Summer Preview: A Look at the Best in OC Arts and Culture
- Culture OC Staff
- May 29, 2024
- 17 min read
Updated: Jun 4, 2024
We’ve made it past Memorial Day weekend, so what does that mean? The summer season has officially begun!
So instead of falling back on the usual, conventional options – movies, amusement parks, the ocean, a ball game – why not explore what Orange County has to offer in the realms of arts and culture?
Here’s a look at some of the top summertime picks in theater, dance, visual arts, culture, music (classical and popular) and food and drink, brought to you by Culture OC’s talented team of arts and culture writers.
Click on the arrow next to the topic below to discover our staff picks.
DANCE
As the regular dance season takes a hiatus, Orange County stages come alive with an array of performances that cater to both the seasoned aficionado and the casual enthusiast. The performances offer a mix of innovation and tradition, cultural and classical dance. Whether you’re looking to escape the heat with a cool evening at the theater or seeking the thrill of discovering emerging talent, these dance events are poised to captivate and inspire. – Kaitlin Wright
Golden State Ballet’s ‘Trifecta’
Where: Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine
When: 8 p.m. June 4
Cost: Starting at $35
Contact: 949-854-4646, thebarclay.org
The artistic team behind Golden State Ballet saw a need for a professional ballet company in San Diego stating that “a city as iconic as San Diego must have a world-class ballet company to match.” To celebrate its third anniversary, the company presents “Trifecta,” a program of winning contemporary masterworks from the past, present and future. Choreographers include Jirí Kylián, Jorma Elo and Andrea Schermoly.
National Choreographer’s Initiative
Where: Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine
When: 8 p.m. July 27
Cost: Starting at $20
Contact: 949-854-4646, thebarclay.org
National Choreographers Initiative (NCI) is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Each year, Artistic Director Molly Lynch invites four choreographers and 16 professional dancers from ballet companies nationwide to collaborate, culminating in a public performance that captures the thrill of fresh new works. The four new ballets will be the result of an intensive three-week process between the choreographers and dancers. Over the years, 33 pieces developed through NCI have been premiered and performed by major dance companies.
Relámpago Del Cielo’s ‘La Cultura Colorida’
Where: Musco Center for the Arts, 415 N. Glassell St., Orange
When: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 17
Cost: $63
Contact: 714-997-6812, muscocenter.org
Relámpago del Cielo Grupo Folklórico will celebrate Mexico's rich traditions through dynamic dance suites, accompanied by Mariachi Santa Monica. Approaching its 50th anniversary, Relámpago del Cielo is one of Santa Ana's oldest non-profit cultural institutions. The group has been honored by Representative Lou Correa, the city of Santa Ana, and Disney. Notably, the group is featured in Disneyland Resort's annual holiday show “¡Viva Navidad!” and the Disney/Pixar show “A Musical Celebration of Coco” for Día de los Muertos.
THEATER
The summer months put us in the mood for more lighthearted theatrical fare like the rock musical “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” and a new version of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” reimagined, in an outdoor staging, as a tale of late 17th-century pirates. You might find the less frivolous “Fences” bracing, its often gut-wrenching look at issues of race in ’50s U.S. a contrast to the O.C. theater landscape’s seasonal escapism. – Eric Marchese
Costa Mesa Playhouse offers what is perhaps the most explosive of August Wilson’s 10 “Pittsburgh Cycle” plays: “Fences,” which explores issues of race in the U.S. of the ’50s. PHOTO 1: Damon Rutledge (Troy Maxson), left, and Van Hudson Jr. (Jim Bono). PHOTO 2: Rutledge, left, and Kyle Hill (Cory Maxson). PHOTO 3: Ja'lil Nelson (Lyons Maxson), left, Taj Young (Rose Maxson), and Rutledge. Photos courtesy of Costa Mesa Playhouse/Michael Serna
‘Fences’
When: Through June 9
Where: Costa Mesa Playhouse, 661 Hamilton St., Costa Mesa
Admission: $28 general, $25 seniors/students
Contact: 949-650-5269, costamesaplayhouse.org
When “Fences” first appeared in 1985, August Wilson had already written five plays in the 10-part Pittsburgh Cycle. In this, his greatest play, he dissects issues of race and race relations across the American landscape during the 1950s, putting the often painful experiences of American Blacks under a microscope. Main character Troy Maxson still looks back with bitterness at his days as a baseball player in the Negro league, which kept Blacks barred from playing in the all-white Major Leagues. Costa Mesa Playhouse artistic director Michael Serna touts director Rovin Jay’s “deep understanding of August Wilson’s work.” Jay relates that “Fences” examines “how the damage inflicted on Troy resonated throughout the rest of his life and impacted the people he loved – not a story unique to him, as the circumstances that surround his life remain familiar to many Black men.”
