A year in review of Laguna’s visual arts
By MARRIE STONE
On Friday, Dec. 27, after attending a raucous rendition of Rapunzel at the Playhouse (which was frankly hilarious for any age, even mine), we made our way over to the Lumberyard for a drink. Passing by the colored lights of Entwined on City Hall’s lawn, I thought – again – about this incredible place we live. It’s lit up by art everywhere you go.
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Photo by Mary Hurlbut
“Entwined” by Charles Gadeken, is on display through the end of January on City Hall’s lawn
So, as we bid a final farewell to 2024, it’s worth pausing to reflect on our many fortunes. Not only the treasured natural surroundings we live inside, but the amazing amount of human-made art we’re immersed in every day. It’s tempting to take it for granted or forget how unusual it is to live inside this creatively rich arts colony. But strip the arts from this town, and even the most uncultured among us would quickly notice.
Here are a few highlights from the past year that some of our visual arts institutions offered us.
Laguna Art Museum
This past year, the Laguna Art Museum welcomed 15,771 visitors, including nearly 900 children under the age of 12. An active participant in our town’s First Thursdays Art Walk, LAM opened their doors to nearly 4,000 guests on those nights alone.
Among their 12 major exhibitions in 2024, last spring they showcased Modern Alchemy by local jeweler Adam Neeley, the first decorative arts exhibition in the history of the museum. The show received notoriety in such publications as the New York Times, Forbes.com and C Magazine.
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Courtesy of LAM
Adam Neeley’s “Modern Alchemy” garnered national recognition
As an active provider of arts education for every age, the museum served more than 3,700 students in grades K-12 through their Creative Foundation school tour program, and nearly 500 adults through their docent-led tours. They also provided professional development for three Orange County school districts and provided two units of instruction to more than 500 Laguna Beach Unified School District elementary students. “Youth education is critical,” said Executive Director Julie Perlin Lee. “For kids to be able to go somewhere else and see the real deal – not just a picture – can be a life changer.”
This year marked the museum’s 12th year of Art + Nature and drew a crowd of more than 1,000 people onto Main Beach for the Ocean Ions performance. More than 19,000 visitors (and counting) have been served through this initiative. They later hosted a sellout sustainable fashion show in collaboration with 11 local community organizations and four academic institutions. “Art + Nature gives us an opportunity to work with people who are pushing boundaries in a different way,” Lee said.
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Courtesy of LAM
The 12th Annual Art + Nature Exhibition featured the “Oceans Ion” performance on Main Beach, drawing an enormous crowd
LAM also acquired 38 artworks for the museum’s permanent collection, published three exhibition catalogs and launched a new website. They also hosted 84 public programs (including 25 artist-led presentations). These events benefited nearly 3,900 participants.
Look for more exciting offerings ahead in 2025.
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Festival of Arts
In 2024, the Festival of Arts welcomed approximately 200,000 visitors, highlighting strong community engagement and continued interest in the arts. Featuring the work of 120 talented and juried artists, the Fine Art Show showcased a diverse range of artistic expressions, from painting to sculpture, drawing to photography, including 21 first-time exhibitors. This year’s Festival captured the spirit of creativity, with captivating performances and innovative collaborations. Here are some of the standout highlights and achievements from this remarkable season.
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Courtesy of FOA/POM
More than 200,000 visitors toured the annual FOA Art Show this past year
The year 2024 saw expansions in both their physical and digital offerings. The FOA acquired three new pieces for their permanent collection with works by Bruce Burr, Susan Hoehn and David Milton. These acquisitions not only added to the collection’s depth but reinforced the FOA’s role as cultural stewards of Laguna Beach.
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Photo by Jeff Rovner
FOA artists Bruce Burr, Susan Hoehn and David Milton each had works added to the permanent collection this year
Additionally, the decision by Michael Bloomberg’s philanthropic foundation to include the FOA in their prestigious Bloomberg Connects app allowed the FOA to share the beauty of their collection with a global audience, enhancing their digital presence and making their art more accessible than ever before.
