New Murals in Laguna Beach Invigorate Laguna’s Art District and Kick Off Summer of Color

Laguna Beach, Calif., April 16, 2018 -- Laguna Creative Ventures is proud to present the artistic beginnings of the Summer of Color, a Laguna Beach Arts Commission approved celebration of art, music, food and vibrant culture in the Arts District of Laguna Beach. Privately funded by the Honarkars, with partnerships with [seven-degrees] and Montana Colors, the organizers of this unique and exquisite mural project have been working diligently to bring world-renowned muralists to the artistic epicenter of Orange County—Laguna Beach; invigorating the creative spirit and providing additional brilliant temporary pieces of art for visitors and residents to see and appreciate during the summer months. Curated by Torrey Cook, Founder and Owner of contemporary art gallery Artists Republic and Ben Rubin, Owner of fine art print studio Elephants and Castles, the Summer of Color kicks off with three bright, large-scale murals by artists Brett Crawford, Beau Stanton and Chad Hasegawa. Additionally, future murals involved in the Summer of Color will include internationally celebrated Spanish artist Okuda and female powerhouses Faith47 and Casey O’Connell. Located on the Honarkar property in the Civic Arts District, between 891 and 777 Laguna Canyon Road, these bright and beautiful murals will be temporary yet memorable additions to the Civic Arts District in Laguna Beach, and the rich and colorful legacy of Laguna Beach as a destination for art and vitality.

With the Honarkars’ recent acquisition of the properties in the Laguna Arts District, the vision of what the district will finally come to fruition, and these murals are the introduction. Torrey Cook believes that these murals will invigorate the area and help engage people to come to the city to explore its public art more with these well known and respected artists. “By working with both local and international artists and reinforcing the philosophy that art should resonate with people of all ages, of all walks of life, these murals will provide a rich, inclusive environment for the city’s residents to be proud of, and becoming a beacon for travelers looking to be a part of something magical,” she said. Ben Rubin seconds that notion and believes that this will help place Laguna Beach on the radar of the international contemporary art scene. “The benefits to Laguna Beach as a community with the potential of a large influx of new visitors can only enthuse its standing as one of the international destination art cities in the U.S.,” he said.

On the west side of the parking area to the right of 837 Laguna Canyon Road, San Clemente-based artist Brett Crawford will create a stunning mural incorporating a human face with floral embellishments in reds, pinks and purples. This composition touches on the relationship between humanity and nature in a subtle, elegant and ethereal style. Crawford will incorporate the architecture and windows on the side of the building into his canvas to utilize the most space and style. The recognizable blue mosaic tile facade of the building will remain intact and protected underneath temporary plywood walls, offering a smoother surface for the artist as well as an easy, temporary protection for the building’s normal façade.
 

Laguna College of Art and Design (LCAD) graduate Beau Stanton has garnered much attention and respect since leaving LCAD back in 2008. Stanton mixes historical, iconographic, nautical and architectural references into his surreal and hypnotic compositions. Brightly colored and exquisitely rendered, Stanton’s mural for Laguna will be located on the two large walls on either side of the property at 859 Laguna Canyon Road which houses the new Laguna Beer Company. Focusing on the nautical nature of Laguna Beach and the rich artistic history present in Laguna, Stanton’s mural with incorporate the ancient Greek style of sculpture, brightly colored ornamentation and nautical iconography. Like Crawford’s, Stanton’s mural will be done on a removable plywood surface to help maintain the brilliant blue tile mosaic façade underneath.

San Francisco-based artist Chad Hasegawa is an internationally renowned street artist known for his bold and colorful flat latex brush strokes that fuse together purpose, style and design. Painted in his iconic graphic style, the abstract composition is attractive and relatable to a variety of viewers and will draw people into the area with its unique design. The urban influence in his work blends high- and low-brow as he touches on art history, his love for the Mission School, and his background in advertising and graphic design. His self-taught use of color aggressively shapes an object so that it is clearly visible when viewed from a far. Up close, the work can be viewed as an elaborate color design—an almost mosaic pointillism of brick-like shapes. Like the other murals in the Summer of Color, the temporary mural will be created on removable plywood wall to protect the underlying tile mosaic façade of the building. Hasegawa will be completing his mural on site in Laguna Beach through Thursday, April 19, and Stanton begins his mural on Wednesday, April 18, 2018.

 

MEDIA CONTACT
Torrey Cook
torrey@ar4t.com