tickets are $125 for members and $150 for non-members, and can be bought online or by calling Dawn Minegar at (949) 494.8971, ext. 203.

Tour and paint marine mammals

The Pacific Marine Mammal Center is the setting of a tour and one-hour painting workshop Saturday.

The workshop includes a docent tour of the center and a close-up view of live seals being nursed back to health. Following the tour, participants will create an acrylic painting as taught by tide pool expert Donita Lloyd. Finished art can be taken home.

The cost, including supplies, is $20 for adults or $15 for kids ages 6 to 18 accompanied by an adult. Free on-site parking is available. Contact Laguna Outreach for Community Arts at (949) 363-4700 or LOCAarts@yahoo.com.

Marino signs biking book Wednesday

Martha Marino of Laguna Beach will sign copies of her new book, “Canals on Wheels: Cycling Adventures along the Canals of France,” at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Latitude 33 Bookshop, 311 Ocean Ave.

“Canals on Wheels” is about Marino’s solo summer cycling trips along nine canals in France. The books describe her adventures, the towns and places she visited, her camping experiences and the interesting people she met.

Marino has published three other books, “Asian Adventures”, “Backpacking in the Middle East” and “African Adventure.” In her 60s when she retired from teaching foreign languages, she began solo bike touring. She is Compton-born, graduated from UC Berkeley and has a master’s degree from the University of Iowa, as well as five diplomas from European universities in foreign languages. She has also taught English all over the world, including in Thailand with the Peace Corps.

For more information, call the shop at (949) 494-5403.

Illustrator Stout to exhibit at college

Laguna College of Art & Design will present “*A*ntarctica to *Z*ombies,” a collection of works by noted illustrator William Stout, from Feb. 18 to March 11 at the college gallery, 2222 Laguna Canyon Road. The public is invited to attend the artist reception in conjunction with First Thursdays Art Walk from 6 to 8 p.m. March 4.

Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

DimeStories moves to Latitude 33

DimeStories Orange County has a new home at Latitude 33 Bookstore, 311 Ocean Ave. The writer’s open mic will hold its first meeting Feb. 14 with sign-ups starting at 4:30 p.m. and readings beginning at 5 p.m. A $5 donation at the door is suggested. DimeStories will take place the second Sunday of the month.

DimeStories are three-minute prose pieces read by the original authors and time is strictly enforced, so writers are urged to practice in advance to make sure they conform to the limit. Stories can be fiction or nonfiction.

For more information about Latitude 33, visit www.latitude33bookshop.com or call (949) 494-5403.

Alfred Tse at Artist Eye Gallery

Artist Eye Laguna Gallery will feature original paintings by plein air artist Alfred Tse in February. The gallery will host a reception for the artist from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday.

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Tse’s artistic skills were cultivated by his father, a Chinese watercolor artist specializing in florals and birds. He later studied fine art at the famous Hong Kong art school, Ning Hoi Fine Art Institute, and had the opportunity to study under Kei King Chung, a well-known artist from Beijing.

He lives in Rowland Heights with his wife, Laura, and teaches painting in his spare time.

Artist Eye Laguna Gallery is at 1294 So. Coast Hwy., Suite A. For more information, call (949) 497-5898 or visit www.artisteyelagunagallery.com.

Banner competition announced

The city of Laguna Beach’s 2010 Banner Competition is under way. Artists may submit designs for selection by the Arts Commission, and those selected are provided with banner material on which to paint original art work. The completed banners are displayed on lampposts throughout the city during June, July and August.

Entries will be accepted until 5 p.m. March 19 from residents of Orange County, 18 years or older. An honorarium of $2,000 is provided to the selected artists.