The Nature of Art

It was just over 100 years ago when artists began to discover Laguna Beach. Drawn to the vibrant natural scenery and incredible light, painters and sculptors established an active artist community in the town. It was around this time that the Laguna Art Museum, then known as the Laguna Beach Art Association, was first formed. 

Since then, that intersection of nature and art has continued to play an active role both within the museum itself and throughout Laguna Beach’s flourishing arts scene. 

The Laguna Art Museum’s Art + Nature event, which returns for its 12th year in early November, is a celebration of that legacy. 

When the event, which includes an outdoor installation, educational programming, and a couple of indoor exhibitions, was first founded, it was one of the only programs in the region to offer temporary outdoor art installations, according to Laguna Art Museum deputy director Victoria Gerard. 

“It’s really special,” she says.

On a deeper level, though, the event is a way to help visitors think differently about environmental issues and how to coexist with nature. Much of Art + Nature’s programming centers on the idea of the artist’s voice speaking with and through nature, while using that perspective to bring awareness to our relationship with the environment, Gerard says. 

“Artists are uniquely positioned to see things in a different creative lens,” Gerard says. “It's really great to bring creativity, and these moments of reflection and mindfulness and different perspectives, to think about how to meet challenges and the future head-on.”

Programming With a Purpose

Among this year’s lineup of events, a number connect art to sustainability, beginning with Art + Nature’s official launch on Nov. 2: an upcycled couture fashion show. 

Featuring work by student designers from U.C. Irvine, Chapman University, Santa Ana College, and the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, the show aims to highlight fashion’s role in supporting a healthy planet by presenting clothing made entirely from reclaimed and repurposed materials.

Then, there’s artist and scientist Oriana Poindexter’s free workshop on Nov. 9. Using historic photography techniques, participants will help create a portrait of Laguna’s marine ecosystem. The result will be publicly displayed as part of Poindexter’s exhibition in Laguna College of Art and Design’s downtown gallery.

Visitors can also take part in a free ballpoint pen drawing workshop on Nov. 11. Led by Drawing for the Planet founder and artist Jane Lee McCracken, the workshop will raise awareness for endangered tigers and support tiger conservation organizations.

And on Nov. 17, art historian Jean Stern will present a lecture covering California’s rich ecological diversity and how it’s been portrayed by artists. A workshop on the same day will explore the causes and consequences of habitat degradation, as well as the resilience of nature.

Eco-Minded Exhibits

The cornerstone of Art + Nature, its outdoor installation, officially opens on Nov. 7. “Ocean Ions,” created by Christian Sampson, will feature five separate light installations throughout Laguna’s Heisler Park that will interact with the sunlight, projecting different colors throughout the day. 

On Nov. 9, dancers will present a choreographed performance piece around the exhibit, transforming into a human kaleidoscope by interacting with the art and light, Gerard says. Sampson’s exhibit will be on display outside through Nov. 11. 

“It’s really amazing to be able to encounter art in a setting where you don't necessarily expect it,” Gerard says. “It's really kind of magical to see how people orient themselves and create a sense of place for what they're seeing.” 

Inside the museum, a couple of nature-related exhibits are also on display, including a series of drawings and photographs by artist Jay DeFeo showcasing her fascination with trees, and “Second Nature,” featuring 50 new and recent pieces by Fred Tomaselli. Known for his paintings that alter front pages of daily newspapers, Tomaselli highlights his perspectives on climate change and other social issues in his work. 

An Inspirational Legacy

Much like the museum itself, Art + Nature has grown and expanded over the years. Its earliest iterations were much smaller, consisting of a temporary outdoor exhibition and a keynote lecturer. In recent years, however, the event has expanded to encompass nearly a quarter of the museum’s year.

“We really wanted to focus on rounding out folks’ experience with those installations through lots of different offerings, to have a moment where everyone could connect or learn in a way that was interesting to them,” Gerard says.

The 2022 program, which featured an exhibition by artist Rebecca Méndez, showcased that mindset. Intertwining a legacy of environmental abuse with a positive message about interconnectedness to nature, Méndez’s “The Sea Around Us” offered viewers a cinematic, 360-degree look at the Pacific Ocean — including the oozing barrels of DDT resting on the seafloor.

By incorporating Acjachemen music and poetry inspired by the Tongva’s worldview, as well, the goal of the exhibit was to leave visitors inspired to shift their relationship to the ocean and nature — while also recognizing how critical that shift is. 

“Anytime you were in that gallery, you would see something different depending on where you were standing,” Gerard says. “You could watch it a million times and have a different experience.”

Apart from the immersive installation, Méndez’s exhibition was accompanied by educational programming, which brought together experts from across different industries, including journalists, representatives from environmental nonprofits, and scientists. 

Art for the People

As a museum based in a community with such a deep-seated arts movement, Laguna Art Museum has worked to embed itself into the collective mind of the area as a place where everyone is welcome, Gerard says, and Art + Nature has that mission in mind. 

All of the outdoor events and experiences are free of charge, and the hope is to allow as many people as possible to experience the intersection of art and nature, Gerard explains. It’s an opportunity to not only encounter art in an unusual place, but to also think about our place in the world — all while having an enjoyable experience outside, she says. 

“We are really excited to welcome people to any and all of the aspects of this exciting art and nature time at the museum,” Gerard says. 

The full Art + Nature schedule of events, along with more information, is available here.