Editor ’ s Letter /
A Community of Creativity
From viewing impressive artwork to trying your own hand at making a masterpiece , Laguna Beach is filled with inspiration . Three summer art festivals continue until the first days of September , with art classes offered year-round in mediums from painting to ceramics and a long list of local galleries filled with exhibits to peruse .
In this issue of Laguna Beach Magazine , we pay tribute to the local arts scene . Learn about some of the new art galleries that have opened in the past year , from one showcasing street art — including a painting embraced by Banksy — to an immersive , completely red space and another featuring artwork on pieces of the old Hollywood sign , among other works ( page 52 ). Then , find out where to exercise your creativity in town , with classes offered at the festivals , through the city , at a local ceramics studio and even a venue that blends both a wine bar and crafting venue ( page 48 ).
We also highlight the work of local fine artist Ben Young who makes sustainability a priority . Not only does he upcycle old paintings from Goodwill thrift stores — covering them with a layer of gesso to reuse the canvas — but he also utilizes a local brand of paint , Tomorrow ’ s Artist by Encore Artistic Solutions , which gives new life to discarded architectural paint . Read more about his work in “ Painting a Sustainable Future ” on page 62 .
Another environmental effort in town is highlighted in “ Going Green ,” which explores a local showroom with alternatives to plastic shipping solutions plus two refill shops that have opened in town — customers pump bath and home products like soap and detergent into reusable containers to reduce a reliance on single-use plastics ( page 42 ).
And that ’ s just a few of the articles in this jampacked issue . In these pages , we hope you find inspiration for the rest of the summer and beyond in this creative coastal community .
Sharon Stello Group Editor sharon @ firebrandmediainc . com
The Red Room Art Gallery , one of several new galleries to open in town over the last year , as highlighted in our story on page 52
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