Center for the Arts Presents First-Ever Family Arts Fest

On March 1 the Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts at Pepperdine hosted its first-ever Family Arts Fest, a community event featuring arts activities and performances for children and adults, as well as museum tours and some of Los Angeles' most popular food trucks.

Music and theatre performances were presented on an outdoor main stage adjacent to the Gregg G. Juarez Palm Courtyard, and other performances and participatory arts activities took place in Lindhurst Theatre and Raitt Recital Hall.

Barbara Gibson-Paul, author of Max Pays Attention, and Michael Mayo and Valinda Rothman, author and publisher ofAlex Walker and the Circle of Secrets, were on hand to sign their books.

Guided tour groups experienced the Weisman Museum exhibit Wayne Thiebaud: Works on Paper, which explored the etching, lithography, woodcut, and graphic media works of the California artist. Tours were also available of the Center for the Arts backstage areas, including the scene shop, where construction was underway for the Fine Arts Division production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

“We were thrilled to have the opportunity to share interactive, participatory arts experiences with audiences throughout Southern California,” said Rebecca Carson, Center for the Arts managing director. “An important part of our mission at the Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts is to connect Pepperdine University with the richly varied communities of Los Angeles and surrounding communities. Family Arts Fest helped us achieve our mission by providing an opportunity for Pepperdine students to share their talents in music, art, and theatre with the local community.”