By Daily Press staff
The Santa Monica Pier arts festival opens Friday and features lectures by artists and art experts, children’s activities, musical performances and booths for local artists and craftspeople.
Artists applied for booths on the pier from which they will showcase their work or perform demonstrations.
Featured artists include mosaic artist Linda Milo, portrait artist Terence Healy, Emeritus College representatives and more.
A panel of artists, art educators and art enthusiasts will choose a selection of works for a “best of show” exhibit.
The festival also will feature an art class on Saturday at 1 p.m. taught by Chris Hero, a local artist and art instructor at Emeritus College.
The class is open to everyone and people wishing to attend should pre-register by calling (310) 458-8901 or checking in at the arts festival information booth by 12:45 p.m. on Saturday.
The festival hours are from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 11 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
On Friday morning, approximately 250 fifth-graders from Santa Monica schools will create impressions of the pier on 4 feet by 8 feet panels with the help of David Legaspi, a local artist who has helped students paint murals in all SMMUSD Elementary Schools.
The student sketched and painted panels will be installed between the Playland Arcade and the western side of Pacific Park.
At 1:45 p.m. on Friday, there will be a ceremony honoring Legaspi for his work with the students.
Ben Franz-Knight, acting executive director of the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corp., said the schools and the pier are excited about the project.
“This is a great opportunity to give students more experiences in the fine arts and create a beautiful mural for the whole community to enjoy,” he said in a press release.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 27, 2003. Read the original PDF.