The La Jolla Historical Society will host Art Lawn 2011, a free fundraiser event and art show on the picturesque lawn of Wisteria Cottage. The show, featuring works by emerging local artist Mohan Sundaresan, 66, will showcase the resident’s once-hidden masterpieces. The Indian-born Sundaresan has lived in San Diego for 20 years, all the while building his own tools, etching aluminum metal scraps and using raw, hands-on painting approaches on canvas in his at-home art studio. His studio — more like a creative construction site — is equipped with high-tech construction tools, including power saws, drills, an air compressor and scraps of metal, wood, plexiglass and particleboard. One thing that won’t be found in his studio? A paintbrush. Sundaresan, a self-taught painter, uses nothing more than his hands on hand-stretched canvas to create his works of abstract art in vibrant colors and patterns, often with a signature holographic orb hypnotically floating within the artwork. “His artwork is just incredible, but he just saved all of his work in his garage,” said Sundaresan’s friend and agent Steve Medoff. “He never sold anything and didn’t really exhibit his work.” Medoff first met Sundaresan when he moved into a new building where Sundaresan worked for the homeowners association. Upon seeing Sundaresan’s works stashed in his garage, Medoff, an art collector himself, was determined to help him get the collections on display. “His stuff is unbelievable,” Medoff said. “One of the amazing things about him is he builds his own easels. He built 20 easels for the show and he also does his own canvas matting and stretching.” After Medoff decided to dedicate his efforts to help Sundaresan by becoming the artist’s agent, he spoke with a representative from the La Jolla Historical Society about showcasing Sundaresan’s work on the society’s lawn. La Jolla Historical Society’s executive director John Bolthouse followed through with the idea. Bolthouse happens to know Sundaresan — but never knew he was an artist. “It was very generous of Mr. Sundaresan and his friends to offer this opportunity to present something so unique at the Society’s historic Wisteria Cottage,” said Bolthouse. Art Lawn 2011, Sundaresan’s first-ever solo show, will feature six tents with 100 pieces of his unique masterpieces on sale at affordable prices. “The Jewel is Setting,” an original canvas painting by Sundaresan, will be given away in a $5 raffle drawing to benefit the Society. Tickets are on sale from Aug. 4 to 7 at the La Jolla Historical Society, located at 7846 Eads Ave. The drawing will take place on Sunday, Aug. 7 at 4 p.m. The winner does not need to be present to win. The free event and art show will take place on Aug. 6 and 7 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Wisteria Cottage, located at 780 Prospect St. For more information about the event, visit www.artlawn.info or email [email protected].