Coastline Pilot/LA Times

October 3, 2003

 

Chasing the Muse

By Catharine Cooper 

 

What a magical place Laguna Beach is to live.  The city, more affectionately known as a village, is filled with passionate life-loving people devoted to preserving a unique and eclectic character.  It feels at times as if we exist within a living movie, alternating between romance, action-adventure, drama, and film noir. 

 

As I waited last Saturday at Heidelbergs for coffee to go, I was struck but how different our town feels, both physically and psychically, than the other places I have traveled.  The coffee shop/bakery was delightfully crowded on a fog-shrouded morning.  Those in line wound around and through the shop, allowing perfect moments for crowd gazing nameless faces.

 

Two jam-covered children bounced in their seats, pawing their exhausted mother with small sticky hands.  Three surfers, fresh from the swell, exchanged notes about the morning waves as their hair dripped salty water and their feet left tiny sand trails.  An older couple quietly shared the newspaper, while savoring plates of scrambled eggs and toast.   Carrot muffins and tears marked an intimate exchange between female lovers.  A solitary male, buried in a book, paused in his reading and scanned the room, before gingerly sipping steaming hot chocolate.  The only visible tourists wandered aimlessly, plates in hand, waiting an empty table.

 

The scene provided a delightful cross-section of those who live here.

 

Saturday evening provided yet another night with art, the staple of our village.   Peter Blake hosted an opening of stunning new works by Chris Gwaltney and Daphne Confar.  Across the street at the Art Museum, the Surf Culture show continued to churn up memories.  I wandered through the photographic images, filled with reverie of learning to surf at Oak Street beach, under the careful watch of lifeguard John Parlette.  Local landscape artist, Jana Ruzicka, joined me with the images, and we freely discussed film versus digital, the quality of printmaking, and how photography continues to inform our lives.   The images reminded me of our deep connection with the tide line just outside the museum’s door.

 

Never-far-from-the-maddening crowd, Mayor Toni Isemen and her partner, Steve Miller, arrived for the special unveiling of a new bronze sculpture by Joshua B.C. Hoy.  Her contagious smile filled the room as she chatted up life, art and politics.

 

The intimacy Laguna serves up is one of her charms.

 

Moving up the hill, Chris and Bree Mitchell hosted new art work by our very own Nick Siracusa.  Nick’s vibrantly painted oils graced the home and garden of this outdoor party. Rob Eller’s guitar music provided a lyrical backdrop which floated throughout the neighborhood.  Many guests from the Museum found their way to Nick’s opening, and the tables around the catered event were filled with art lovers and friends.  Fervent conversations ranged from an analysis of conceptual art to questions of plant materials and slope protection (my patient husband Steve answered them all).  The usual question, “How long have you lived here?” was joyously answered by some who actually grew up in our fair city.

 

Sunday held yet another social function, a ‘getting to know you’ kind of open house in support of Laguna College of Art and Design.  Board of Trustee member Terry Smith and Wayne Peterson graciously shared their home for the event.  College President Alan Barkley shared his thoughts on the growth and nature of the College, while former Dean, Jonathon Burke introduced student work and detailed the school’s extensive programs.

 

Rounding out the gathering, Sian Poeschel, the city’s Arts coordinator and Sawdust Festival exhibitor, chatted with Councilman Wayne Baglin and his lovely wife, Faye. Trustee, Christopher Tower briefly shared stories of his summer escapades, before hurrying off to the theatre.  Trustee (and former Board President) Jack Smart and his wife Pam, waxed eloquently of their recent Baltic cruise.  

 

Yes, Laguna is a wonderfully social town.

 

The weekend was heaven to me, filled with friends, art and the vibrant exchange of new ideas.  Monday broke to more of our strange foggy weather.  The coastline is infinitely cleaner thanks to the broad efforts of the Coastal Cleanup Day.  A leisurely stroll along the boardwalk, with surf pounding, birds squawking and locals grinning, reminded me of why, of all the places I could choose to live, I have made Laguna Beach my home.

 

 

Catharine Cooper loves wild places.  She can be reached at ccooper@cooperdesign.net or 714 296 5250.