In The Arts

SoCal Artists hosts Hope exhibition

The Southern California Artists Assn. (SoCal Artists) will hold a two-day open showing of historical and recent work by its founding president, artist and teacher Fredric W. Hope.

Opening with an artist’s reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, the exhibition will also be open to the public from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

The exhibition will consist mostly of oil paintings, chosen from Hope’s modern landscape series, including his Coastal Highways, Crystal Cove and Hidden Hawaii series. In addition, historical examples of Hope’s artwork developed for the entertainment industry will be on display.

Hope launched his art career at Walt Disney Imagineering, where he worked for three years before starting his own entertainment design firm, the Works, in 1977. He traveled throughout the world working with hundreds of clients, such as Panasonic/Matsushita, the People’s Republic of China and Knotts Berry Farm. He left the entertainment industry in 2000 and began to focus full time on drawing and painting, creating what he considers his most significant work.

Some of the work will be available for purchase, with 20% of all sales donated by the artist to the SoCal Artists educational programs and general fund. The artist will be in attendance both days to answer questions and discuss his work. Light refreshments will be served.

The SoCal Artists Gallery is located at 3251 Laguna Canyon Road, within the Laguna Canyon Artists Complex. The Southern California Artists Assn. is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public charity in the educational category. It has more than 250 members and provides a variety of educational programs for Southern California artists and arts enthusiasts including workshops, films, critiques, lectures, seminars, demonstrations and exhibitions. For more information, call (949) 887-1605 or visit www.socalartists.org.

Simpson’s soil art at John Wayne Airport

A new exhibition by Laguna Beach artist Gary Simpson, “Common Ground 191,” featuring artworks created from the soils of 38 United Nations countries, will be on display in Terminal A of the Thomas F. Riley Terminal in the Vi Smith Concourse Gallery at John Wayne Airport through Feb. 22.

On display are 14 paintings created with soil collected from 38 countries, along with samples of the soil and information explaining the process of collection and importation. The exhibition is a portion of a larger project Simpson began in 2002, also known as Study 14/38 in reference to the number of paintings made and the number of countries represented. When complete, the full project will feature paintings created with the soil representing 192 countries.

“I take my medium and my inspiration from the Earth,” Simpson said. “I view my abstract art as an expression of my relation to the Earth. As the geography of the Earth changes, so too do national boundaries. This project expresses for me the necessity of change and the unifying wisdom of the process.”

Ticketed passengers who have passed through security will be able to view the display, which will be shown across from Gates 11 to 14.

Soil samples were collected at historic sites such as the ancient Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza, Robben Island in South Africa where Nelson Mandela was jailed for nearly 20 years, and Saddam Hussein’s former palace in Iraq.

DHL Express international shipping services were used in the soil sample collection process. Simpson shipped a box within a box to each country, enclosing a return airway bill and documentation for delivery back to the U.S. He worked closely with U.S. embassies and other contacts.

“DHL was the perfect partner to help complete the vision of my global earth art project, as they are the only express carrier with the local experience and knowledge in each United Nations country,” Simpson said.

The collection boxes for the soil samples have traveled more than 2.5 million combined miles. Each soil sample underwent careful regulatory review, including Customs review.

Furthermore, at DHL’s international gateway at Los Angeles International Airport, each sample was processed and sterilized by the USDA to remove all organic material.

To complete the project, Simpson will need samples from two additional countries, which he will combine with soil from each other nation in the project, and mix with concrete and colored pigment to create 196 42-inch-square fresco panels.

More information on “Common Ground 191” is available at www.commonground191.com.

Shanti wreaths to preview in canyon

LagunaCanyonArtists.com is holding an Open Studios Sale from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 5 and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 6 at 3251 Laguna Canyon Road. The sale will include a preview exhibition of 20 original wreaths, which will later be auctioned at a fundraiser for Shanti Orange County. Many wreaths were created by members of Laguna Canyon Artists.

Thirty working studios will offer art in all media, with prices from $20 to $20,000. Festivities include holiday lights, music and libations from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 5. A Shanti Tent will provide a list of wreaths on display throughout the complex. Admission and parking are free.

Artist-designed “wreaths” include a floral-themed brooch in silver and gold by jeweler Karin Worden, an oil of figures on the beach, mounted into a life-preserver, by painter Doug Stotts, and a wreath of natural brush by Sherry Seltzer, who creates abstract prints of grasses and brush.

Another wreath, donated by Laguna Outreach for Community Arts, features hand-sculpted ceramic sea ornaments, and a gift certificate for art classes. A wreath from Studio Arts Gallery also includes a gift card toward the purchase of any art at the gallery.

All wreaths will be auctioned to the public from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 7 at Mozambique, 1740 S. Coast Hwy. The event includes opportunity drawings, male physique models, a no-host bar and free admission. Proceeds benefit Shanti, providing HIV and AIDS services throughout Orange County.

For more information, visit www.LagunaCanyonArtists.com.

Commission wants Heisler writings

The Laguna Beach Arts Commission is seeking short stories and poems as part of the public art component of the Heisler Park renovation project. The selected short story/poetry will be published in the call for artists and may provide the inspiration for artists who could include the work in its entirety or communicated visually or aesthetically in designs for the public art works.

Anyone 18 and older who lives in Laguna Beach may submit a maximum of 500 words relating to Laguna Beach, its community or personalities, be inspiring and relate in some way to the park.

Deadline is Jan. 15. First-place winner will receive $2,000; second place will receive $750; and third place will receive $250.

The competition will be judged by the Arts Commission, with final approval by the City Council.