Balboa Island ArtWalk, canceled last year, makes return to the seaside community

Los Angeles-based artist Karen Stein said she was all set to participate in the Balboa Island ArtWalk last year as a first-time exhibitor but then COVID-19 hit. After a few attempts to reschedule the event, traditionally held each May, the 2020 ArtWalk eventually had to be canceled.

But Stein was one of the many artists pleased to learn the local juried show would return on Sunday.

About 2,500 attendees strolled along Balboa Island’s South Bayfront to take in the works of 80 exhibiting artists while live music played in the background.

An attempt at social distancing was in effect this year, with a 20% reduction in artist booths on the normally congested sidewalk. All artists were asked to use touch-less payment in their transactions with buyers.

MerriJane Morrison, left, describes one of her sterling silver pieces to event sponsor Mary Hardesty during Sunday’s 26th Annual Balboa Island ArtWalk.

(Susan Hoffman)

Laguna Beach jewelry designer MerriJane Morrison, who has exhibited in the show for about 10 years, said it’s the interactions with people that drive her.

“If the universe hadn’t given me the gift to express myself through creativity I wouldn’t have been able to experience beautiful connections with people,” Morrison said. “Several pieces are spiritually inspired, and when I tell people the story behind the piece that provides the same opportunity for that kind of connection.”

First-time exhibitor Ian Stuart began creating pottery three years ago about the same time he began teaching ceramics at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita.

First-time exhibitor, ceramics high school teacher Ian Stuart and girlfriend, Emily Floyd sit on seawall during the Balboa Island ArtWalk on Sunday.

(Susan Hoffman)

“I make my own glazes for my hand thrown functional ware,” Stuart said. “During the pandemic, I turned my garage into a studio where I have a wheel and kiln.”

Relying on oil paint as her medium, artist Kathleen Williams of Anaheim Hills has been exhibiting in the ArtWalk for about five years. She finds inspiration in variety of subject matter, from seascapes, landscapes and street scenes to portraits.

“I do a lot of landscape; we have the best landscape scenes in SoCal,” said Williams, who primarily paints plein-air. “The scenic California landscapes are popular with tourists because they want to take a piece of California home with them.”

Williams explained with the entry fee of $250 even if she just breaks even, it’s worth it to get out there and interact with the public.

Plein-air painter, Kathleen Williams holds her “Down On The Back Bay” painting during the Balboa Island ArtWalk on Sunday.

(Susan Hoffman)

“I get business afterward,” she said. “People will follow up with something they saw at the show or commission me to paint something special for them.”

Mary Hardesty, a local real estate broker who sponsors the event, said she found it to be “a pleasure to be a part of the energy of neighbors, friends and Island visitors coming together in the spirit of celebrating our artists and being inspired by their presentations.”

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