Dennis Tong, a frequent star in musicals at Maverick Theater, has the lead role of androgynous rock singer Hedwig Robinson in the Fullerton theater company’s production of the 1998 rock musical “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.” Photo courtesy of Maverick Theater/Austin Bauman
‘Hedwig and The Angry Inch’
When: Through June 29
Where: Maverick Theater, 110 E. Walnut Ave., Fullerton
Admission: $30 general, $15 students with ID
Contact: 714-526-7070, mavericktheater.com
The 1998 rock musical by John Cameron Mitchell revolves around fictional rock singer Hedwig Robinson and his band, The Angry Inch. Stephen Trask’s music and lyrics mesh ’70s glam rock à la David Bowie with the early punk of rockers Iggy Pop and Lou Reed. Directed by Juztine Tuazon-Martin, Maverick’s production unfolds in its black box space for a more intimate experience than the typical “Hedwig.” Audiences will be up-close and personal with the cast and an onstage quartet of rock musicians, a formula that clicked with the Maverick original “Elvis ’68.” Bass and keyboard player Kobe Darby is the onstage bandleader, Michelle Hernandez is the show’s vocal director, and Hedwig is played by Dennis Tong, who most recently led the cast of Costa Mesa Playhouse’s production of “Hedwig” and has headed Maverick’s numerous revivals of “The Rocky Horror Show.”
New Swan’s 2014 production of “Twelfth Night” was set in 1930s Hollywood (seen here). This summer, Orsino, Viola, Sebastian, Olivia, Malvolio and Sir Toby Belch become characters in what director Eli Simon calls “a straight-up pirate show” circa the late 1600s. Photo courtesy of New Swan Shakespeare Festival/Paul Kennedy
‘Twelfth Night’
When: July 10-Aug. 31
Where: New Swan Shakespeare Festival, Gateway Commons/Gateway Plaza, 4004 Mesa Road, Irvine (UC Irvine)
Admission: $20-$85
Contact: 949-854-4646, newswanshakespeare.com
Shakespeare’s many plays are creations of beautifully infinite variety, capable of being reimagined in various locales and eras. That flexibility is a boon to people like Eli Simon, founding artistic director of Irvine’s New Swan Shakespeare Festival. Ten years ago, the last time Simon directed “Twelfth Night,” he set the story, characters and action in 1930s Hollywood. That version, he said, is “not close to where I’m headed with the play this year.” The troupe’s newest go-round of the 1601 rom-com “is a straight-up pirate show,” so shiver ye timbers, and landlubbers beware. Director Simon sets the play “on the coast of Illyria during the Golden Age of Pirates” (1650s to 1730s). Orsino, the Duke of Illyria, is now a rum smuggler living in Orsino’s Cove, while Viola is the keeper of a nearby lighthouse.
“Twelfth Night“ will play in repertory with “Measure for Measure.“
POPULAR MUSIC
There’s a lot of worthwhile popular music happening in O.C. during the warm months, much of it outdoors. The season launches with the Newport Jazz Festival from May 31 through June 2. Watch for free events as well – the Boogaloo Assassins, mentioned below, are just one of the many acts appearing on Argyros Plaza at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Familiar venues such as the Coach House have a busy summer line-up, and there are a few legends appearing this year. And keep an eye on the Summer Concert Series at Pacific Amphitheatre, which is bringing in country star Chris Young and other headliners besides Ziggy Marley. – Paul Hodgins
ZIGGY MARLEY
When: 7 p.m. July 18
Where: Pacific Amphitheatre, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa
Cost: $31.50-$79.50
Contact: pacamp.com
Winner of eight Grammy Awards, the eldest son of Bob and Rita Marley is also an Emmy winner, musician, producer, activist and humanitarian with a career spanning four decades. His singular musical style blends reggae, funk, blues, rock and many other strands, and his songwriting prowess is as impressive as his stage presence. Marley’s underlying message urges awareness of the environment as well as social injustice and political inequity – and, like his father, belief in the healing power of love. The evening includes special guest Lettuce.
