LAGUNA BEACH, Calif., June 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The always-anticipated Sawdust Art & Craft Festival—a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public and promoting art created in Laguna Beach—is back for its 52nd year this summer in Laguna Beach. Running from Friday, June 29, through Sunday, September 2, 2018, the festival features more than 200 new and returning Laguna Beach artists, three stages of live music and entertainment, workshops and classes for all ages, and special events including a benevolent art auction and a fashion show.
Considered one of Southern California’s most popular art festivals, the Sawdust Art & Craft Festival draws more than 200,000 yearly visitors from around the world. Tourists and locals alike are invited to shop along sawdust-covered paths shaded by eucalyptus trees, taking in an array of hand-crafted mediums including: hand-blown and fused glass, painting and illustration, jewelry, ceramics, clothing and textiles, sculpture, photography, surf art and more. All featured artists are Laguna Beach locals and are eager to share their creative process with visitors, by answering questions and giving daily art demonstrations.
“As Southern California’s premier art festival, we offer a very different experience,” said General Manager, Natalie Haug. “This event not only showcases unique pieces of work that have been personally crafted by almost 200 artists, but it also showcases the artists themselves, allowing visitors to see firsthand how much of the art is created. Live entertainment adds to the atmosphere and artisanal, delicious food and drink is readily available from a selection of gourmet vendors.”
Special features at this year’s summer art festival will include: Art Alive, live artist demos every Monday; Sip, Talk & Walk, an insider’s guided tour around the grounds with a complimentary wine tasting every Wednesday; a fashion show, heART of Fashion, on July 29; and the Artists’ Benevolence Fund Art Auction on August 12 at 10 a.m., where participants can bid on gorgeous works of art to benefit local working artists who have suffered a catastrophic event leaving them in dire financial need.
Throughout the summer months, Sawdust is also offering nine weeks of art and craft classes. These classes—taught by Sawdust’s seasoned artists—range from beginner to advanced levels at different price points. Classes include and are not limited to: ceramics, painting, mixed media, printmaking, and more. For a full list of summer classes, visit: www.sawdustartfestival.org/festival-classes.
For more information, as well as a comprehensive list of events and special features at this year’s festival, please visit www.sawdustartfestival.org. Presale tickets are available on the website: $9.00 for adults, $7.00 for seniors (65+) and $4.00 for children (6–12). Children 5 and under are free.
About Sawdust Art & Craft Festival: Founded in 1967, the Sawdust Art & Craft Festival is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public and promoting art created in Laguna Beach. Best known for offering two highly attended seasonal festivals, the organization also hosts a variety of workshops and classes throughout the year. Sawdust’s legendary summer festival is a nine-week colorful celebration of fine art and craft – the largest in Southern California – with more than 200 Laguna Beach artists who exhibit and sell their original art and handcrafted items. The festival also offers live entertainment and special events, artist demonstrations, hands-on art workshops for all ages, and a variety of food & drink offerings. Sawdust’s 28th annual Winter Fantasy occurs for five weekends leading up to the holiday season and boasts an international collection of over 175 artisans who create, showcase, and sell their original, handcrafted artwork on the Sawdust grounds, which are lavishly transformed to resemble a winter wonderland. Special activities include daily visits with Santa, holiday performers and live, festive entertainment, holiday-themed free art classes, and a highly-anticipated, annual community tree-lighting ceremony. Throughout the remainder of the year, the organization continues to provide its Sawdust Studio Art Classes in a variety of mediums, on-site and off-site. For more information, visit: www.sawdustartfestival.org
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