Archives for February 11, 2026

 Laguna Art Museum has announced the return of its signature fundraising event, the 44th Annual California Cool Art Auction, a vibrant celebration of California art, creativity and community. Featuring works by more than 100 distinguished California artists, the auction will take place February 14 through March 7 with online bidding hosted on Bidsquare and an in-person gala event at the museum.

Beginning February 14, auction works will be available to preview in person at Laguna Art Museum with paid admission, offering collectors and art lovers an opportunity to experience the breadth of contemporary California art up close. Online bidding opens the same day via Bidsquare, allowing participants from near and far to take part in this highly anticipated annual event.

The auction culminates on Saturday, March 7, at 6 P.M., when the museum transforms into a lively gathering space for artists, patrons and supporters. The evening will bring together more than 100 participating artists for an immersive celebration featuring live auction moments, exclusive artworks and special programming, all in support of Laguna Art Museum’s exhibitions and education initiatives.

“The California Cool Art Auction is a powerful reflection of the creative spirit and generosity that defines California’s art community,” said Julie Perlin Lee, Executive Director of Laguna Art Museum. “Each year, artists and supporters come together to make this event both meaningful and memorable, directly sustaining the museum’s mission and future.”

This year’s auction features an impressive lineup of distinguished California artists including giants of the art world, Fred Tomaselli, Shepard Fairey, Kim Manfredi, Jane Bauman and Ed Ruscha, among many others. Leading the live auction is acclaimed auctioneer Zack Krone, founder of California Coast Auctions. An Orange County native and longtime supporter of the museum, Krone is known for his engaging style and deep connection to the regional art community.

Registration for online bidding is open now via Bidsquare. Tickets for the exclusive March 7 live event are now available. For ticket purchases, auction details or to learn more, visit https://lagunaartmuseum.org/art-auction.

Proceeds from the California Cool Art Auction directly benefit Laguna Art Museum, made possible through the generosity of participating artists who donate their work and the supporters who champion the arts in Southern California.

Laguna Art Museum is currently seeking additional sponsors for the 44th Annual California Cool Art Auction. Sponsorship opportunities include exclusive access, early art previews and invitations to VIP events, all while supporting the museum’s mission. For sponsorship information and full event details, visit lagunaartmuseum.org. To stay connected and learn about upcoming events, follow the museum on Facebook, Instagram and X.

Event Sponsors:

John Moran Auctioneers, Nolet’s, Catering by Mix Mix

Participating Artists:

Kim Abeles, Caesar Alzate, Charles Arnoldi, Charles Arnoldi and Woods Davy, Dawn Arrowsmith, Edward Barbini, Marlo Bartels, Jane Bauman, Edith Baumann, Billy Al Bengston, Kelly Berg, Sandow Birk and Elyse Pignolet, Carole Boller, Jorin Bossen, Justin Bower, Sandra Jones Campbell, Mindy Cherri, Kevork Cholakian, Alex Couwenberg, Michael Davis, Woods Davy, Gianne de Genevraye, Einar and Jamex De La Torre, Guy Dill, Laddie John Dill, Tom Dowling, Julie Easton, David Eddington, Sam Erenberg, Ned Evans, Shepard Fairey, Vincent Farrell, Asad Faulwell, Karen Feuer-Schwager, Baldemar Fierro, Jacques Garnier, Mark Garry, Sara Genn, Eric Gerdau, Jeff Gillette, Joan Gladstone, Jimi Gleason, Nikolas Soren Goodich, Kristina Grace, Jennifer Gunlock, Chris Gwaltney, Robert A. Hansen, Kelly Hartigan Goldstein, Laurie Hassold, Fredric Hope, Georgeana Ireland, Kathy Jones, Jeremy Kidd, Justin N. Kim, Jennifer King, David Krovblit, Tom Lamb, David Michael Lee, Jason Li, Jean Lowe, Shana Mabari, Victoria MacMillan, Kim Manfredi, Liz Markus, Adam Mars, Kaydad Maseeh, Jane McCracken, Elizabeth McGhee, Ray McSavaney, Pierce Meehan, Yevgeniya Mikhailik, David Milton, Nancy Mooslin, Andy Moses, Adam Neeley, Glenn Ness, Lindsey Nobel, Elizabeth Orleans, Naida Osline, Fabia Panjanian, Soojung Park, Kenton Parker, Ruth Pastine, Anne Austin Pearce, R.T. Pece, Tony Pinto, Astrid Preston, Bret Price, Gregory Price, Ben Quinn, Robert Redding, Michael Rey, Chris Richter, Ann Marie (A.M.) Rousseau, Jeffrey Rovner, Ed Ruscha, Bradford Salamon, Jeff Sewell, Rena Small, Fred Tomaselli, Robert von Sternberg, Marnie Weber, Roger Weik, Kirsten Whalen, Patrick Wilson, William Wray, Kevin Yaun, Scott Yeskel, Peter Zokosky

WHEN:

Saturday, March 7, 2026

6 – 9 P.M.

WHERE:

Laguna Art Museum

307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach, CA 92651

The Art Auction will be on view in all galleries on the Main Floor.

Credit: Laguna Art Museum.

 ReflectSpace at Glendale Central Library is pleased to present Dreams Gather Here, a solo exhibition by Rachel Hakimian Emenaker, on view from February 17 through April 26, 2026. The exhibition explores how the cultural memory of diasporic communities is preserved in the history of material objects. Moving across geographies that include Armenia, Lebanon, Russia, South America, and the United States, Emenaker’s work reflects on how people, objects, and gestures carry memory through time, forming the foundations of new futures and new cities.

