Artists hit the festival scene in Santa Monica
By JESSICA ROBERTS Special to the Daily Press
CIVIC CENTER — The first annual Santa Monica Arts Festival opens today, featuring the work of more than 200 artists and contemporary craftspeople from across the country — and three local talents.
Jeweler Sasa has been in business in Santa Monica for 20 years, although she never opened a shop here.
“I never wanted a shop because I like the freedom of the shows, having to travel a little bit,” she said.
Sasa crafts handmade jewelry, which she calls contemporary — but not trendy, and very wearable.
Although she has done shows all over the country, her travel time for this weekend’s festival will be minimal.
“It’s my home show,”she said.“I can sleep at home.”
She said she has a lot of respect for the art patrons of Santa Monica.
“I love to be able to meet people who have bought my work,” she said. “People are cool. They’re savvy. They know.”
Sculptor Myra Burg has been living in Santa Monica for years and she shares that opinion.
“I think a lot of them (from Santa Monica) collect shows, eat them like candy,” she said. “Judging from the enthusiasm, it’s just wonderful.”
Burg, a former architect, said she “fell in love with the warmth of wrapped fiber on the cylindrical form” and began creating pieces of fiber-wrapped tubes in combination with metal structure.
She is excited to do an art show in her hometown.
“I go for a surf, I come home, I take a bath, I go to work,” she said. “I actually feel like a normal person.”
Michael Faragher a photographer from Santa Monica also will showcase his work at the festival.
The Arts Festival is produced by Warren Cook, an artist himself, whom both artists praised enthusiastically.
“This particular show’s (producer) is such a wonderful one,” Burg said.
Cook said he chose Santa Monica because it is one of the easiest places to get to, as well as the most popular — and a place with an appreciation for art.
“We chose it because Santa Monica really appreciates fine arts and crafts,” he said.
The planning process started one year ago and the show received a lot of support from the city officials.
“They wanted us here very much,” Cook said, adding that dates already are set for next year’s show.
The festival will showcase fine art, sculpture, photography, contemporary crafts, clothing and jewelry. Pieces range from decorative and whimsical to functional and utilitarian, made from glass, metal, leather, stone, decorative fiber in two-and three-dimensional media.
There also will be hourly demonstrations of the creative process, a feature called “Art Alive.” Cook said the demonstrations will include painting, hand-weaving, polymer clay and digital art.
The show is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. The entrance is 1855 Main St. at Pico Blvd. Tickets are $7.50 for adults, $6.50 for seniors and free for children under 12.
Burg offered some advice for show-goers. “Bring a whole pocket bookful of money,but make sure you come on a full stomach, because you don’t want to leave,”she said.“Have time to spend the day and maybe even the next day.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 15, 2006. Read the original PDF.