Festival princesses Sterling Goddard, right, and Paloma Arriero greet visitors with some sweet treats during the South Bay Festival of the Arts, sponsored by the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation, at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
If anyone had any doubts about the artistic community in the South Bay, they were surely squashed after setting foot inside the second South Bay Festival of the Arts, Saturday, which drew almost 3,500 people throughout the day.
“[The arts community in Torrance] has really built up,” said Mary Oran, who now lives in San Pedro, but originally moved to Torrance in 1968. “I remember when you used to have to to El Camino just to see a play.”
Ceramicist Yasuko Ozawa with the Summer Studios Arts Academy of Lomita, shows her wares during the South Bay Festival of the Arts at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Festival princesses Sterling Goddard, right, and Paloma Arriero greet visitors with some sweet treats during the South Bay Festival of the Arts, sponsored by the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation, at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Festival princesses Sterling Goddard, left, and Paloma Arriero greet visitors with some sweet treats during the South Bay Festival of the Arts, sponsored by the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation, at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Toby, a yorkie from the Carson shelter, is enjoying this view of the South Bay Festival of the Arts at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The South Bay Festival of the Arts, sponsored by the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation, takes place at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Isabella Crowson, 4, is taking her dad Daniel to look at some art during the South Bay Festival of the Arts at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Mila Floren, 5, is getting her face painted by Tanya Moon, an artist with Party Face Magic, during the South Bay Festival of the Arts at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Mila Floren, 5, is getting her face painted by Tanya Moon, an artist with Party Face Magic, during the South Bay Festival of the Arts at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Mila Floren, 5, is getting her face painted by Tanya Moon, an artist with Party Face Magic, during the South Bay Festival of the Arts at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Mila Floren, 5, is getting her face painted by Tanya Moon, an artist with Party Face Magic, during the South Bay Festival of the Arts at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The South Bay Festival of the Arts, sponsored by the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation, takes place at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Rock act Rebel Rose perform at the South Bay Festival of the Arts, Saturday at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center. Photo: Tom Bray, SCNG
Jason Ferg performs with his band Awdiv at the South Bay Festival of the Arts, sponsored by the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation, at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Jason Ferg performs with his band Awdiv at the South Bay Festival of the Arts, sponsored by the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation, at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
KaCey Tompkins is at the drums performing with Jason Ferg and their band Awdiv at the South Bay Festival of the Arts, sponsored by the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation, at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Jason Ferg performs with his band Awdiv at the South Bay Festival of the Arts, sponsored by the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation, at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Jason Ferg performs with his band Awdiv at the South Bay Festival of the Arts, sponsored by the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation, at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Evaina Ferg listens with her daughters Brooklyn, 2, and Ella as her husband Jason Ferg performs with his band Awdiv at the South Bay Festival of the Arts, sponsored by the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation, at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The South Bay Festival of the Arts, sponsored by the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation, takes place at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Bridgette Nalvarte, 8, gets some help from Michelle Manalese making paper penguins during the South Bay Festival of the Arts, sponsored by the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation, at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Bridgette Nalvarte, 8, gets some help from Michelle Manalese making paper penguins during the South Bay Festival of the Arts, sponsored by the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation, at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Bridgette Nalvarte, 8, gets some help from Michelle Manalese making paper penguins during the South Bay Festival of the Arts, sponsored by the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation, at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Bridgette Nalvarte, 8, gets some help from Michelle Manalese making paper penguins during the South Bay Festival of the Arts, sponsored by the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation, at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Ceramicist Yasuko Ozawa with the Summer Studios Arts Academy of Lomita, shows her wares during the South Bay Festival of the Arts at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Author Derek Taylor Kent poses with Vitka Escala Boehm, 9, during the South Bay Festival of the Arts, sponsored by the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation, at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Author Derek Taylor Kent poses with Vitka Escala Boehm, 9, during the South Bay Festival of the