Vol 20 | No 1 | Fall 13
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Fall Exhibit Explores Early History of Laguna Art

ImageThe UCI Libraries announce the opening of an exciting new exhibit called Open Air & Light: Art in Laguna Beach, 1906-1941, on Wednesday, October 23rd at 5:30 PM in Langson Library. Our opening night event guest speaker is James Irvine Swinden, President of The Irvine Museum.

Laguna Beach is renowned for its natural beauty and love of the arts. Open Air & Light explores the rich early history of its development into an art colony and illustrates how broad support from the community played a significant role in its rapid emergence. On display will be archival materials from the UCI Libraries’ Special Collections and Archives, as well as photos and prints loaned by the Irvine Museum, the Laguna Art Museum, the Laguna Beach Historical Society, and the Bowers Museum.

In the early 1900s, a group of landscape painters discovered the beauty of Laguna Beach and laid the foundation of an art community which is still thriving to this day. By 1917, over thirty noted artists were working in Laguna and in 1918, The Laguna Beach Art Association was founded to advance interest in art and create a spirit of cooperation and fellowship between painter and public. By the early 1930s, Laguna was well known for California Impressionism art and its most popular annual events, the Festival of Arts and the Pageant of the Masters, were firmly established.

Our guest speaker James Irvine Swinden is President of The Irvine Museum, a public museum dedicated to California Impressionism. In addition to overseeing the museum’s exhibits and publications, Mr. Swinden gives lectures regarding the artistic and environmental significance of the museum’s collection. He is also the owner of A.R.C. Properties, and serves as the vice president and chief financial officer of the Joan Irvine Smith & Athalie R. Clarke Foundation, which supports environmental, artistic and medical research activities. Swinden is a long-time friend and supporter of UC Irvine, serving as a trustee of the UCI Foundation, and is the recipient of the 1997 UCI Lauds and Laurels Award for Outstanding Community Friend.

ImageA light reception and exhibit viewing will follow the presentation. The event is free and open to the public. Space is limited; reservations are first come, first served.

Visit https://partners.lib.uci.edu/laguna/rsvp to make an online reservation. For further information please call 949.824.4651 or email partners@uci.edu.

Open Air & Light: Art in Laguna Beach, 1906-1941 is curated by Steve MacLeod, Public Services Librarian, Special Collections & Archives. The exhibit will be on display through April 2014 in the Langson Library Muriel Ansley Reynolds Gallery during regular library hours.