BEACH BOY AL JARDINE & HIS ENDLESS SUMMER BAND
When: 8 p.m. Aug. 2
Where: The Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, Suite C, San Juan Capistrano
Cost: $38
Contact: thecoachhouse.com
Guitarist, singer and songwriter Alan (“Al”) Jardine is one of the founding members of The Beach Boys. He played rhythm guitar, for the most part, and sang harmony vocals with The Beach Boys, contributing lead vocals on their No. 1 hit "Help Me, Rhonda." After Brian Wilson stopped touring with the band in late 1964, Jardine became lead vocalist during live performances with the group. He also blossomed as a songwriter, writing or co-writing many songs for the band. In 2001, he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award Grammy as a member of The Beach Boys.
BOOGALOO ASSASSINS
When: 6:30 p.m. June 7
Where: Argyros Plaza, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
Cost: Free with Plaza Pass
Contact: scfta.org
Celebrate Black Music Month with Boogaloo Assassins, an L.A.-based 13-piece Latin boogaloo, salsa, and Latin soul ensemble. (Boogaloo is a genre of Latin music and dance that originated in 1960s New York City by and for Black and brown communities.) Formed in 2008, the band’s 2013 debut album, “Old Love Dies Hard,” was inspired by soulful ‘60s Latin music. Their 7-inch lead single “No No No” was a radio and dance hall sensation. Boogaloo Assassins perform for Latin music fans throughout California, in New York City, and in the capitals of salsa, Bogota and Cali, Colombia.
CLASSICAL MUSIC
Summertime is in some ways a challenging time for classical music. The performances move outdoors, where the acoustical conditions – the open air, the distorting amplification -- are less than ideal for the subtle artform, which relies heavily on the natural sound of its centuries-old instruments. Nevertheless, Orange County offers several events worthy of consideration for the discerning listener. Two are indoors, and the third – in an amphitheater – is too enjoyable to miss for its vigorous music and raucous finale. – Timothy Mangan
The Baroque Music Festival's artistic director violinist Elizabeth Blumenstock (front left) and the Festival Orchestra of the Baroque Music Festival, Corona del Mar for your summer preview. Photo courtesy of Gary Payne Photography
Baroque Music Festival, Corona de Mar
When: June 16-23
Where: St. Mark Presbyterian Church, 2200 San Joaquin Hills Road, Newport Beach; St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church, 3233 Pacific View Drive, Corona Del Mar; Sherman Library & Gardens, 2647 East Coast Highway, Corona Del Mar
Cost: $45-$55
Contact: bmf-cdm.org
The Baroque Music Festival, Corona del Mar was founded, in part, to make up for the lack of substantive music here during the summer. Now, more than 40 years later, it’s still one of the best things going. Led by violinist Elizabeth Blumenstock, the festival musicians (including a small orchestra and choir) perform on period instruments and in period style. This year’s theme, “All the Pleasures! The Italian Influence in London and Beyond,” lets in about everyone, including Handel, Purcell, Corelli, Telemann, Bach and many names obscure. The performances are held in three charming, acoustically viable venues.
Pacific Chorale’s Choral Festival
Where: Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
When: 5 p.m. Aug. 11
Cost: Free
Contact: pacificchorale.org
Every year, the Pacific Chorale invites up to 400 members of the local choral community to rehearse and sing a performance with them in Segerstrom Concert Hall. This year, the collected efforts will be devoted to a sacred masterpiece by Haydn, the “Mass in Time of War,” composed during the Napoleonic Wars and colored by bellicose musical elements. Artistic director Robert Istad conducts; Jung-A Lee accompanies on the Gillespie Pipe Organ. An unusually serious summer offering.
Tchaikovsky Spectacular
When: 8 p.m. Sept. 7
Where: Great Park Live, 8000 Great Park Blvd., Irvine
Cost: TBA
Contact: pacificsymphony.org
What would the summer music season be without a Tchaikovsky spectacular? (Well, quieter and less smoky, but it was a rhetorical question.) The Pacific Symphony has been doing it right, and very loud, for decades. Carl St.Clair conducts this year’s edition perhaps for the last time and the pickings are good, including Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio Espagnol, Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto (with the excellent Russian-born violinist Philippe Quint as soloist), and, of course, the “1812” Overture, done up with so many fireworks and cannon blasts, it’ll be best if you bring ear plugs.
CULTURE
The summer promises a schedule full of activity with a diverse mix of activities for all interests. Segerstrom Center for the Arts celebrates inclusivity and Pride Month with three fun, themed events and Anaheim holds its annual Juneteenth celebration. Meanwhile the Bowers Museum starts a new expo helping bring together the large community of comic book and pop culture fans in the area. And no summer would really be complete without some music. Newport Dunes invites the public to listen and dance to a variety of jams during the summer holiday weekends. – Jessica Peralta
LGBTQ+ Pride Festivities: Love Knows No Bounds!
