Still painting a pretty picture at 40

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A spectacular Malibu sunset photographed by Nick Rodionoff, who will be displaying his work at the Malibu Arts Festival July 30-31.

Four decades strong, the Malibu Arts Festival returns July 30-31 with pop art painter Nelson De La Nuez and local photographer Nick Rodionoff among its 200 exhibitors.

By Michael Aushenker / Special to The Malibu Times

“Carmageddon” aside, there is another unique opportunity at the end of this month to do what all of those city officials recommended last weekend: Stay put, shop local and support the Malibu economy … in style.

The Malibu Arts Festival returns the end of this month, marking a milestone for the venerable annual event. Celebrating its 40th year, the two-day-weekend, multimedia happening, sponsored by the Malibu Chamber of Commerce, will take place July 30-31, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., outside the Malibu Civic Center.

“There are many people who I only see once a year, and I see them at the Malibu Arts Festival,” said photographer Nick Rodionoff, one of the 200 exhibiting artists.

Next weekend’s big 4-0 is significant. To put it in perspective, the festival is twice the age of the City of Malibu.

Since the Malibu Arts Festival debuted in 1971, a great deal has changed. Not only has the Malibu community become an official city, but also, even as the rise of the Internet and digital programs has usurped the way art is created, distributed and marketed, the festival has grown exponentially, as has the local cultural scene. This year, with more than 200 fine art exhibitors hailing from throughout California, will be by far the biggest Malibu Arts Fest yet.

Painters, sculptors, photographers, jewelers and other artisans will offer their wares under white tents, and while the fine arts may hog the spotlight at this yearly outing, the performing arts will also be well represented with day-long entertainment created by local musicians such as Fan of Flannel, the cover group who jammed at 2009’s festival, rocking such songs as Weezer’s “Green Album” hit “Hash Pipe.” In addition to the main stage, there will be a children’s pavilion and a “Taste of Malibu” food court. Part commerce expo, local Malibu businesses will showcase in the Chamber Village.

Every year’s festival brings a different featured artist. In 2007, photographer Rodionoff, who is also Pepperdine University’s Women’s Dive and Swim Team coach, received the top honor. During the 38th annual festival in 2009, then-15-year-old Sarah Larson, winner of the adult poster competition and daughter of Pepperdine history professor Ed Larson (who received the Pulitzer Prize for his 1998 book “Summer for the Gods”) was the featured artist. The chamber sold prints of the winning poster design, titled “Malibu Secrets,” at its booth.

In 2008, the 37th annual Malibu Arts Festival honored Wesley Van Dyke, 26-year-old grandson of accomplished actor and local legend Dick Van Dyke.

This year’s arts festival will have no shortage of talent, many of it local. Sculptor Richard Vest will offer his original artwork of sea creatures and wild animal sculptures at his Rising Tide Sculpture booth. Topanga Art Tile, a consortium of ceramists that includes Leslie Doolin, Matt Doolin and Paul Doolin, will sell hand-made porcelain tile fired with hand-painted glazes. Tony Galindo will exhibit under his nom de art, Photomanipulation Art and Framing.

Returning this year is artist Rodionoff, best known for his spectacular images of Malibu’s surf and turf. With work that has appeared in Outdoor Photographer, Surfer and Los Angeles magazines, the 34-year Malibu resident captures nature’s local treasures with a riveting grandiosity, intensity and scale.

This year, Rodionoff is relying on the arts festival to help him make some important creative decisions.

“I’m in the process of taking 40 years of photography and cutting it down to the top 20 in each category (top 20 surfing shots, top 20 sunsets, etc.),” Rodionoff said. “I only show once a year, so I depend on the input of those coming to the festival to decide the top 20.”

Another artist in attendance will be the subject of the new coffee-table book “Pop Americana: the Pop Art of Nelson De La Nuez.” De La Nuez creates oversized montages mining cartoon, pop culture and advertising-world iconography, and quoting/parodying iconic predecessors such as Rene Magritte, Roy Lichtenstein, and Andy Warhol. De La Nuez’s representative Stacy Bell at Pop Land Studios said De La Nuez has enjoyed exhibiting at Malibu Arts Festival for several years now because “it’s a beautiful setting and close to home. He has a large following of celebrity collectors and we always pick up new ones at this show as well. A lot of the walls [of the homes in Malibu and Pacific Palisades] can accommodate very large artwork so clients often have him create large custom sizes at this show.”

Organizers of the Malibu Arts Festival say this event will not only bring local art to your home, but also bring home the importance of local art.

“The festival brings to Malibu the best of artists from around the country [and] a kids village where they can create their own art to take home,” said Chamber of Commerce’s Rebekah Evans.

The Chamber of Commerce is expecting 8,000 to 10,000 attendees across the last weekend of July, so arrive early enough to claim a prime parking spot. “Malibu is so spread out,” Rodionoff said. “This is one of the few opportunities where the community has to come together.”

The Malibu Arts Festival will take place at Malibu Civic Center, 23555 Civic Center Way (between Cross Creek and Webb Way off Pacific Coast Highway). Admission is free. Parking is available down the street for $7. More information can be obtained by calling 310.456.9025.