Slow Art Day 2025 at Sawdust Art Festival in Laguna Beach

The Sawdust Art Festival in Laguna Beach, California, celebrated Slow Art Day on April 5, 2025, as part of their three-day Spring Fling pop-up show. The event was organized by host and artist Hedy Buzan, a founding host of Slow Art Day – and a longtime artist-presenter at the Sawdust.

Featured Works:

  • Sager-fired ceramic vessel
  • Stoneware cylinder
  • Two photographs
  • Bronze and enameled dragonfly sculpture
  • Watercolor painting of a neon sign and building
  • Two acrylic paintings
  • Two blown glass artworks

Participants gathered around the counter in Studio One, enjoying coffee during the morning session and wine during the afternoon gathering. Each session began with Hedy Buzan introducing five artworks by different artist, briefly discussing how each was made. Participants chose objects to closely observe in silence for five minutes, guided by the below prompts encouraging reflection on elements such as line, shape, texture, and personal emotional responses.

After individual reflection, attendees exchanged their objects, shifting between two-dimensional and three-dimensional works, allowing everyone to engage with a diverse range of artistic forms. This exchange was followed by a lively group discussion, facilitated by Hedy, who guided conversations by offering positive feedback and insights.

Participants engaging in lively discussion at Studio One. Photo courtesy of Hedy Buzan.

We express heartfelt thanks to Hedy Buzan and the entire Sawdust Art Festival team for their thoughtful planning and enthusiastic facilitation of Slow Art Day 2025. We look forward to what Hedy comes up with for Slow Art Day 2026.

– Ashley, Johanna, Jessica Jane, and Phyl

P.S. Stay connected with Sawdust Art Festival via their Facebook page and Instagram.

Seaside Sculpture Park Slow Art Day

Founding Slow Art Day host (and regular contributor to the Slow Art Day blog), artist Hedy Buzan organized an in-person slow-looking event at the Public Art Walk in Heisler Park Gazebo, Laguna Beach, California.

Below is the flyer that Hedy distributed in the beachside artist community of Laguna Beach.

Slow Art Day flyer

For this event, Hedy chose five public art sculptures at Heisler Park, and asked participants to look at each for five minutes. Below are photos of three of the sculptures.

Semper Momento (Never Forget), 911 Memorial, by Jorg Dubin

Continuous Rotation by Scott and Naomi Schoenherr

Breaching Whale by Jon Seeman

When we launched Slow Art Day in 2010, Hedy and about 30 other artists and volunteers ran ‘guerilla-style’ Slow Art Day events at museums, galleries, and sculpture parks. These were unofficial events because museums were not at first willing to participate. But after several years of running these clandestine slow-looking events, museums and galleries began to adopt Slow Art Day – which has now been officially sponsored by over 2,000 museums and galleries all over the world.

We thank Hedy for being one of the pioneers that made this whole movement possible and can’t wait to see what she comes up with for 2023.

Jessica Jane, Ashley and Phyl

P.S. – If you happen to be in Laguna Beach anytime this summer between June 24 and August 28, then look for Hedy Buzan’s booth at The Sawdust Art Festival and go thank her for helping to launch Slow Art Day.