Treasure Island Park, resort art dedicated

Barbara Diamond

Art works at Treasure Island Park and Montage resort were dedicated

March 29.

“The intention of the art was to honor the space, honor the

community and give people a sense of who we are,” Mayor Toni Iseman

said.

About 200 guests attended the ceremonies that began at the south

end of the park where Linda Brunker’s elegant sculpture of a woman

emerging from the ocean depths, “Voyager,” was installed in front of

the parking structure.

“That was not the original site the Arts Commission chose for the

her,” Commissioner Joan Corman said. The original site was on top of

the view deck, but was changed because of view blockage.

Gerard Stipling’s five-piece sculpture, “Repose,” was installed on

the point overlooking the coves below the bluff-top park. It is meant

for sitting.

“I wanted it to look like it has always been there and the land

around it has only recently been excavated away,” said Stripling, a

Laguna Beach artist.

The artists were introduced by Arts Commission Chair Les Thomas,

who lauded the commission for its work in the selection of art works

in the park and on the hotel grounds.

“Art is an integral part of Montage,” resort owner Alan Furstman

said. “We couldn’t be more pleased with the end result.”

A bright, turquoise ceramic-tiled mural of fish by L.A. artist

Dora De Larios stands out against neutral colored stone wall on which

it is installed.

A mural and mega-sized urns by Laguna Beach glassblower John

Barber attract guests to the hotel entrance. Barber used a technique

called pate de verre to create the mural. The lighted urns have

bronze eucalyptuses framing the glass panels.

“I want to thank Kim Richards, who shared his vision with me,”

Barber said.

Laguna Beach painter and sculptor Terry Thornsley took a year to

complete the bronze sculpture of an indigenous oak tree for the

project. He used the lost wax method, which involves creating a

same-size wax model, dividing it into many sections, casting each

section in bronze and welding them together.

Cheryl Ekstrom, a Laguna Beach sculptor perhaps best known in town

for her “Warriors Against Angst” series, said the two fanciful

creatures that lead from the park to the swimming pool of the resort

are among the “most fun pieces” she has ever done.

A Pageant of the Master vignette captivated the audience that

gathered to hear the speakers.

“It’s called the ‘Spirits of History, Science and Art,’” pageant

director Diane Challis Davy said.

The sculpture was created in 1914. Donna Wigdor, Paige Nichols and

Shannon Waegner were the models. Joy Trent and Charli Andreasen did

the full-body makeup.

Ceremonies concluded with a reception hosted by Montage that

included a dance performance by Steve Josephson and Kimberly Bixler

Leeds out on the point.