LAGUNA BEACH, Calif., Aug. 21, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For the last several years, Sawdust Art & Craft Festival —a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public and promoting art created in Laguna Beach—has featured a captivating mural at the entrance of its grounds to kick off its annual summer festival. Each year, the Sawdust Festival seeks out new artists to revamp the crowd favorite and larger-than-life photo opportunity spot. Regrettably, this year the mural was vandalized before the festival opened and unfortunately, the original artists were unable to restore it. Thus, in a show of solidarity, the community of Sawdust artists rallied together and Sawdust artist, Walter Viszolay, took on the task of bringing the mural back to life by the close of the festival this September 2 nd .

“We were devastated by the vandalism, but inspired by Walter’s willingness to undertake the project on short notice,” Franky Duschane, Sawdust Festival marketing and public relations coordinator said. “It would not have been a Sawdust Festival without our iconic mural to greet visitors.”

Viszolay is close to finishing the renowned Laguna Beach mural, which will feature a panoramic scene of Laguna Beach’s Victoria Beach, with the iconic pirate tower to the right. A Budapest native, Viszolay came to America at age seven and settled in Southern California. He began developing his artistic skills and upon graduating, spent some time in Hawaii, where he became known for his island scenes series of original oils, acrylics and pastels. He finds inspiration and beauty in his surroundings, and especially in places where land and sea meet.

“I was honored to be chosen to take on such an important task for the festival,” Viszolay said.  

Viszolay currently lives in Laguna Beach with his family and has a gallery in Laguna Village that is open daily.

About Sawdust Art & Craft Festival: Founded in 1967, the Sawdust Art & Craft Festival is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public and promoting art created in Laguna Beach. Best known for offering two highly attended seasonal festivals, the organization also hosts a variety of workshops and classes throughout the year. Sawdust’s legendary summer festival is a nine-week colorful celebration of fine art and craft – the largest in Southern California – with more than 200 Laguna Beach artists who exhibit and sell their original art and handcrafted items. The festival also offers live entertainment and special events, artist demonstrations, hands-on art workshops for all ages, and a variety of food & drink offerings. Sawdust’s 28 th annual Winter Fantasy occurs for five weekends leading up to the holiday season and boasts an international collection of over 175 artisans who create, showcase, and sell their original, handcrafted artwork on the Sawdust grounds, which are lavishly transformed to resemble a winter wonderland. Special activities include daily visits with Santa, holiday performers and live, festive entertainment, holiday-themed free art classes, and a highly-anticipated, annual community tree-lighting ceremony. Throughout the remainder of the year, the organization continues to provide its Sawdust Studio Art Classes in a variety of mediums, on-site and off-site. For more information, visit:  www.sawdustartfestival.org

Media Contact: Franky Duschane Phone: 949-497-0517 Email:  fduschane@sawdustartfestival.org  

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/Attachm...d7718bf21b