With an American father and a Syrian Armenian mother, Emenaker’s childhood was spent in Suriname (South America) and Russia. She grew up multilingual and multicultural, immersed in Dutch, Russian, Armenian, American, and Surinamese cultures. Emenaker moved to the United States as an adult to start her university education in art.

Employing batik (wax and dye), sculpture, tile, and other media, Emenaker’s work is a meditation on diasporic architecture. Fragments, inherited gestures, and long-traveled materials converge in sculptural and installation-based works that speak directly to communities like Los Angeles, Moscow, Kessab, and Van—cities that witness, absorb, and hold countless migratory stories and dreams.

“For communities shaped by migration, grief, and rupture, dreaming can be a way of re-remembering and reimagining,” says Emenaker. “Dreams often become portable homes, a place to rest when permanence is impossible.”

Dreams Gather Here allows us that precious moment to pause and reflect on what dreams and home may mean to us.

An opening reception with the artist will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2026, from 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM at ReflectSpace, located inside Central Library 222 East Harvard Street Glendale, CA 91205. For more information, visit ReflectSpace.org.

About the Artist
Rachel Hakimian Emenaker is a Los Angeles-based artist working across installation, craft, sculpture, painting, sound, and textiles blending Eastern and Western art and craft traditions. She earned her MFA from UCLA. Her work has been presented in solo exhibitions at Grand Central Arts Center, Luce Gallery in Turin, UCLA Broad Art Center, Guest House in Inglewood, the American University of Armenia, and Earl and Virginia Green Gallery, as well as multiple group exhibitions in Southern California. She received the 2024 Dedalus MFA Fellowship and the 2023 UCLA Elaine Krown Klein Fine Arts Scholarship.

Exhibition Dates:

February 17 – April 26, 2026

Opening Reception:

Saturday, February 28, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Artist Talk: Tuesday, April 21, 2026, 6:30 PM; more information can be found at ReflectSpace.org

Location:

ReflectSpace / Glendale Central Library

222 East Harvard Street

Glendale, CA 91205

Phone: (818) 548-2021

Credit: REFLECTSPACE

Live events bring energy and excitement that can’t be replaced by screens. Concerts, sports games, and theater shows create shared moments that people remember long after the event ends. As interest in live entertainment continues to grow, so does awareness around ticket pricing and how quickly costs can rise.

Finding ways to manage these expenses has become part of the planning process for many event-goers.

Why Ticket Savings Matter

Tickets for popular events often come with premium prices, especially for high-demand shows or last-minute plans. Looking for seatgeek promo codes allows fans to enjoy the events they love while staying mindful of their budget.

Savings help make attending live events feel more accessible rather than occasional.

Planning Ahead for Better Value

Smart event planning often starts before tickets are purchased. Comparing options, choosing the right time to buy, and checking available discounts all play a role. Using promo codes for seatgeek fits naturally into this process and adds an extra layer of confidence before checkout.

This approach supports intentional spending without reducing the experience.

Entertainment That Fits Modern Lifestyles

Modern lifestyles are busy and flexible. People often make plans around work schedules, travel, and family time. Having access to savings makes it easier to say yes to spontaneous events without worrying too much about cost.

Entertainment becomes more adaptable when expenses feel manageable.

Making the Most of Shared Experiences

Live events are often about connection, whether it’s cheering with a crowd or sharing music with friends. When ticket prices feel reasonable, the focus stays on the experience rather than the expense.

Savings help remove hesitation and encourage participation.

Turning Live Entertainment Into a Balanced Choice

Enjoying live events doesn’t have to feel expensive or stressful. With the right promo codes, ticket purchases can align better with everyday budgets. Small savings applied at the right moment help turn concerts and games into memorable experiences without unnecessary financial pressure.

Laguna Art Museum (LAM) presents LCAD MFA: Undercurrents, on view from February 13 through May 30, 2026. The exhibition features a curated selection of work by the 2026 Master of Fine Art graduates of Laguna College of Art and Design (LCAD), offering a compelling glimpse into the evolving practices of emerging contemporary artists.

The artists in Undercurrents are contemporary storytellers who merge time-honored techniques with deeply personal, modern perspectives. Grounded in close observation of the physical world, their works reveal imaginative and emotional depths that extend beyond the rational and expected. Like a celebration shaped by subtle currents of serenity, joy, unity and melancholy, the exhibition presents a nuanced portrait of what it means to live, reflect and create in today’s world.

“Undercurrents reflects a thoughtful and probing moment in contemporary art practice,” said Julie Perlin Lee, Executive Director of Laguna Art Museum. “These artists demonstrate a remarkable sensitivity to both material and meaning, and we are proud to present their work at a point when their voices are taking shape and gaining momentum.”

Visitors will encounter a wide range of media and approaches, each work offering insight into the distinct artistic inquiries of LCAD’s MFA graduates. LCAD MFA: Undercurrents invites audiences to engage with the passion, curiosity and experimentation that define this new generation of artists.

For more information about, LCAD MFA: Undercurrents visit lagunaartmuseum.org. To stay connected and learn about upcoming events, follow the museum on Facebook, Instagram and X.

Credit: Laguna Art Museum