Coastal Orange County has more in common with the French Riviera than just azure waters, sybaritic resorts and a balmy Mediterranean climate. Like its Gallic counterpart, the region has long been a magnet for artists.
As a result, works of art are perhaps even more prevalent than surfboards.
Festivals
The region’s most celebrated annual event is the Laguna Beach Festival of the Arts, which takes place during July and August in a canyon park where over 140 local artists display and sell their works, including paintings, sculpture, stained glass, handcrafted furniture, and other items. The festival’s star attraction is the nightly Pageant of the Masters, which presents “living pictures” in which real people pose to resemble their counterparts in original works of art.
For the entire month of August, Laguna Beach is also the scene of the popular Sawdust Art Festival, which features the work of about 200 local artists. Displays of ceramics, fine jewelry, textiles, art glass, painting, photography, and other media are set up in a handcrafted artists’ village.
Venues
In Laguna Beach, [seven degrees] is a multimedia arts center with living quarters for artists and areas for corporate events, including an exhibition gallery, a technology-equipped media lounge and an outdoor terrace.
With a strong focus on the art of California from the early 20th century to the present, the Orange County Museum of Art in Newport Beach is a respected arts facility that features both permanent and touring exhibitions. Its most dramatic event space is the Pavilion, which accommodates up to 270 people for receptions.
Artful Resorts
In Laguna Beach, the Montage Resort & Spa has notable sculptures in its oceanfront gardens and features a branch of the Redfern Gallery, which specializes in the plein air-style paintings the city is known for.
Upon entering the St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach in Dana Point, guests are greeted by four dramatic blown glass pieces by renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly. Contemporary paintings adorn the public areas of the resort, while the Monarch and Presidential suites feature Picasso etchings.
For More Info
Laguna Beach Festival of the Arts www.foapom.com
Montage Resort & Spa www.montagelagunabeach.com
Orange County Museum of Art www.ocma.net
Sawdust Art Festival www.sawdustartfestival.org
[seven degrees] www.seven-degrees.com
St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach www.stregimb.com
