THE SAWDUST ART FESTIVAL PRESENTS ITS FIRST EVER “A MIDSUMMER GREEN DAY”

August 11, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE SAWDUST ART FESTIVAL PRESENTS
ITS FIRST EVER “A MIDSUMMER GREEN DAY”
(Sunday, August 17, 12 noon – 5 p.m.)

Laguna Beach, Ca – The 2008 Sawdust Art Festival presents “A Midsummer’s Green Day,” its first official green day, on Sunday, August 17 from noon to 5 p.m. signifying the festival’s continuing efforts to recycle and conserve the earth’s diminishing resources. Activities scheduled throughout the day will educate visitors on important themes of sustainability, as various community members, organizations and projects contribute to the festival’s green initiatives, including:

• Architecture for Humanity (Educational Project) – Justin Botros, environmental architect and UC Berkeley graduate, will represent Architecture for Humanity, and educate on the latest trends in green architecture and design with a grid-coloring project, near the Main Entertainment Deck from noon until 5 p.m.
• Chris Prelitz (Green Made Easy) – You may have seen local green expert Chris Prelitz on Discovery Channel’s Greenovate Show. Chris is the Sawdust’s Sustainability Consultant and will be sharing with visitors and exhibitors ways individuals can save money, water and energy while making better eco-choices along with some “green myth busting.” Chris will present on the Main Entertainment Deck at 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
• Endangered Planet Foundation (Green Art Projects) – The local nonprofit organization, Endangered Planet Foundation, will host two art activities near the waterfall and Main Entertainment Deck from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

One activity will allow visitors to contribute to the “Patching the Environment” Art Miles Mural Project, by painting images of nature and wildlife on 11” x 11” canvas squares, which can then be added to the collective mural art piece at the “Autumnal Green Festival” Symposium October 3-5 on the Festival of Arts grounds. Participants can use their minimural canvas squares as a free family pass into the festival in October. The other one will allow visitors to participate in the “Whirled Peace” Pinwheel Project and create paper pinwheels. These pinwheels, decorated with symbols of harmony and unity, will allow participants to join the worldwide “Pinwheels for Peace” event on September 21.

• Green Thumbs Tour (Landscape Tour) – Sawdust artist and exhibitor, Eleanor Henry, will lead two tours detailing the festival’s landscaping and natural environment, including the historical eucalyptus grove and diverse hillside vegetation at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Meet in front of the Info Booth.
• Paper Making (Green Art Project) – Local artists, Anne Gundersen and Chris Krach-Bastian, will hold a paper-making class at the Sawdust Studio from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Recycled rag paper, and recycled art paper for tinting and coloring, will be used in the project.
• Peace Planes (Green Art Project) – Young visitors can make peace planes out of recycled materials and decorate with symbols of unity and peace using tempera paint at the Children’s Art Spot from 10:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Bring in your own cereal box to make your peace plane.
• Sirius Computers (E-waste Collection) – Visitors will have the opportunity to contribute their electronic recyclables and e-waste, including computers,cell phones, printers, and other electronic parts to the two Sirius Computers collection centers set up at the Sawdust Art Festival.

For large items, such as computer towers and monitors, a large van will be available in front of the festival grounds and visitors can drive up to the van directly to donate their heavy e-waste pieces prior to parking. For small items, like cell phones, chargers and computer mice, visitors can donate to the Sirius e-waste collection bin set up at the front of the festival grounds.

Join over 200 Sawdust Artists in their first, “A Midsummer Green Day,” and work
together to sustain our planet. The Sawdust Art Festival is located at 935 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, Ca 92651; open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. through August 31. Parking and free trolley service to and from the Act V lot is available for $7 per day. Act V is located on Laguna Canyon Road one-half mile north of the Festival. Metered parking along Laguna Canyon Road is available for $1 per hour. Admission prices are: Adult $7; Seniors $6 age 65 and up; Children $3 age 6-12 years and Free for children under 5 years of age. For more information call 949- 494-3030 or navigate to www.SawdustArtFestival.org.