When: Pride Live: June 4-5. Plaza Prom: June 28. “Dixie’s Tupperware Party”: July 10-14
Where: Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
Cost: Tickets start at $89 for Pride Live: Pride Anthems. $20 each for Plaza Prom. Starting at $39 for “Dixie’s Tupperware Party.”
Contact: (714) 556-2787 or scfta.org
As part of LGBTQ+ Pride Month in June, Segerstrom Center for the Arts celebrates with three events dedicated to fostering a spirit of love and inclusivity.
Pride Live: Pride Anthems on June 4-5 at 7:30 p.m. takes place at Samueli Theater with a journey through the past 50 years of pride anthems — from Donna Summer and Queen to George Michael, Erasure, Madonna, Lady Gaga and more — commemorating the legacy of the Stonewall Riots. The show stars Natalie Joy Johnson, Kevin Smith Kirkwood and Jon-Michael Reese with musical director Brian J. Nash and is for all ages. Pride Anthems is produced in partnership with Pride Live, with part of the proceeds benefitting Pride Live and the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center, opening June 2024 in New York.
Plaza Prom: Pride! lets you get your boogie on with dancing, photo ops, drag performances and a DIY your own corsage or boutonniere at the Julianne and George Argyros Plaza on Friday, June 28 from 7-10 p.m.
“Dixie’s Tupperware Party,” running July 10-14 at Samueli Theater, features drag performer Dixie Longate as the fast-talking, gum-chewing, ginger-haired Alabama gal bringing your grandma’s Tupperware party into the 21st century. Written by Kris Andersson, the production is full of hilarious and heartfelt stories, audience participation and empowerment.
OC Juneteenth Festival 2024
When: Noon to 7 p.m. June 15
Where: Pearson Park Amphitheatre, 401 N. Lemon Street, Anaheim
Cost: Free
Contact: oc-hc.org
Anaheim is the place to be if you plan to celebrate Juneteenth. This new federal holiday celebrates when the last enslaved African Americans were freed in Texas on June 19, 1865. The annual community-led festival, hosted by the Orange County Heritage Council, includes music, education, information, a health village, kid zone and more.
Comic Art Expo
When: June 15-16
Where: Bowers Museum, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana
Cost: Free
Contact: (714) 567-3600 or bowers.org/expo
The Bowers Museum launches its Comic Art Expo in June, a festival of comic artistry and pop culture. The free two-day event will gather comic enthusiasts, artists and collectors in conjunction with the current exhibit, “Asian Comics: Evolution of an Art Form,” which is running through Sept. 8. The expo will feature artists, live DJs and family-friendly activities, and give guests a chance to mingle with creators. The Bowers invites attendees to dress up in cosplay. Though the event is free, the nonprofit museum welcomes donations.
Tunes at the Dunes
When: July 4-6, Aug. 30-31, Sept. 1
Where: Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort, 1131 Back Bay Drive, Newport Beach
Cost: Admission is free. Parking is available for $35 per car on holiday weekends.
Contact: (949) 729-3863 or newportdunes.com/tunes-at-the-dunes
Newport Dunes lines up the summer holiday weekends with its live waterfront concert series, Tunes at the Dunes. Scheduled for Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day weekends, the series is for music lovers of all ages and offers a diverse lineup of local artists — spanning genres from blues to classic rock and surf reggae. Local food trucks and a full bar will also be available. Don’t forget to bring your beach chairs and dancing shoes. Music starts at 5 p.m.
Tunes at the Dunes Schedule
July 4: The Class (oldies, classic rock, top 40s)
July 5: Kelly Boyz Band (country rock)
July 6: Cubensis (Grateful Dead tribute)
Aug. 30: David Rosales (country, folk, blues, rock)
Aug. 31: Jimmy’s Buffet (Jimmy Buffett tribute)
Sept. 1: DSB (Journey tribute)
FOOD & DRINK
Champagne, xiao long bao (aka XLB) and new chef projects are all trending this summer from Anaheim to San Juan Capistrano. OC is bursting with anticipation for its newest food hall while one of the county’s favorite festivals returns for another long weekend. – Anne Marie Panoringan
Taste of Japan
When: June 21-23
Where: Anaheim Gardenwalk, 400 W. Disney Way, Anaheim
Cost: Free parking and admission
Contact: www.tasteofjpn.com
Over 100 Japanese-related vendors are scheduled to set up shop throughout Gardenwalk’s open space. Locals fond of Asian culture will discover all-day entertainment, hand-crafted merchandise plus dozens of food proprietors. Bonus: Yokocho Fest, a beer and sake festival, will also be going on from within Taste of Japan. View the festival website for up-to-date details.