“As we look ahead, we remain deeply grateful for the passion and support of our volunteers, artists and patrons who make it all possible,” said Festival President David Perry. “This year, the Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters celebrated the transformative power of art in connecting people and inspiring creativity. From showcasing the incredible talents of our artists to championing community programs, 2024 was a season we’ll never forget. These accomplishments reflect our commitment to blending tradition with innovation, supporting our community and celebrating the power of art. Looking ahead, we are dedicated to nurturing creativity, fostering community, and delivering world-class cultural experiences in Laguna Beach throughout the entire year. We’re proud to have built meaningful connections and can’t wait to see what 2025 has in store.”
The Honarkar Foundation
Newcomer to the Laguna Beach art scene was The Honarkar Foundation, located at 298 Broadway St. in the town’s old post office building. In their first year, the foundation presented seven exhibitions, featuring 18 artists and displaying more than 200 artworks. They also published three exhibition catalogues, adding to their commitment to supporting and documenting contemporary art.
Throughout the year, the foundation hosted a variety of events including book signings and panel discussions to exhibition receptions and a memorable ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark their official opening.
A personal highlight for me was bringing in 6,000 pounds of sand for Laddie John Dill’s site-specific installation for the Luminaries of Light exhibition,” said Genevieve Williams, curator and director of The Honarkar Foundation. “We’ve been fortunate to welcome thousands of visitors and receive incredible press attention, including two reviews in the L.A. Times.
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Courtesy of The Honarker Foundation
Laddie John Dill’s installation in The Honarkar Foundation’s “Luminaries of Light”
“As both curator and director of The Honarkar Foundation, I am incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished in our inaugural year,” Williams said. “It’s been truly rewarding to see our exhibitions and programs not only draw thousands of visitors but also foster deep connections within the Laguna Beach community and beyond. We’ve made it our mission to create a dynamic space for cultural exchange, where art can inspire and unite people, and I’m excited for what the future holds as we continue to grow and evolve.”
Gallery Q at the Susi Q Community Center
In 2024, Laguna Beach Seniors was named the 2024 Arts Patron of the Year by the Laguna Beach Arts Alliance and was recognized at the 16th Annual Art Star Awards.
Since 2009, Gallery Q has featured a variety of visual art, including paintings, photographs and sculptures. The gallery was founded by local artists to showcase the work of older nonprofessional artists, but now welcomes artists of all ages and backgrounds.
Gallery Q presents five curated exhibitions each year, often in partnership with other local arts organizations. More than 3,000 works have been shown in the gallery over their 15 years. Their most popular annual show, in partnership with the Laguna Art Museum’s Art + Nature program, featured 92 pieces by 65 artists.
“The arts have become an integral part of our programs where seniors’ emotional, mental and spiritual health, and vitality are achieved through creative artistic expressions,” said Executive Director Nadia Babayi.
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Photo by Theresa Keegan
(L-R) Bill Atkins, Gallery Q director, stands with Judy Baker, arts manager of Gallery Q; Julie Perlin Lee, director of the Laguna Art Museum and Nadia Babayi, executive director of the Susi Q
The Laguna Plein Air Painters Association (LPAPA)
2024 marked LPAPA’s 26th year hosting their annual Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational, continuing the outdoor painting tradition that helped establish Laguna Beach as an artist’s colony. By bringing top talent from near and far to our community, they continued a legacy of art that began over a century ago.
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Courtesy of LPAPA
The 2024 LPAPA Invitational Artists
Since opening their North Laguna gallery in 2021, LPAPA now regularly hosts juried gallery exhibitions. This year, they presented six shows, providing opportunities for both established and emerging artists to exhibit their work and advance their careers. Their annual year-end LPAPA Squared All Member juried show included 163 paintings created by Signature, Artist and Student Members. For some, it was their first gallery show. Of course, arts education ranks high on LPAPA’s list of objectives. Their annual Next Generation Paint Out included 34 participating LCAD students, nearly double the number of previous years’ participants. Turns out, the Plein Air Painting Club is the largest club on the LCAD campus. This program, in addition to their Future Generation Paint Out for LBUSD students grades fourth through 12th, helps to inspire students to carry on the plein air painting tradition and legacy.
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Courtesy of LPAPA
LPAPA’s education program serves youth of every age, including their annual youth Paint Out
Finally, LPAPA continued their annual tradition of bringing their Plein Air Project to our local 4th grade students during their California history studies to better understand our local history as an Artists’ Colony.
All this serves as a strong reminder to each of us in 2025 – keep calm, carry on and take time to enjoy the art.
