Latin American Art

Film Society double feature Thursday The Laguna Beach Film Society will screen two new films with local interest at 7 p.m. Thursday at South Coast Cinemas in Laguna Beach. John Keitel?s documentary, ?Saving the Boom,? documents the fight to save the legendary Boom Boom Room. ?Napoleon?s Funeral,? starring Laguna resident Elaine Barnard, traces the story of a woman whose dream of her death acts as a catalyst to get her life in order. The audience will also learn about 50 years of film-making from local director, Jeff Coffman.

First thing I said when I saw the magnificent paintings by Victor Hugo Zayas now hanging at Laguna Art Museum was "They're like modern Turners. " Bingo. I know everyone's all agog over the three tons of discarded firearms that Zayas used to create some dozen sculptures, which were unveiled at the Feb. 25 opening of his show, "Mi Obra," ["My Work"] to an appreciative crowd, but one that lacked the promised appearance of LAPD Chief Charlie Beck. Nevertheless, LAPD officers made their presence known and said the obligatory things: what can one say when gazing upon the bent, twisted metal of handguns other than, "Thank goodness they're off the streets.

Meet the press event slated The Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce is holding a "Meet the Press" luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 12 at Aliso Creek Inn, 31106 Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach. The event kicks off a new Social Media Marketing Series, "New Thinking in Marketing, an integrated approach to today's marketing strategies. " The series will continue on Tuesdays, Nov. 16 through Dec. 10. On Nov. 12, members of four local news outlets have been invited to present information on how to obtain publicity and "make the news" in Laguna Beach.

SaltFineArt in Laguna specializes in Latin American Art, but gallerist Carla Arzente probably never imagined that she'd be traveling to Cuba to curate a show about dissident artists. The idea arose when the gallery was part of the L.A. Art Show and happened to be stationed across from a Cuban gallery. "I became friends with two artists at the booth," she said. "It was their first time in the U.S. and the first time Cuban work was at the L.A. Art Fair. So I decided to do a full Cuban show.

Art Walk Join member galleries from 6 to 9 p.m. the first Thursday of each month for a festive cultural evening. The next Art Walk is Thursday. Asterisk [ ] denotes participating galleries. Dedicated shuttle service starts at 6:15 p.m. from the Laguna Art Museum at North Coast Highway and Cliff Drive, and Bluebird Center, 1590 S. Coast Hwy. Shuttles run until 8:45 p.m. First Thursdays Art Walk is funded by member galleries, lodging establishments and the city. For more information, call (949)

First thing I said when I saw the magnificent paintings by Victor Hugo Zayas now hanging at Laguna Art Museum was "They're like modern Turners. " Bingo. I know everyone's all agog over the three tons of discarded firearms that Zayas used to create some dozen sculptures, which were unveiled at the Feb. 25 opening of his show, "Mi Obra," ["My Work"] to an appreciative crowd, but one that lacked the promised appearance of LAPD Chief Charlie Beck. Nevertheless, LAPD officers made their presence known and said the obligatory things: what can one say when gazing upon the bent, twisted metal of handguns other than, "Thank goodness they're off the streets.

Arin Contemporary new in North Laguna Arin Contemporary Art has opened at 350 to 352 N. Coast Hwy. in the location formerly occupied by Whitney Gallery. Whitney has moved to 305 Forest Ave. Gallery owner Naomi Arin owned Dust Gallery and then Naomi Arin Contemporary Art in Las Vegas for the past seven years. Arin?s inaugural exhibition is ?Escape,? new work by New York artist Rob Wynne, including word works created out of poured glass and meticulously created bead drawings using vellum and string.