River Street Marketplace
Where: 31856 Paseo Adelanto, San Juan Capistrano
Contact: riverstreetsjc.com
The upcoming debut of this South County food hall is a brief walk from Mission San Juan Capistrano. River Street Marketplace’s collection of tenants includes a burger concept known as Finca by Chef David Pratt, a second branch of Costa Mesa favorite (and gut-friendly) Fermentation Farm, plus an additional location of Long Beach-based Ubuntu, the self-proclaimed “Greatest Neighborhood Cafe.” An exact opening date has yet to be announced.
Endless Summer at Topside Pop-Up
When: June 1-Sept. 2
Where: Lido House, 3300 Newport Blvd., Newport Beach
Cost: $250 per person
Contact: (949) 524-8500 during operating hours
Lido House’s roof deck bar, aka Topside, offers a sweet and umami alternative to circling the beach for parking. Rare Champagne and Petrossian Caviar are collaborating with Topside (and Mayor’s Table chef) Chef-partner Riley Huddleston for the ultimate pairing in the property’s private dining space. This refreshing combination will take place during Topside’s operating hours and reservations will open up before the end of May.
Flecha Cantina Grand Opening
When: Saturday, June 8
Where: Bella Terra, 7821 Edinger Ave., Suite 110, Huntington Beach
Cost: Varies; Sunday brunch for $38/person
Contact: flechacantina.com
Flecha, a family-friendly Mexican cantina, has ties to a tequila brand by the same name with backing by actor Mark Wahlberg. Serving lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch buffet, the indoor dining room gives celebratory vibes while an expansive patio hosts live entertainment and special events. Multiple food stations placed throughout Flecha ensure a steady flow of Sunday appetites navigating brunch.
From left, Shrimp Fried Rice, Soup Dumplings, and Green Beans from Din Tai Fung. Photos by Anne Marie Panoringan, Culture OC
Din Tai Fung (DTF)
Where: Downtown Disney, 1565 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim
Cost: Varies
Contact: dintaifungusa.com/us/
A second location (out of four including Brea) in OC for the perpetually busy dim sum specialist is aiming to launch in June at the former AMC movie theater space. Expect popular selections such as its xiao long bao, aka soup dumplings, and refreshing cucumber salad on every table. Views from the bar will be of the dumpling kitchen, which is normally on display as diners are escorted to their table.
VISUAL ARTS
Summer is a time to enjoy the beach and the great outdoors. But it’s also a time to explore art in the comfort of cool, air-conditioned galleries, or outside along the coast.
Festival season is returning to Laguna Beach, and free or low-cost venues like the Hilbert Museum of California Art, Brea Art Gallery, the O.C. Museum of Art and UCI’s Langson IMCA are worth a visit or two. Here are a few highlights in what looks to be a very busy visual arts season. – Richard Chang
PHOTO 1: A member of the backstage staff fits a headpiece on a volunteer at the Pageant of the Masters. Photo by Ron Azevedo. PHOTO 2: Volunteers take a brief break from posing in "Royal Parisian Wedding," which is a manuscript illumination dating back to the 14th century by an unknown artist. Photo by Christopher Allwine. PHOTO 3: Pat Rogers talks about his work at the artists' party at the Festival of Arts. PHOTO 4: The entrance to the Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach. PHOTO 5: Visitors to the Festival of Arts look at the art of Fred Stodder, front. Photo by Lil Fassnacht. PHOTO 6: A tableau vivant, or "living picture," of Edmond Henri Becker's 1900 jeweled brooch, "Belle du Nuit," which will be re-created during this summer's Pageant of the Masters. PHOTO 7: A tableau vivant, or living picture, of James Tissot's 1873 oil painting, "Too Early," as re-created by Pageant of the Masters volunteers. PHOTO 8: This year's Pageant of the Masters theme will be "A La Mode: The Art of Fashion." Here is a facsimile of what the Irvine Bowl stage will look like this summer. All photos courtesy of Festival of Arts
Laguna Summer Art Festivals
FESTIVAL OF ARTS / PAGEANT OF THE MASTERS
When: July 3-Aug. 30
Where: 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach
Cost: $10-$15 general, $7-$11 students and seniors, $5 for children 6-12, free for children 5 and younger, military and Laguna Beach residents
Pageant of the Masters runs July 6-Aug. 30 with showtimes at 8:30 p.m., and tickets start at $45
Contact: (800) 487-3378 or LagunaFestivalofArts.org
SAWDUST ART FESTIVAL
When: June 28-Sept. 1
Where: 935 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach
Cost: $12 for adults, $9 seniors, $5 for children 6-12, free for children 5 and younger
Contact: (949) 494-3030 or sawdustartfestival.org
ART-A-FAIR
When: June 28-Sept. 1
Where: 777 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach
Cost: $10 adults, $8 for seniors and students, free for Laguna Beach residents, military and children 12 and younger
Contact: (949) 494-4514 or art-a-fair.com
Laguna Beach will once again play host to its world-famous art festivals, the Festival of Arts, the Sawdust Art Festival and Laguna Art-A-Fair. The Festival of Arts will celebrate 92 years since its inception in 1932, with 120 Orange County artists showcasing their talents in various media. The jewel of the festival’s crown, the Pageant of the Masters, will explore the fusion of art and fashion with the theme, “A La Mode: The Art of Fashion.”
