MOVING PICTURES ART COMES ALIVE AT PAGEANT OF THE MASTERS.

Byline: Alessandra Djurklou Staff Writer

The farther you are from the stage at Laguna Beach's ``Seasons, Pageant of the Masters 2003,'' the harder it is to tell that these works of art are actually alive. After all, you only have their word for it that these flat- looking pieces actually contain heavily made-up volunteers, right?

But then the organizers let the audience see how the illusion is done. A set is wheeled on stage, with several people sitting or standing on it, some moving and stretching. A few more people are added, then a backdrop and a frame. The stage goes dark, and, like magic, all those solid-looking people suddenly turn into a flat, painted surface.

This is the pageant's 70th year, so it is safe to say participants have the art of making living pictures down pat. And ``Seasons,'' which is full of art evoking winter, spring, summer and fall, has as many jaw-dropping effects as in past shows.

For instance, it is hard to fathom how the artists involved manage to make real people blend into almost cartoonish Japanese woodblock prints of geishas at play. But Torii Kiyonaga's ``Four Scenes From the Floating World'' certainly looks convincing, especially as it floats on the top tier of the stage.

Other impressive pieces include the Currier and Ives lithograph ``The Road - Winter,'' (nice fake snow and skaters in the audience); James Tissot's ``The Letter,'' with a young woman disappointed by her absent lover; John Sloan's ``South Beach Bathers''; and the gravity-defying surf shot, ``Cutting Glass.''

``Cutting Glass'' artist Gary Prettyman also has works on sale in the arts festival surrounding the theater. This festival may not be as full of pageantry as the show itself, but it is a definite reason to show up to the venue extra early, just to peruse an incredibly eclectic collection of works by myriad Laguna Beach artists that may actually be within a fledgling art buyer's budget.

An added bonus is that your pageant ticket will get you into the arts festival as many times as you want until the show ends Aug. 29.

That said, anyone who has seen past Pageant of the Masters presentations may feel that ``Seasons'' plays it a bit safe. Yes, comparisons may be odious, but there is nothing truly risky going on this year. There is no deviation from the format, such as one year when the classic Da Vinci ``Last Supper'' that always ends the show was replaced by Dali's version.

Or another year, when organizers tackled Picasso. Or the depiction of various automobile hood ornaments.

Then again, portraying living art in an engaging and creative way for 70 years has to be a challenge.

SEASONS, PAGEANT OF THE MASTERS 2003

Where: Irvine Bowl Park, 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach.

When: 8:30 nightly through Aug. 29.

Tickets: $15 to $80. Information: [phone], [phone] or www.foapom.org.

CAPTION(S):

7 photos

Photo:

(1 -- 2 -- color) Standing still is a big part of the job for participants in the Pageant of the Masters, here re-creating John Sloan's ``South Beach Bathers,'' top, and James Montgomery Flagg's ``Happy New Year,'' above.

(3 -- 7 -- color) Clockwise from above, Da Vinci's ``Last Supper'' is a Pageant perennial; this marble statue just might turn and look at you; those are real Rockwell-esque women in the famed illustrator's ``First Day of School'' cover of 1935; one of the works of art cracks a smile; two actors hold the reins in Currier and Ives' ``The Road Winter.''