Coast Film Festival hosts nature hike with REI and Laguna Canyon Foundation on Saturday

As part of the Coast Film Festival, all are invited to enjoy a guided hike with representatives from REI and Laguna Canyon Foundation (LCF) on Saturday, Nov 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., meeting at the James Dilley Preserve.

The hike will be a fun one with lots to experience: the smell of sage, beautiful vistas, and Barbara’s Lake. Each hiker will be entered to win prizes from REI and LCF.

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Hike the beautiful James Dilley Preserve on Saturday

The hike will be a four to five-mile hike over steep and uneven terrain (650-ft. elevation gain). It is for ages 16 and up. Hikers under 18 must be accompanied by a parent. Attendees are advised to wear appropriate attire, shoes, and sun protection, and also to bring plenty of water.

The hike will begin at Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, James Dilley Preserve.

For more information, click here. Parking is $3 per vehicle.

LAM’s Seventh Annual Art & Nature Festival celebrates nature-inspired art this weekend

Story by DIANNE RUSSELL

Photos by Mary Hurlbut

Executive Director of Laguna Art Museum (LAM) Malcolm Warner describes the Seventh Annual Art & Nature Festival as “a celebration of art inspired by nature,” and the four featured artists –Thomas Hunt, Laurie Brown, Mildred Bryant Brooks, and Yorgo Alexopoulos – each represent that theme in vastly different ways.

The festival is a multidisciplinary exploration of art’s many and various engagements with the natural world, and this journey continues all weekend through Sunday, Nov 10. For the first time in the event’s history, the commissioned work of art – this year by Yorgo Alexopoulos – will be inside the museum rather than outside and will be on view after Art & Nature weekend through January 5, 2020.

On Wednesday, members of the media had the unique opportunity to preview the artists’ works and view the multimedia installation by Alexopoulos –with the added treat of an explanation of the work provided by the artist himself.

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Malcolm Warner explains “The Last Tree” etching by Mildred Bryant Brooks 

The works of Hunt, Brown, and Brooks have been on exhibit at LAM since October 13, and each artist has a unique approach to the issue of landscape and environment.

A preservationist, Mildred Bryant Brooks is known for her landscape etchings, many of which depict trees – such as her piece The Last Tree. 44 of her etchings from the 1930s and 1940s are on display.

Warner says, “She often portrayed nature under threat and the danger of it being undermined by development, as represented by the oil derricks in her work Black Mirror.”

Thomas Hunt is best known for his colorful coastal scenes. His exhibit Thomas Hunt: California Modernist features 50 paintings characterized by his distinctive style, which involves broad brushwork and the bold effect of light and reflection. Hunt was an active member of the LB Art Association. 

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Thomas Hunt is known for his colorful coastal scenes

Displayed in the museum’s beautifully renovated basement, photographer Laurie Brown’s work depicts mankind’s relationship to the landscape in less comfortable ways, “dwelling in the zones that form a no-man’s land between the man-made and the natural.” Periphery #11, Crystal Cove, Newport Coast, 1995 shows the patterns left by bulldozers on the hillside during the development of Newport Coast. 

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Photographer Laurie Brown depicts man-made impact on the natural world

As the riveting centerpiece of the event, Art & Nature presents 360° Azimuth, a specially commissioned work by Alexopoulos for the festival. The site-specific installation is on view inside the museum through January 5, 2020. 

A mesmerizing experience, Alexopoulos’s large-scale installation features a two channel video projection with sound and invites the viewer to be part of it. As described, “the landscape symbols become metaphoric ‘characters’ in an animistic meta-narrative where reality and constructs of our collective subconscious seem to co-exist. Using landscape symbolism as a point of departure, he combines Euclidean geometric shapes with a multiplicity of moving images, whether filmed, photographed, painted, or drawn, that unite representation and abstraction into a common aesthetic.”

An American-born artist of Greek descent, Alexopoulos graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and currently lives in Los Angeles. He creates paintings, time-based media artworks, and installations. He often synchronizes multiple monitors or projections in a dynamic ensemble to create an ever-changing immersive spectacle. 

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Yorgo Alexopoulos in front of “360° Azimuth”

Alexopoulos says, “Throughout history, nature has been constantly interwoven in religion and other cultural aspects, and I’m sensitive to how humans interact with landscape. Thirty thousand years ago, humans personified landscape/nature, and the sun and other elements became gods. They’re all different methods of landscape as symbol.” 

