Sixth Annual Art Star Awards Handed Out Sunday

News release from the Laguna Beach Alliance for the Arts:

In true Academy Award style, the best and brightest of Laguna’s diverse artistic community enjoyed a star-studded evening on Sunday, as The Laguna Beach Alliance for the Arts (LBaa) recognized its stars and paid tribute to arts advocate Dana Gioia at the 6th annual Art Star Awards held at .

Attendees included over 250 community and cultural leaders, whose efforts allow Laguna Beach to enjoy worldwide recognition as a hub of artistic energy.

Guests were greeted with champagne and hors d’oeuvres while enjoying the big band music of Laguna Community Concert Band’s Swing Set, and Latin jazz music by guitarist Miguel de Alonso.

Wayne Baglin, Art Star's Event Chair, welcomed guests, and during his opening comments said, "Thank you all for being here this evening and supporting the recognition of key contributors to Laguna's art scene."

The evening’s first honoree was the winner of the $5,000 [seven-degrees] of inspiration grant, awarded to John Barber for his proposed large-scale indoor sculpture entitled Feeding Frenzy, consisting of as many as 100 blown colorful glass fish tails suspended from a ceiling-mounted cable.

The sculpture would be illuminated with rope lights that wind around the cable and covered with the glass fish tails, offering a subtle slight filtering through the length of the sculpture. It will be displayed in the [seven-degrees] entry foyer during next year’s Art Star Awards.

Last year’s recipient of the [seven-degrees] of inspiration grant, Roark Gourley, was on hand to premier his completed project, Liquescent. Through breathtaking footage and an ethereal soundtrack, Roark took guests on a journey that inspired awareness of ocean waters and the need for preservation. Liquescent is a journey that explores the relationship between water and the human experience, where the human form transcends and becomes liquid.

After the screening, the 2012 Art Star winners were announced:

• Best New Arts Program: Studio Art Classes (Sawdust Art Festival and Laguna Beach Visitors & Conference Bureau)

• Individual Arts Patron of the Year: Bobbi Cox

• Corporate Arts Patron of the Year: Bank of America

• Outstanding Arts Collaboration: 9/11 Memorial Sculpture Semper Memento (City of Laguna Beach, New York Port Authority and Mark Porterfield)

• Arts Leadership: Robert Hayden III

• Artist of the Year: Jorg Dubin

The Lifetime Achievement in the Arts award was the final award to be presented of the night, going to Paul Darrow. Darrow is well-known for his life-long interest in an Eastern, philosophically Zen-like approach to the art of living, as well as being a nationally renowned painter, muralist, watercolorist, etcher, photographer, collage and mixed media artist.

Many know him for his Claremont Courier and Talewind cartoons and also for his exhibitions at the . Darrow was a professor at Scripps College and Claremont Graduate School.

“The Community Art Project (CAP) is thrilled to have its nominee Paul Darrow receive the Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award,” shared CAP President Faye Baglin. “His resume reads like a who's-who in the arts.”

The winners were presented with an original one-of-a-kind sculpture created by local artist Louis Longi. The sculptures are created specifically for the Art Star Awards with no molds or editions. Bronze sculptor Louis Longi has been creating sculptures for over 26 years, encompassing over 12 public art commissions and countless exhibitions, some of which have been sponsored by MGM Mirage, Cirque du Soleil and General Motors. His work captures the essence of human emotion with forms that encourage the viewer to transcend the limits of vision and experience the works. 

ABOUT THE WINNERS:

• Best New Arts Program: Studio Art Classes

Sawdust Art Festival and Laguna Beach Visitors and Conference Bureau

The classes spread their talent and bring art to non-artists throughout Laguna Beach and surrounding communities. The sold-out classes taught by professional artists include ceramics, jewelry, glass, silk painting, and other media. They offer tourists and locals alike the opportunity to create lasting artworks at the Sawdust Festival in Friday and Saturday classes that are held throughout the year.

• Individual Arts Patron of the Year: Bobbi Cox

Bobbi Cox is one of Laguna’s favorite daughters. She has served the community of arts not only with time, but with generous donations to support many artistic endeavors in our community. This includes donating a dance studio for the new Senior Center. Her original love is dance. She has been a major donor to Community Art Project, Laguna Outreach Community Arts, Laguna Art Museum, and dance programs including Gallimaufry. She has also served on the museum board, as president of CAP, and as a member of the Arts Commission.  The community is enriched by her generous spirit.

• Corporate Arts Patron of the Year: Bank of America

As part of a larger grant program, Bank of America presented $60,000 in grants to several Laguna Beach non-profits in July 2011. Recipients included Art-A-Fair, Festival of Arts, Laguna Art Museum, Sawdust Festival, and the Laguna Playhouse.

• Outstanding Arts Collaboration: 9/11 Memorial Sculpture Semper Memento

City of Laguna Beach, New York Port Authority and Mark Porterfield

A collaboration between the Port Authority in New York and New Jersey, the Laguna Beach Fire Department, Mark Porterfield and the City of Laguna Beach Arts. With approval from the City Council, the Laguna Beach Fire Department wrote a letter to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey requesting two beams from the World Trade Center for a public art project. Resident Mark Porterfield donated $30,000 to get the project funded. Sian Poeschl and the City Arts Commission facilitated the project. Jorge Dubin was chosen as the artist through a public art competition. A memorial dedication was held on 9/11/11—the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

• Arts Leadership: Robert Hayden III

In 2011, the Executive Director and the Director of Development resigned from the Laguna Art Museum. After taking a leave of absence from his family’s firm, Robert met with the staff, reassuring them of the Board and memberships commitment to the long term viability of the museum during a challenging time. Robert organized a search committee and solicited the help of an executive search firm on a pro-bono basis to assist. His perseverance and devotion to the task, as well as overseeing many of the day-to-day operations, fundraising, and exhibition planning evidenced remarkable leadership.

• Artist of the Year: Jorg Dubin

Jorg Dubin, a Laguna Beach artist for over three decades, delights and amazes art-lovers globally with his multi-media work. A former exhibitor at both the Sawdust Art Festival and Festival of Arts for a number of years, Jorg is also not afraid to push the envelope with his art, often provoking both delight and even outrage with some of his projects. His most recent sculpture, honoring the 10th anniversary of the tragedy of 9/11, is entitled Semper Memento. It was chosen through a public art competition in the city, and now rests peacefully in Heisler Park. The memorial features two beams from the World Trade Center, a pentagon-shaped field of grass, and a bit of dirt from Pennsylvania, honoring the crash victims of United Airlines Flight 93, which went down in Pennsylvania on that tragic day. Jorg’s art is on display in several museums across the country, and he is the favorite artist of collectors on several continents.