Bloch exhibit this weekend
Billabong will host an exhibition of Wolfgang Bloch’s work at Laguna Art Museum from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in conjunction with Chronicle’s release of a book on his life and art.
The book follows the life-path of Bloch’s childhood in Ecuador, his move to America, his art education, the winding journey through California culture, the surf industry and, eventually, his return to the world of art.
Written by Mike Stice and designed by David Carson, “Wolfgang Bloch: the Colors of Coincidence” has more than 50 full-color plates of Bloch’s paintings along with photographs and visuals.
Copies of the book will be available in the museum store. Bloch and Stice will be available from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday for personalized book signings.
After enjoying a decade of commercial success as a designer working for companies like Gotcha Sportswear, Quiksilver, Billabong USA, Jeep, Tower Records, Vans, Hobie and Indian Motorcycles, Bloch returned to his first love: painting.
Over the past decade, Bloch’s work has been exhibited in the pages of major international publications and on the walls of galleries and museums around the world.
Bloch lives with his wife and two children in Laguna Beach.
Jordanian film shown by Film Society
The Laguna Beach Film Society will premiere the first Jordanian film to win multiple film festival awards, “Captain Abu Raed,” at 7 p.m. Thursday at South Coast Cinema.
Set in contemporary Jordan, this is a tale of an elderly airport janitor who has always dreamed of world travel but has never left the country. One day he finds a pilot’s cap in the trash and wears it home. He is mistaken by children from a poor neighborhood as an airline pilot. They beg him to tell him the stories of his world travel adventures and as he spins his tales, he learns of their grim lives and vows to make a difference.
Tickets to the film are $20 and include a 6 p.m. wine and hors d’oeuvres reception at Wells Fargo Bank, Community Room. Free to Film Society members. For membership information, call JoAnne Story at (949) 494-8971 ext. 201, or e-mail her at jstory@lagunaart museum.org.
Festival of Arts named ‘Outstanding’
Arts Orange County, founded in 1995 by the county of Orange and state of California as the county’s official local arts agency, honored the Laguna Beach Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters as its Outstanding Arts Organization for 2007-08 during its annual awards ceremony Sept. 24.