Inspired by various types of landscapes, he says, “It’s not the content or where it was filmed, but how landscape is being presented. Everything was shot at same angle using motorized dollies.” 

The photographs are from all over the world and drawn from his collection of 25 years of photography. He adds, “But there is CGI [computer-generated imagery] in the installation.”

Addressing the question of the various landscapes – deserts, oceans, mountains, and streams – in his installation, Alexopoulos says, “The body of work is like a narrative with the landscapes as different chapters. It has open-ended meaning. This is very liberating and experimental, something new and fresh, and I’m part of the pioneer process.”

His work is captivating and shouldn’t be missed. 

Activities throughout the weekend

 Throughout the weekend, there are many other activities for visitors to experience. There will be a keynote lecture by Professor Alan Braddock; a film screening; a panel discussion; and a free family festival exploring art and the natural world. 

Friday, Nov 8: 

6 - 9 p.m. – Keynote Lecture: On November 8, Alan Braddock, Ph.D. will give the keynote lecture, From Nature to Ecology: The Emergency of Ecocritical Art History. 

Saturday, Nov 9: 

11:30 a.m. – Film: LAM screens A Boy’s Dream, a documentary about the artist Theo Jansens, who creates large-scale “beach animals” that move independently, powered by the wind.

12:30 - 2:30 p.m. – Book Signing: Elizabeth Turk signs copies of the recently-published book documenting Shoreline Project, the 2018 Art & Nature commissioned work. 

2:30 - 4 p.m. – Art in a Time of Climate Change: Professor Victoria Vesna leads a conversation with Linda Weintraub, the author of To Life!: Eco Art in Pursuit of a Sustainable Planet.

4 - 5 p.m. – Educators discuss how the idea of art inspired by environmental consciousness can be applied in the classroom.

6 p.m. Reception, 7 p.m. Lecture: In Person: Yorgo Alexopoulos: Yorgo Alexopoulos discusses his work, including this year’s Art & Nature commissioned piece.

Sunday, Nov 10 – Family Festival: LAM offers a day of free admission on November 10, plus family yoga with Bala Shala, hands-on art and science activities with partner organizations, and a family-friendly concert by Birdsong and the Eco-Wonders.

10 - 11 a.m. Family Yoga

11 a.m. - 2 p.m. – Hands-on Art & Nature: Art, nature, and science activities by Laguna Ocean Foundation, Laguna Bluebelt Coalition, LB Laureate Lojo Simon, Ocean Institute, Pacific Mammal Center, Newport Bay Conservancy, Center for Art Education and Sustainability, and the Art Division. 

2 - 3 p.m. – Birdsong and the Eco-Wonders

Laguna Art Museum is located at 307 Cliff Dr, on the corner of Pacific Coast Hwy and Cliff Dr.

Admission: General admission: $7, Students (18+) and Seniors (60+): $5, visitors aged 17 and under: free, museum members: free.

For more information, click here.

Thomas Studios features unique artists and artisans including owner Shaun Thomas

By DIANNE RUSSELL

Thomas Studios opened its doors in August of 2018, showcasing not only the works of three talented artists, Casey Parlette, Erik Skoldberg, and owner, designer, and featured artist Shaun Thomas, but several other artisans and designers of modern and mid-century lighting, vases, and furniture. 

The organically growing “Thomas Collection” has quickly become a style guide sought after by many clients and collectors for their homes and businesses. From the moment visitors walk in, they immediately get a sense of the unique, coastal, and warmer contemporary style. 

Thomas says, “The positive feedback has been amazing and so fulfilling. It really helps motivate and push my creativity in both my artwork and ideas that I want to pursue, adding to the ever-changing gallery experience. I have truly found what I love to do, and I can’t get enough of it.” 

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 (L-R) Thomas’ “Sun and Moon,” Skoldberg’s surfboards and vibrant painting, and Parlette’s “Old Timer” lobster sculpture on table

Growing up in Rancho Santa Margarita, most days Thomas could be found down in San Clemente surfing. As a graphic designer, he had years of experience branding companies, creating and designing their online presence and printed material. 

