Arts Special Section
Wonder Walls
NEW MURALS AND MOSAICS , ADDED TO THE LOCAL PUBLIC ART SCENE IN RECENT YEARS , ENRICH CULTURE , FOSTER COMMUNITY AND INSPIRE CHANGE .
By TANYA A . YACINA
Public art installations can have a profound impact on a community , uplifting the spirits of passersby and sometimes serving as catalysts for communication and positive change , enhancing the quality of life and fostering a vibrant , dynamic society . Laguna Beach displays numerous murals throughout the city including several that have been installed in recent years , adding bursts of color to the walls around town .
“ RIPPLE EFFECT ” Created by Timothy Robert Smith , a faculty member at Laguna College of Art & Design , along with LCAD students , this 113- by 13-foot mural can be found at the intersection of Glenneyre and Mermaid streets . Installed in early 2022 , the location was secured by local nonprofit Community Art Project , which also provided funds and additional support for the project . “ This mural focuses on a perspective shift for the viewer , where the floor literally twists beneath their feet ,” Smith explains . “ It is about how our perception of reality changes our experience of it . It ’ s an invitation to consider everything that exists outside of our limited points of view .”
Artist Timothy Robert Smith with his mural , “ Ripple Effect ”
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