The Sawdust Art Festival will be celebrating its 58th annual gathering, with 180 local, Laguna Beach artists on sawdust-covered, eucalyptus-shaded grounds. And Laguna Art-A-Fair will also celebrate 58 years, with 115 artists from around the country and world working in various media.
IMAGE 1: "Candy Painted Dreams," a 2023 painting by Jacqueline Valenzuela, who will be a featured artist at the OC Fair's Visual Arts Gallery. The work is made with automotive paint candy, flake, One Shot and polyurethane on wooden panel. IMAGE 2: "Pink Lady," a 2019 oil and acrylic on canvas by Jacqueline Valenzuela, who will be a featured artist at this year's OC Fair visual arts exhibition. Images 1 & 2 courtesy of the OC Fair. PHOTO 3: The entrance to the Visual Arts Gallery, located in the Los Alamitos building at the OC Fair. Photo by Richard Chang, Culture OC
Art at the OC Fair
When: July 19-Aug. 18; hours will be 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, 11 a.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays
Where: 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa
Cost: $13-$15 general, $9 seniors and children 6-13, free for children 5 and younger
Contact: (714) 708-1500 or ocfair.com
The OC Fair has long been a feast for the senses, and its visual art offerings keep getting better each year. Last year’s “The Art of Music Experience” was a hit, and organizers are bringing it back this year with an encore exhibit of album art and more.
The Visual Arts Gallery at the fair will feature hundreds of local and regional artists and photographers. A special exhibit will highlight the photography of Mike Goulding and Miguel Vasconcellos, who have captured the fair through their lenses for the past seven years. The featured fine artist will be Jacqueline Valenzuela of East Los Angeles.
IMAGE 1: Left: A portrait of Joan and Jack Quinn. Right: "Untitled," 1980 by Alexis Smith (b. 1949). Mixed media. IMAGE 2: A photo taken by Andy Warhol, from the late 1970s. Detail of image © the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc./licensed by Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. IMAGE 3: "Keaka koana," 1982 Water collage on Arches paper by Billy Al Bengston (1934 - 2022). IMAGE 4: David Hockney, 1991. Polaroid and Xerox collage. IMAGE 5: "Escondido," 1985. Peter Alexander (1939-2020). Oil and wax medium on paper mounted on canvas. IMAGE 6: "Beyond the Object Barrier," a 1972 acrylic on canvas by Robert Dowd (1936-1996). Images courtesy of the Laguna Art Museum/Joan and Jack Quinn Family Collection
‘On the Edge: Los Angeles Art from the Joan and Jack Quinn Family Collection’
When: Through Sept. 2; hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays
Where: Laguna Art Museum, 307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach
Cost: $12 general, $9 for students, seniors and military
Contact: (949) 494-8971 or lagunaartmuseum.org
Joan Agajanian Quinn – former West Coast editor for Andy Warhol’s Interview magazine – has been a central figure shaping the L.A. art scene since the 1960s. In celebration of her 88th birthday, Quinn is sharing her private collection with the public. Works on view include Lita Albuquerque, Peter Alexander, Carlos Almaraz, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Larry Bell, Billy Al Bengston, Vija Celmins, David Hockney, John McCracken, Ken Price and Ed Ruscha.
The works include quirky portraits of Quinn, as well as rarely seen treasures in her collection, some of which have never been exhibited publicly.
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