Laguna Beach Woodchip Art Festival Invites Families to Enjoy an Artistic Summer

During the summer vacation, parents often find themselves scratching their heads for ideas to keep their children entertained. While kids are relieved from the heavy load of schoolwork, parents have to start organizing various extracurricular activities and prepare for family trips. The Sawdust Art Festival held annually at Laguna Beach attracts tens of thousands of families seeking a holiday getaway.

The 58th Sawdust Art Festival, running from June 28 to September 1, features over 180 artists showcasing paintings, ceramics, photography, jewelry, as well as mixed media and digital art. The event also offers live music and entertainment performances for both adults and children to enjoy throughout the day. Apart from the summer celebration, the festival also hosts a winter fantasy event, displaying art and music with a Christmas theme along with magic performances.

Founded in 1965, the Sawdust Art Festival was created to provide a platform for local artists and craftsmen to showcase their work in a rustic outdoor setting filled with sawdust. Artists not only display their pieces but also engage in live demonstrations, allowing visitors to have an in-depth understanding of the craftsmanship process. The event also offers hands-on workshops designed for visitors of all ages, but registration is required due to limited time and availability.

Robert H. Jones’s booth showcases works primarily created using the “Raku” and “Saggar Firing” techniques. These two pottery firing methods originated from Japan and are known for their high level of difficulty. Raku involves single-firing techniques, mainly shaped by hand pinching and carving, emphasizing the natural irregularity of handcrafting. Each piece is unique and unable to be replicated due to the single-firing process.

Saggar firing is a technique where organic materials such as feathers, sawdust, and seaweed are wrapped with the pottery in tin foil and fired at high temperatures, resulting in a marbled texture resembling marble due to chemical reactions and smoking during the process.

Laguna Beach’s Summer Art Festival is an international event that attracts both local and international visitors. In addition to the Sawdust Art Festival, there is also the Laguna Art Fair where people can stroll through garden environments, admire various types of art pieces, and appreciate oil paintings, watercolors, acrylic paintings, and other forms of painting at art galleries.

Murals and public art can be seen everywhere in Laguna Beach. Local artists use artwork to connect the ocean and the city, with art sculptures scattered around downtown areas for people to discover. In front of the library, there is a charming “Fairy and Butterfly Garden” where children can write letters to fairies and receive replies.

The Sawdust Art Festival not only serves as an art exhibition but also provides a cultural experience reflecting the artistic creativity and community spirit of Laguna Beach. With 7 miles of coastline and a total of 30 beaches and bays, visitors can explore their favorite spots to catch a breathtaking sunset after enjoying the art festival.