More than 100 works of art await buyers that crowd California Cool, the Laguna Art Museum’s 33rd annual art auction on Saturday, Feb. 7, where works typically sell for a fraction of the cost they fetch at art galleries.
Last year’s event attracted 400 people and raised $220,000 for the museum’s programs. Not altogether inappropriately, the 2014 affair was called “The Art of the Heist.”
This year, the museum hopes for even better results, drawing on contributions from 125 artists, many from Southern California and some the subject of museum exhibitions. Other works come from local artists eager to support what they regard as their community museum. Artists can either donate a piece in full or give 70 percent of the proceeds to the museum. About a third of participating artists make a full donation, said Sarah Strozza, the museum’s director of special events.
As before, silent bidders can take part until 7:30 p.m. Then a live auction begins, conducted by Andrea Fiuczynski, Strozza said. “This year we are at capacity as far as how many donations we could accept. The idea is to have the highest quality and to reflect our mission as a museum of California art,” she said.
Bidding online began last week and ends Friday, Feb. 6.
Lita Albuquerque, whose work took a starring role at this year’s Art and Nature symposium, donated one of her blue and gold signature pieces, “Trajectory through the Sun.” Artists Elizabeth Turk, Gene Cooper, Adam Silverman, Laurie Hassold and Jeff Gillette, the subjects of solo or group museum exhibitions, are also among the donors.
Gillette is known for his multi-faceted paintings transposing Disney characters into slum settings, and Hassold made a name for herself creating fantasy forms from bones and found materials. Both Costa Mesa residents, Hassold regularly exhibits in Laguna Beach.
Light and Space artist Peter Alexander, recipient of the museum’s second California Art Award last September, donated a resin work, “Glowbox,” to the auction. Living and working in Los Angeles, he is also represented by a Laguna Beach gallery.
For Laguna residents Marlo, Cathy and Jesse Bartels, contributing to the auction is an ingrained family tradition. “It’s our museum,” said Marlo Bartels. “Cathy and I have been donating since the very beginning,” he said. “Our son, Jesse decided to join in on his own this year. He has been a friend of the museum since the museum does so much for children,” he added.
Collector of California art E. Gene Crain has donated a Phil Dike painting titled “Storm Beyond Piedras Blancas.” Selections from the E. Gene Crain collection have been featured in several museum exhibitions.
Bidding on a commissioned portrait by portrait artist Don Bachardy of Santa Monica has become an auction tradition by now. Laguna Beach painter Jorg Dubin appears to be following suit, offering once again a commissioned portrait in lieu of a finished painting.
“This is the fourth auction since I joined the museum and definitely the strongest as far as the quality level is concerned,” said Executive Director Malcolm Warner. “It’s also the largest, which means that our buyers have more to choose from.
“Artists love Laguna Art Museum and I’m proud to say that they are amazingly generous to us,” he said.
There’s something for pocketbooks big and small, with prices ranging from $175 to $25,000. Bidding starts at 50 percent of stated value, with varying bidding increments for the silent auction.
As in previous years, unsold work will be available to the public on Sunday, Feb. 8 between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. at 50 percent of stated value.
“People are always kicking themselves after the auction is done because they’ve missed a great piece at a great price. I’d urge anyone interested in having art in their home to take a look,” said Warner.
Tickets: $150/$125. 949 494-8971 x 219 www.lagunaartmuseum.org
