Sawdust Festival

For 50 years, the artists showcased at the Sawdust Festival have been inspiring and entertaining us from within the small, makeshift booths containing their work, but not confining their imaginations. Nestled in the cliffs and eucalyptus trees of Laguna Canyon, this year’s festival features over 200 artists with a wide range of media, skill sets, and scales.

Where one stall displayed fine jewelry of stones, metals, and beads, the next bragged large iron-workings like a dinosaur or an octopus made of rusted bike chains. One booth boasted beautifully colored glass sculptures while another offered stunning black and white photography. All of this is done in the same spirit of freedom and expression that sparked the festival back in 1965 (for all of you mathematicians, the show did not run in 1966).

The Sawdust Festival is more than just an art show; interspersed with the displays are glass blowing demonstrations, a pottery throwing workshop, live bands, food, and drinks that combine for a fun, family-friendly, inspirational, and unique experience.

My recent visit left me in awe, my head in the clouds, and my feet barely grounded atop the soft, sawdust-covered earth. As one of over 200,000 annual attendees, I enjoyed the atmosphere, the energy of the artists – their eccentric creativity, and the live entertainment. A few flashes of memory stand out most clearly: two giggling children learning to throw clay; a crisp, shining photo of a crashing wave printed on metal; the spinning orange glow of 2,000 degree glass with added color flecks resembling peanuts on a caramel-covered apple; and the smiles on the faces of my family as we walked in the shade of the eucalyptus trees.

The 50th annual Sawdust Festival runs until August 28th. Be sure to visit and let us know your favorite aspect of the show!