Shackin' Up in Laguna
"Have you seen what this place usually looks like?" the dowager dressed head (elaborate flower on Kentucky Derbyesque hat) to toe (flats) in fuschia asked me. We were standing in the Laguna Art Museum, next to a minature Midcentury Modern home and just down the hall from a tabletop sculpture of a sprawling shanty town with tiny Century 21 real estate signs cluttered about.
Glorie, easily the most enjoyable opening night attendee that evening, has lived in Laguna "for decades. Many decades." I couldn't help but picture life in this seaside hideaway, pre-L.C. Sounds nice.
If you attended Saturday night's opening of Hurley's Art Shack group exhibition at the museum, you were likely either an O.C. socialite with a martini in hand like her, or an action sports dude con brewsky. Tattoo artist Don Ed Hardy, clad in an orchid lei and a Tommy Bahama-esque button-down shirt, was even in attendance. Needless to say, it was good times.
Curated by Greg Escalante and featuring artists from Shag to Jeff Gillette and Laurie Hassold, Art Shack tasked contributors with creating their dream — or nightmare — abode, whether lifesize or scale model. Some opted for a Pee Wee's Playhouse fantasia, while others created something straight out of Calcutta with anti-consumerist tones. Hardy's piece even included an automatic tattoo machine. Either way it made for a well-crafted show, one you have the whole summer to see (the exhibit runs through Oct. 3).
A pre-party at 225 Forest, a Laguna store featuring Nike's action sports labels (Hurley among them), gave guests the opportunity to test-drive the shop's custom screenprint facility for shoes, shirts and boardshorts, featuring artwork from some of this year's participating artists. Prices for custom art are $15 for both footwear and apparel.
Thanks to Chris and Mike for their expertise in the workshop while we swilled Asahi. We snapped a few shots at both happenings before slogging back on the 405 at sunset.
PARTY PEOPLE The guest list is now on the iPad; Lindsay at the 225 Forest pre-party, top by Anthropologie Fei.
CALCUTTA, CONDENSED Jeff Gillette's work in the Art Shack exhibit.
PLAID. SKINNY DENIM. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? Ryan wears a Hurley button-down shirt and Ambiguous jeans; Chris wears an H&M shirt and Hurley jeans; Linda wears an Arden B. shirtdress, Nordstrom tank, Paige jeans, Steve Madden boots, vintage bag and Arden B. jewelry.
EXIBITIONISTS Opening night at the Laguna Art Museum's Art Shack show.
KITSCH AND ITS DEVOTEES Our favorite Laguna socialite enjoys Art Shack's ephemera.
ALL-STAR TREATMENT Team Forest 225 screenprints some kicks.