Museum Stages Mock Art Heist

Titled “The Art of the Heist,” Laguna Art Museum will hold its annual art auction Saturday, Feb. 8, beginning at 6 p.m., promising a party atmosphere that takes its cues from “The Thomas Crown Affair,” about an art-stealing playboy.

Early arrivers have a chance to nab bargains first during a silent auction, while the 8 p.m. live auction is presided over by Christie’s auctioneer Charlie Adamski.

Bidders will have works by 100 artists to chose from and enjoy the requisite food and libations along with music during the after party.

“It’s an event we do every year, but it’s always different,” said the museum’s executive director, Malcolm Warner, presiding over his third auction. He describes it as the best so far since first-time donors include Shepard Fairey and Peter Alexander, along with Southern California stars like Tony DeLap, Laddie John Dill, Jimi Gleason and Elizabeth Turk.

Warner and curator of contemporary art Grace Kook Anderson nabbed the Alexander work during a Los Angeles studio visit, and Fairey contributed a work along with his friend and recent museum exhibitor Adam Silverman, said Warner.

For the Bartels, Marlo, Cathy and Jesse, donating is a family affair. The same goes for fellow Laguna Beach artists Sandra Jones Campbell, Stephanie Bachiero, Gene Cooper, Chris Gwaltney, Jorg Dubin, David Milton, Mark Chamberlain, G. Ray Kerciu, Kirsten Whalen, Tom Lamb and Jeff Peters, who among others are stepping up to support the museum’s education and exhibition programs with donated works.

Peters, whose “Juniper Oil” is among the museum’s collection, will paint on location at the museum, finishing and editing a painting he will have started at his studio. “I will combine snippets of painted images and change the narrative before people’s eyes,” he said.

Dubin is offering a portrait commission rather than a finished painting.

Last year’s auction drew 400 attendees and increased proceeds by 35 percent over 2012. Admission is $125 for members and $150 for non-members.