Recently, the Festival of Arts added three new pieces to its Permanent Art Collection from artists exhibiting at the 2015 summer Festival of Arts fine art show. The pieces include a glass and mixed media sculpture by Sherry Salito-Forsen, an oil painting by Gerald Schwartz, and a charcoal piece by Stefan Cummings.
Sherry Salito-Forsen’s piece titled “Circular Meditation” was created in 2015 of fused glass and a variety of recycled woods. Sherry has exhibited at the Festival of Arts for over 20 years and is well known for her work with glass, but it was the unfamiliar elements added to the glass components that caught the eye of Pat Sparkuhl, the Festival’s Permanent Art Collection Specialist.
“Afternoon Shadows” – Gerald Schwartz
Gerald Schwartz, an exhibitor at the Festival of Arts for over 15 years, is an expert painter of atmospheric landscapes. His oil painting, “Afternoon Shadows” was added to the collection not only for his masterful portrayal of clouds and shadows, but also for his use of line, form, and perspective that creates a thought provoking composition.
Stefan Cummings is a Laguna College of Art & Design graduate and second year artist at the summer exhibit. His charcoal drawing titled “Under Construction” captures the Festival’s recent renovation of the front facade. Not only is the artwork skillfully done, but also serves as an important depiction of a historical change to the Festival’s exterior.
“We are very pleased to add these three contemporary pieces into the Festival of Arts Permanent Art Collection. They will add to the scope and variety of the collection,” said Festival of Arts Exhibits Director Ron Morrissette.
The Festival’s collection, made up of over 1,150 pieces, is composed of an eclectic mix of two-dimensional and three-dimensional work that date back to the early 1900s. The Festival of Arts Permanent Collection, expanded annually through purchases and donations, includes painting, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, glass, photography, mixed media, furniture and jewelry that reflect the uniqueness and diversity that is synonymous with the Festival of Arts and the region surrounding it.
About the Laguna Beach Festival of Arts
The Laguna Beach Festival of Arts is a 501c3 with a mission to promote, produce, and sponsor events and activities that encourage the appreciation, study and performance of the arts. Throughout each year the Festival of Arts sponsors art education and provides art scholarships and grants. Every summer the organization hosts California’s premier open-air fine art show and produces the Pageant of the Masters. For general information, call 949-494-1145 or visit LagunaFestivalofArts.org.
Submitted By: Meghan Perez
