High School Insider: Laguna museum makes a great day trip

Seven miles down the coast from Newport is the well-known Laguna Beach. Known for its magnificent beaches and delicious restaurants, the truest beauty of Laguna is its art. Galleries, festivals, even a hotel, are dedicated to the arts all over town.

If a visitor does not want to search for the art in the city, they can view pieces easily at the Laguna Art Museum. The museum was founded in 1918 by local artists where they could show their work to one another. It wasn’t until 1972 that the gallery was named the Laguna Beach Art Museum.

The museum showcases special exhibitions, as well as a variety of events, including concerts and family days. Unlike every other art museum in the state, the Laguna Beach Art Museum only showcases California art. The works range from the 19th century to the present day, and they are crafted with a variety of mediums.

The museum has three current exhibitions: “Helen Lundeberg: A Retrospective,” “Frederick Hammersley: Works on Paper from the Permanent Collection,” and “City Life, Los Angeles: 1930s to 1950s.”

Showing until May 30, the Lundeberg exhibit presents the artwork of painter who lived from 1908 to 1999. Featuring 60 to 70 paintings, the collection shows the evolution of her art, beginning in 1930. After 20 years of working with art, Lundeberg decided to move onto a larger scale of style utilizing flat and broad areas of color.

The Hammersley exhibit offers 38 drawings and prints of the abstract painter. The masterpieces range from casual studies of life to composed abstractions.

“City Life: Los Angeles” celebrates development of the modern Los Angeles. The exhibit focuses on the urban style of the city.

In June, the museum plans two new exhibits: “Peter Krasnow: Maverick Modernist” and “Anthony Friedkin: The Wave Portfolio.” Both exhibits can be found the upper level of the gallery from June 26 to Sept. 26.

The Krasnow exhibit will show more than 70 portraits and sculptures created in his life of 93 years. In the 1930s and ‘40s, Krasnow created his “Demountables,” a series of hand-crafted wooden sculptures. During the political era of the ‘40s, Krasnow created abstract paintings blanketed with bright colors to contrast the dark times.

The museum is introducing Friedkin to the public. The art shows the waves of Zuma, Venice, Hermosa, La Jolla, Carmel, and Santa Monica Beaches between the years of 1977 and 2006. In his “Wave Portfolio,” Friedkin captures the beauty and power of the waves through black and white coloring.

Looking around Laguna, a viewer can find all sorts of incredible art; whether it is on the side of the road or underneath it.

Take “Another Day In Paradise.” Created in 2007 by Valerie Gorrell and Helma Bovenizer, it was inspired by happiness and created to bring joy into an individual’s life. The bench is located directly in front of the Laguna Beach Public Library. Another is the “Mozambique Public Art Piece,” completed by Mia Tavonatti in 2005. Designed for the early Portuguese explorers, each tile of the mosaic is placed to create the larger image.

If one ever wants to stay in Laguna and loves art, they should definitely check into the Art Hotel. Only a mile away from the heart of Laguna and across the street from Crescent Bay, a visitor can explore around the town or enjoy the art within the hotel.

The next time one goes to Laguna, see all the amazing pieces the city has to offer. Most visitors just go to the beach or get lunch with friends, but do not look within the town’s beauty itself. There is so much history to each piece of art everywhere in the town that is truly magical.

Corona del Mar High School student KENDALL GORE writes for the Los Angeles Times High School Insider.