Laguna Art Museum: Opening Night Reception

This exhibition demonstrates how important the plein air movement was and still is for Laguna Beach. I rarely saw so many people visiting the museum. There was the familiar art crowd but also many faces that I never see at art events. These "non-art people" are the ones I was really interested in talking to. They told me in many ways how fantastic the show was, explaining their love for Laguna and Orange County’s history, the colors of nature and its light in these wonderful works of art. We know, people who live in this area love the outdoors and that is why many relate so strongly to plein air paintings. It clearly revealed that today's prevalent function of plein air is the connectivity of all kinds of people to the arts. And when we connect to the arts we become better and smarter people because we think with both sides of our brain. Interestingly, every painter in this show would agree that no artist can compete with the beauty of nature, but it seems they captured some of its magic, which this great turnout clearly reflects.  Exhibition runs until 01/13/2019

Multimedia artist, author and educator Michaell Magrutsche has written three art books and hosts SelfAwareArt.com.