Thomas says, “I had a good track record, always surpassing my client’s needs and expectations. It’s the perfectionist in me that established a high standard and style as a designer. It’s not until I moved to San Clemente five years ago, that I first started creating my own artwork to fill empty walls that needed some love. Merging my passions for surfing and for graphic design, I created my own recognizable signature style of artwork.”

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Shaun with his “Nautilus Shell” 

However, creating art and opening up a gallery are two different endeavors. 

Thomas says, “For the past few years, making a name for myself as an artist, I kept running into an issue with customers and collectors on where to send them if they wanted to see my work in person, purchase a piece, or talk about a custom commission. Having a location with a variety of different pieces to view in one spot is so important in the art world, especially my work as the pieces are multi-layered and images don’t do it justice.

“If I was going to take this art venture seriously, I really needed to go all in. I began driving around Orange County in search to possibly open up a location and found myself, more often than not, talking to a lot of business owners about their experience with their business. You cannot rely simply on ‘tourist season’ or ‘busy season’ anymore. Selling average products or services just doesn’t work.”

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Upstairs at Thomas Studios

On the search for the perfect gallery location, Thomas drove up and down the local coast, eventually stumbling upon a location in downtown Laguna. 

According to Thomas, with his popular Wood Wave Sculptures being collected in surf or beach towns all over the world, opening up a gallery in Laguna seemed like the perfect spot. 

“After my first visit to the vacant space near downtown, which used to be the Drizzle Pop Art Studio, I immediately began visualizing ideas of what type of gallery I wanted to build. The place needed a lot of work, but I could see the potential.”

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 Casey Parlette’s “Limited Resources”

“Knowing I had to create something unique and different from the traditional art gallery, I began selecting designer furniture, lighting, and decor items that I thought fit my style and complemented my work. I decided to add to the experience two other artists that I have been a personal fan of for a couple of years.” 

Thomas admits that both Parlette with his coastal-inspired wildlife sculptures and Skoldberg with his vibrant and energetic contemporary paintings, have helped create an amazing collection of work. 

“Teaming up with these talented designers, creators, and artists that are truly passionate about their work has been such an amazing experience. It’s what keeps fueling my passion.” 

Thomas Studios is located at 550 S. Coast Hwy #5.

Showroom hours are Thursday - Sunday, from 1 to 7 p.m.

For more information, go to www.ThomasStudiosLaguna.com or call (949) 274-9023.

Community Art Project (CAP) presents Illuminating Elements through January 31

Illuminating Elements is the new exhibit that opened last month at The CAP Gallery. The exhibit features the works of pastel painters Mary Aslin, Lesli Bonanni, Gil Dellinger, Mike Ishikawa, Margaret Lindsey, Marie Tippets, and Elizabeth Wallace. The subject is the effect of light on elements found in nature – natural and man-made.

Margaret Lindsey’s Pacific Atmosphere is a shore scene featuring foamy shore breaks washing up on the dark, wet sand. A mottled blue sky is shot through with streaks of pink at the distant horizon and again peeking through the sky as you look up towards the top of the piece. Her work appears heavily textured with layers of rich pastels, but it is the fine application of thin layers of pastel that creates that appearance. A feeling of peace and calm at the end of a day can be felt when viewing this piece.

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Margaret Lindsey’s “Pacific Atmosphere,” Pastel   20” x 27”

Mary Aslin may be more known for her still life and portraiture work, in which her handling of light and shadow is exceptional. Her ability is also apparent in her outdoor scenes. Morning Sun, Laguna Alley is a view down one of Laguna’s quaint alleys. Early sunlight dapples the lush vegetation and brilliant bougainvillea lining the side of the alley, while long shadows start to withdraw. A feeling of early morning calm can be felt.

Lesli Bonanni’s work is more moody, abstract, and atmospheric. Blending color in thin layers and moving it around on the surface, also adding, subtracting, etching into the surface, she allows emotional and spiritual feeling to flow as she is working on her piece. Her edges are blurred, rather than sharp, giving a dream-like quality to her work. In Dare To Dream, a river flows from the foreground into the distant horizon. Land shapes are on either side. Overhead is a sky with golden hints of clouds. At the meeting point of the river and the sky is a sliver of bright glow. A hint of what could be or what is to come?

