Hidden Gems Hiding in Plain View
Recently the Laguna Art Museum’s Historical Art Council conducted a tour of local private art collections of California art that included two professional offices (not named for security reasons) filled with an impressive array of Impressionist and Regionalist watercolors and plein-air paintings, including an exquisite, small William Wendt.
The group also viewed 50 examples from the collection of the Festival of Arts (every year, several outstanding pieces are acquired from festival exhibitors). Susan Davies organized the tour, reconfiguring usual hanging arrangements at Festival offices to spotlight works in a variety of mediums selected by festival artist Pat Sparkuhl.
Two groups led by LAM’s new board president Robert Hayden and curator of collections Janet Blake, also descended upon City Hall where culture manager Siân Poeschl presented video footage co-produced by Arts Commissioner Suzi Chauvel of Laguna’s extensive array of public art and the artist who created it.
City Hall, a warren of narrow hallways, offices and cubicles displays two Joseph Kleitsches (“Morning Laguna” and “The White House”), a couple of William Griffiths along with paintings by Nick Pasco, Roy Ropp and Amy R. Kennedy.
Next came the offices of Laguna Unified School District where a large Frank Cuprien, “Evening in the Harbor” anchors a collection that also contains a local city scene by Griffith, works by Karl Yens, Anna Hills and Ruth Peabody.
For information about the Historical Art Council, contact Dawn Minegar at 949-494-8071
