Festival Of Arts Debuts Virtual Exhibit 'Nine Decades Of Art' Friday

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — Do you want to view nine decades of Laguna Beach art from the comfort of your living room? The Festival of Arts is honoring World Art Day by debuting an virtual exhibit titled: "Nine Decades of Art - Selections from the Permanent Art Collection" on Friday.

The pieces showcased in this gallery were picked from the Festival of Arts's collection and are by artists who contributed to the organization's rich cultural history, which spans from the early 1900's to present day, according to the news release.

The virtual exhibit simulates a real-life museum, with viewers using their mouse or trackpad to "walk" through the museum and view each piece. Residents can take a guided tour of the virtual museum or simply peruse the museum on their own.

“Artworks are windows into history and have the opportunity to give the viewer a more thoughtful representation of cultural activities related to a particular time period,” Permanent Art Collection Specialist Pat Sparkuhl said. “With the Festival celebrating its 90th anniversary this summer, we can’t think of a better way to reflect on the organization’s past than through artwork that represents the art history and cultural evolution of this region.”

Among the pieces shown at the virtual museum are Virginia Woolley's 1932 painting "Flower Stalls," which was the first artwork ever sold at the Festival of Arts, organizers said. Also featured are Marco Sassone's 1986 Serigraph work titled "Laguna Vista" and Joane Cromwell's 1935 oil painting titled "Nature's Symphony."

The 3D gallery allows guests a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in a selection of work from the festival's permanent collection without leaving their homes, Festival of Arts organizers said. Residents are encouraged to read the artists' biographies to learn more about their backgrounds and art.

In addition to the free gallery, pocket-sized art catalogs are available for purchase through the Festival of Arts online store at $10 per book.

The Festival of Arts's permanent art collection is made up of over 1,000 pieces and is comprised of a mix of two-dimensional and three-dimensional work that date back to the early days of the festival.

To view the virtual gallery, follow this link.