Gil Dellinger has a different view in his Tank Cars, Port of Stockton. Soft sunlight washes over the sides of the tank cars and on down to the ground. Meanwhile, surfaces that face away from the light are either in shadow or completely dark. For Dellinger, it is the way light can move around, defining shapes and shadows, such as the brightness that seeps over the tank cars and disappears into the surfaces between the cars.

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Mike Ishikawa’s “Manhattan Pier, Evening Glow, “Pastel 10” x 27”

Mike Ishikawa works with a saturated and bright palette. Manhattan Pier, Evening Glow shows the pier extending into the ocean, the bright red roof on the building, perched at the end of the pier, like a beacon. Behind it is a turquoise sky and light to dark pink clouds; cobalt blue water and sparkling white waves dance in the foreground of the pier while a mix of oranges, yellows, pinks, and reds reflect off the sand: the panorama of a bright California coastal sunset.

In Early Snow and Winter In Utah, Marie Tippets’ goal is to “capture some of the magic” of the winter in Utah. The contrast between the dark trees and brilliant white snow blanketing the land, combined with the casting of cool shadows by the trees, bring to mind the cold, crispness, and deep expanse of her views. Visiting family in Utah gives her the opportunity of revisiting her experiences growing up in New York and brings that feeling to her work.

Elizabeth Wallace has a love of birds and they can frequently be the subject of her works. In a recent experimental series done in pastel, graphite, and watercolour wash, the backgrounds are wind turbines done in watercolor wash. In the foreground is a single bird, done in pastel, and winding through the piece is a stream of writing in handwritten graphite. Treadmills, Windmills features a roadrunner running across the foreground. Spiraling out from the center of each turbine is a stream of writing in pencil. 

Looking closely you can read it and discover it is a poem written in a “stream of consciousness” style. These writings come about after Wallace has added the bird to the turbine background. She spends time looking at the work until the words come to her. For this one it is “Treadmills, windmills, time and space. Walking, running, stand in place.”

Each of these seven artists has their own take and interpretation of Art + Nature. The commonality is the medium they use to express themselves and their originality.

Take a break and visit Illuminating Elements and see this selection of work. 

CAP’s mission is to increase the visibility and appreciation of art and serve as a catalyst for art education. Ongoing exhibitions can be enjoyed at The CAP Gallery, in the unique Rotunda Gallery space located on the second floor of the Wells Fargo Building, 260 Ocean Avenue. 

Visit www.caplaguna.org for information about ongoing or upcoming exhibits, to be on the email list, or to become a member and supporter of CAP. CAP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded by the member supporters, the Festival of Arts Foundation, the lodging establishments, and the City of Laguna Beach.

LCAD presents In Search of the Real III fine arts faculty exhibition

Laguna College of Art and Design’s (LCAD) MFA and BFA programs in Drawing + Painting are proud to present In Search of the Real III, a collection of original works from the college’s esteemed graduate and undergraduate fine arts faculty. 

The collection will be on display at the LCAD Gallery downtown from November 7 - 28, from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., and during a First Thursday Art Walk reception on Thursday, Nov 7 from 6 - 9 p.m. 

The exhibition is comprised of drawings, paintings, and sculptures dedicated to contemporary views of the figure, landscape, and still life. Each artist is a current LCAD faculty member and is dedicated both to expanding representational art and to mentoring a new generation of contemporary representational artists.

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Aixa Oliveras, “Resilience,” Oil on linen, 2018

Founded in 1961, Laguna College of Art and Design (LCAD) is a dually accredited, nonprofit college located in Laguna Beach. LCAD offers undergraduate degrees (BFA) in Animation, Drawing + Painting, Drawing + Painting with Sculpture Emphasis, Drawing + Painting with Illustration Emphasis, Game Art, Graphic Design + Digital Media, Graphic Design + Digital Media with Action Sports Emphasis, Graphic Design + Digital Media with Illustration Emphasis, Illustration, and Illustration in Entertainment Design. 

LCAD also offers Graduate degrees (MFA) in Drawing, Game Design, and Painting; and a Post-Baccalaureate in Drawing + Painting. 

For more information visit www.lcad.edu, follow on Facebook at @LCADBFA, Twitter @LCAD, and Instagram @lcadbfa.

Laguna College of Art and Design Gallery is located at 374 Ocean Ave.