LAGUNA BEACH, CA (August 28, 2015) -- Laguna College of Art and Design (LCAD) announced its 26th Annual Collector's Choice Juried Art Auction and Fundraiser from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Friday, September 25, 2015 at Montage Laguna Beach in Laguna Beach, California, 92651. Collector’s Choice is LCAD’s annual fundraising event that showcases the amazing talents of more than a hundred professional artists who continue a legacy of focused and passionate support for arts education.
Collector's Choice is chaired by Nelson Coates and co-chaired by Laura Rohl. Tables and individual tickets should be reserved by September 15.

Before the gala, a selection of works will be exhibited simultaneously from September 8 to September 23 at LCAD Gallery and LCAD Main Campus.

The LCAD Gallery, 374 Ocean Avenue, Laguna Beach will preview the juried art Tuesday through Saturday 11:00am to 5:00pm.

LCAD Main Campus Conference Room will preview the remaining juried art Monday through Saturday, 11:00am to 5:00pm.

More than 100 works of art have been selected for Collector's Choice and may also be viewed online at lcad.edu/collectorschoice starting September 8 to September 23, 2015.

The gala event will feature a juried live and silent art auctions with proceeds benefiting student programs and scholarships. One of the signature pieces of the evening will be "Blind Faith” by Master Sculptor Richard MacDonald. An expression of the beauty and flexibility of the consummate athlete and performer, “Blind Faith” is donated by Dawson Cole Fine Art.

Art collectors willalso have the opportunity to bid on original works by acclaimed artists Ken Auster as well as LCAD Alumni Alla Bartoshchuk and Jason Kowalski.

"I have had the privilege of watching LCAD's Collector's Choice grow from a handful of dedicated friends, to an extended family of hundreds of art collectors, artists, educators and alumni gathering in support of each new generation of artists," said Jonathan Burke, LCAD president who is celebrating his 35th anniversary with the College. "I am privileged to have established an art college that educates artists in contemporary representational drawing, painting and sculpture, animation, graphic design and digital media, game art and illustration."

Burke added that throughout its 26-year history, Collector's Choice has raised more than $1,000,000 for the LCAD Fund, benefitting student scholarships and programs.

This year, thanks to LCAD’s partnership with the Montage Laguna Beach, Collector’s Choice attendees will enjoy fine wine, an elegant dinner and entertainment in a luxurious environment. Following the auction, Magnolia Memoir will perform live and give guests a chance to dance the night away!

For more information about Collector's Choice, please contact Tracy Hartman at 949-376-6000, ext. 241 or via email at thartman@lcad.edu.

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About Laguna College of Art and Design
Founded in 1961, Laguna College of Art and Design (LCAD) is one of the top art and design schools in the nation. LCAD offers undergraduate degrees (BFA) in Animation, Design + Digital Media, Fine Arts (Drawing and Painting), Game Art and Illustration, as well as Master of Fine Arts degrees (MFA) in Drawing and Painting, as well as in the Art of Game Design. Named by NIKE as one of the top three design schools in the world, LCAD is closely partnered with industry leaders. These partnerships have resulted 90% employment rate for LCAD's visual arts graduates. Blizzard Entertainment, Disney Animation, DreamWorks, FOX, Hurley International, NIKE, VANS, Warner Brothers Animation and more employ LCAD visual arts alumni. LCAD Fine Arts alumni are accepted to the most prestigious graduate programs and go on to become internationally recognized artists and educators who shape dialogue with renowned collectors, museums and gallerists. The Dennis and Leslie Power Library at LCAD houses invaluable historic archives that include The Rex and Joan Irving Brandt Papers.

For more information about LCAD admissions, news, events and Annual Fund, visit www.lcad.edu. Facebook at @LCADBFA, Twitter @LCAD and Instagram @lcadbfa