Arts, sponsored by the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation, at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Sheri Fink and husband and co-writer Derek Taylor Kent autograph books at the South Bay Festival of the Arts, sponsored by the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation, at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Sheri Fink and husband and co-writer Derek Taylor Kent autograph books at the South Bay Festival of the Arts, sponsored by the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation, at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Naomi Hess shows her Living Color Canvas Tapestry during the South Bay Festival of the Arts at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Naomi Hess shows her Living Color Canvas Tapestry during the South Bay Festival of the Arts at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Evelyn Kim, 5, is riding high on Simon Kim, her uncle, during the South Bay Festival of the Arts, sponsored by the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation, at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Evelyn Kim, 5, is riding high on Simon Kim, her uncle, during the South Bay Festival of the Arts, sponsored by the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation, at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Ceramicist Yasuko Ozawa with the Summer Studios Arts Academy of Lomita, shows her wares during the South Bay Festival of the Arts at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Mark Ambler, artist and volunteer with the Summer Studios Arts Academy of Lomita, shows his masonite drawings during the South Bay Festival of the Arts at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The South Bay Festival of the Arts, sponsored by the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation, takes place at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Aileen Quinn and the Leapin’ Lizards perform at the South Bay Festival of the Arts on Saturday. Photo; Tom Bray, SCNG
Aileen Quinn and the Leapin’ Lizards perform at the South Bay Festival of the Arts on Saturday. Photo; Tom Bray, SCNG
Aileen Quinn and the Leapin’ Lizards perform at the South Bay Festival of the Arts on Saturday. Photo; Tom Bray, SCNG
Dancers enjoy the tunes of Aileen Quinn and the Leapin’ Lizards at the South Bay Festival of the Arts on Saturday. Photo; Tom Bray, SCNG
The festival kicked off at 11 a.m. and went until the early evening, keeping festival goers busy with an eclectic buffet of performers, food vendors and artists.
“You’d be hard pressed to not find something you like here,” said Ellenmary Michel, program manager and an incoming chairperson for the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation.
A ballet choreographed to Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven,” an enchanted garden for children, a magician making fun of other magicians, a symphony, hip hop dance lessons, a culturally diverse variety of food available for tastings — there really was something for everyone.
“The talent here today is broader and deeper than I was expecting,” said Torrance resident Randall Snyder as she enjoyed the music in the Torino Plaza.
Although the event, held at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center was free, $3 tasting tickets were available for a large variety of vendors and all proceeds served as a fundraiser for the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation.
“It’s a fundraiser that helps us bring more artists to the community,” said Nancy Mannon, president of the foundation.
Despite typical June gloom weather and blustery conditions, the event drew a larger crowd this year.
The day began with hip hop artist, Jason Ferg in the plaza while the Peninsula Symphony Youth Orchestra and Harbor Jazz Ensemble Little Big Band played indoors.
“The Peninsula Symphony were wonderful,” said Larry Seymour who was visiting from North Carolina. “And it’s perfect because the music outside is very loud for an old guy.”
The festival nearly doubled its offerings for attendees this year as the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation joined forces with the City of Torrance. In addition to the Torino Plaza, Armstrong Theatre and Nakano Theatre, which provided live performances every hour, the city’s Community Service Department opened up all of the studios in classrooms in the center. Classes that the center normally hosts were all held for free throughout the day. This was also the first year that a juried art exhibition was included.
“Torrance is just a thriving art community now,” said Joyce Bell, senior supervisor for the Community Services Department. “Since the economy has gotten better, we’ve seen more people taking art classes, which really enriches their lives.”
Every year the department used to host an open house in which they offered their full schedule of classes for free. This year, they merged with the arts foundation to take the fest to the next level.
“After seeing the turnout today, I don’t see why we wouldn’t continue to partner for the next several years,” Bell said.
Although attendance was higher this year, attendees were not cramped by any means as every inch of the property offered a space for community members to be. Around every corner, there was an opportunity to meet a local artist.
Sheri Fink, a local bestselling children’s author, was hard to miss, sporting a rainbow wig and unicorn horn.
“I worked in the corporate word for 12 years,” Fink said. “I was climbing the corporate ladder and then I realized it was on the wrong wall.”
Similarly, Torrance local Jose Angel Hernandez, said he didn’t begin his painting career until he was 43.
“I like to create art that entertains,” Hernandez said, gesturing to a painting of Einstein with movable, metal pendulums attached to his head.
The general consensus of the day seemed to be that the event was a sensory overload of sound, taste and vision.
“People love this,” said Lynn Attig, president of the Pastel Society in Torrance. “Everyone wants to go to a free family-oriented art festival.”
