Pageant of the Masters or Masters of the Pageant?

The fact that the Pageant of the Masters is a one-of-a-kind art event success story with attendance of 140,000 per season for the last 85 years will never be questioned. Why it is an important art happening in the functions it provides is another case of the masters of this pageant.

Here, size matters. It is known that enlarging objects, let's say a painted apple 10 feet in height, is sensational just for its imposing size alone. Imagine the impact of a well-known painting of an established artist. It is breathtaking. The sheer dimensions reveal much more than even experts expect. Add to it the three-dimensional effect with live people, live orchestra music, and a flawless narration and you have a premier art spectacular.

In our amazement of each dramatic reveal, we listen to the history, meaning and the picture’s background story, which add additional gravitas to the featured masters.

With today's little to nothing arts education, the Pageant provides a CliffsNotes art appreciation. The performance draws attention to artworks in context of the human condition, where we realize that really not much has changed or we understand what has become totally different. This is learning that never feels like school.

Volunteering has become Laguna’s right of passage as a family tradition, civic pride and favorite thing your kids just want to do. Over the years, Pageant has provided the regiments of volunteers a hands-on experience and enjoyment of tinkering with the arts. And many that would never have the opportunity were introduced to their inherent creative bone that we all possess.

And finally, the Pageant's favorite feature, since it was first included in 1966, the classic builder where the masters of the Pageant demonstrate to the audience the steps of creation. All this and more will make you never look at art the same way.

Pageant of the Masters "Under the Sun" nightly at 8:30, July 7 thru Sept. 1. Tickets: foapom.com (800) 487-3378

Multimedia artist Michaell Magrutsche has written three art books and facilitates art workshops for finding the artist’s creative voice. SelfAwareArt.com