Briefly in the news

-- Paul Clinton

Heiress Joan Irvine Smith has extended an exhibit of paintings of

Crystal Cove State Park for another two weeks.The oil and watercolor

paintings, grouped together in “Images of Crystal Cove,” are being sold

to raise funds to rehabilitate the 46 cottages in the park’s historic

district.

Smith, via the nonprofit Crystal Cove Conservancy, also announced the

winners of her “paint-off,” which 20 painters entered.

Anita Hampton won the contest, held June 9. Ken Auster finished

second, and John Budicin finished third.

Contest entrants belong to the Laguna Beach Plein Air Painters Assn.

Smith put up $10,000 in prize money, which was split between the three

winners.

The paintings in the exhibit, which will run until July 8, are being

sold to help defray the cost of the cottage restorations.

The exhibit is at the Joan Irvine Smith Fine Arts gallery, 1550 South

Coast Highway Laguna Beach. Information: (949) 240-3957.