The collecting couple

Suzie Harrison

Mike and Nancy Meyer are eclectic collectors with tastes that range

from pre-Columbian artifacts to avant-garde art.

Three of the couple’s 100-piece collection can be seen at Laguna

Art Museum’s “Laguna’s Hidden Treasures: Art from Private

Collections” exhibit.

Looking at her 1984 abstract painting “Lucrezia Borgia” by Grace

Hartigan hanging on the museum’s wall -- instead of in her entryway

at home -- Nancy was reflective.

“It’s like losing a friend for three months,” she said of the

portrait of a noblewoman who was considered one of the most ruthless,

yet beautiful, of the Italian Renaissance.

Mike and Nancy finish each other’s sentences and fill in words as

they enthuse about their art.

Nancy said she always thought Lucrezia is shown rubbing her hands

nervously -- whereas Mike thinks the woman is washing her hands of

blood, “like [Lady] Macbeth” they both chimed in.

“I like Grace Hartigan’s painting style; the way the paint kind of

runs in places is effective,” Mike said. “It looks half cartoon and

half realistic; it’s a great style that she used. The scale makes it

a powerful piece.”

Laguna Art Museum’s chief curator Tyler Stallings said that the

piece has sparked a lot of comment.

“Grace Hartigan is really well known on the East Coast, but not on

the West Coast; it was really unique to find that piece here [in

Laguna],” Stallings said. “Hartigan is somebody who is rare -- a

woman who was part of the abstract expressionist Jackson Pollock

[movement], who gained notoriety during a time that was hard for

women.”

The Meyers don’t always agree on every piece, however.

“Wallflower III” by Alan Rath is a sculpture that resembles stereo

equipment.

“This is Nancy’s taste,” Mike said. “I have grown to like it.”

The piece has a preprogrammed chip. When it is turned on, the

three separate speakers move, Mike explained.

“We saw it on a pedestal at a gallery,” Nancy said. “It’s a real

conversation piece that we’ve had for about 10 or 12 years.”

Another of their sculptures is an Ed Kienholz piece made out of an

old oilcan manipulated to look like a TV.

“When it’s plugged in, it has LED numbers that go across [the

screen], and they keep increasing,” Nancy said. “Ed Kienholz did a

lot of pop art in the ‘60s, things made with found objects.”

Nancy said they bought the piece at an auction.

“We both liked it; we’re keen on that period,” Nancy said. “We

were bidding strongly against someone else for that piece.”

Mike describes the work as looking like an old TV set with rabbit

ears.

“It’s just funky,” Mike said. “We never got an explanation of what

the numbers meant, so you can just use your imagination.”

The large number of collectors who live in Laguna Beach inspired

the museum to have the exhibit, Stallings said.

The exhibit juxtaposes different works from different decades --

from American Impressionism to contemporary.

“It goes against expectations, which makes it exciting,” Stallings

said.

Stallings said the collectors’ exhibit was formulated on the heels

of the museum’s “The OsCene,” which focused on local artists.

“The two work together back to back -- artists in Orange County

and a collectors’ show with a focus on Laguna collectors,” Stallings

said.

The show runs until July 10. The museum is at 307 Cliff Drive. For

information, call (949) 494-8971 or go to

https://www.lagunaartmuseum.org.