Renowned artist visits Laguna

Suzie Harrison

Known around the world as a pop icon, neo-Fauvist and the United

States’ painter laureate, artist and activist Peter Max is bringing

his aptly titled exhibit “Colors of a Better World” to Laguna Beach.

He said he’s looking forward to coming to Laguna for his show --

he has fond memories of the city.

“Years ago a gallery in Laguna carried my work --about 10 years

ago or earlier,” Max said. “Laguna is great, it’s beautiful.”

For the last 18 months, he has done 56 art shows around the

country with his “Colors of a Better World” exhibit.

“It’s very retrospective, these art shows are almost like a

mini-museum show,” Max said.

He explained that it encompasses the late 60s to current and shows

the different art styles he’s created.

In the 1960s, among other highlights, Max styled the Beatles movie

“Yellow Submarine” at John Lennon’s request.

“I was good friends with John and Paul and great friends with

George,” Max said.

He talked about the days when they would do yoga and meditation

and about the popular restaurant Nirvana in New York’s Central Park

South.

“In the late ‘60s early ‘70s with the hippie movement, a lot of

change was going on in the U.S.,” Max said. “It was about creating a

better world.”

Now it’s actualized itself, Max said. He said in New York City

alone there are more than 55 health food stores.

“It all came out of the hippie movement,” Max said. “I feel very

lucky to be born in that time, doing art and running around with

friends with the same ideologies.”

That frame of mind included the premise of having peace on earth.

Life magazine did an eight-page color spread on Max, which he

thought was groovy.

Besides the health food movement, peace and environmental issues

he especially supported, and still supports, animal rights and

protection.

Max is a vegan, which he says he does out of loyalty to animals.

He recently rescued a cow that jumped over a six-foot fence to escape

being slaughtered.

When he learned about the deaths and horrible condition of a

number of animals, mainly tigers and other large wild animals at a

compound in Colton, California -- Max stepped up to the plate to

help. He pledged to donate the proceeds from any commissioned

portrait, which cost $30,000 each, to The Fund for Animals, which

took custody of the 18 animals that were rescued and brought to the

Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in San Diego County.

Max has achieved many accomplishments so far, as his reign in pop

culture continues. His art is on everything from a Boeing 777, flying

for Continental, to the 1999 Woodstock stage and a giant mural that

was unveiled at the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Max has been deeply involved with helping raise money through

various projects he has worked on to help those affected by Sept. 11.

He has also been named the official artist for the United Nations

Earth Summit, six Grammy Awards, the World Series, five Super Bowls

and the ’94 World Cup.

“Every moment is my favorite moment,” Max said. “I would have

never have known as a young kid going into art what would happen.

He has a fabulous four and a half-story 45,000-square-foot studio

near New York’s Lincoln Center.

“It’s wonderful being an artist,” Max said. “It’s fun to dance

with the Dali Lama, Bill Clinton, George Bush or with the hippies.

It’s nice to be involved on all levels.”

He said that he is still painting all the time.”When I’m traveling

I’m sketching, when I feel good I sketch,” Max said.

He does a lot of traveling and does about 60 radio shows and 35 TV

shows a month.

“I have a tremendous collector base with more than 100 museums and

galleries worldwide showing my work,” Max said.

When he was a child he wanted to be an astronomer and was

fascinated with all that is involved. Though he may still have these

dreams, his dreams on this earth have been recognized through his

long-standing career and all the opportunities it has afforded him.

Max will be appearing from 6 to 9 p.m. on Aug. 8 at Wentworth

Gallery in Laguna Beach, 305 Forest Ave. To RSVP or for more

information, call 376-3878.