Capping 12 years of pursuing public art

Twelve years after its inception, Laguna’s Community Art Project is still going strong, with several future projects in the works and a slew of achievements under its belt.

But the non-profit group has decided to pause and revisit an old favorite, “Speakeasy: A Night at the Bank,” on Feb. 24.

The Jazz Age fundraiser, first held in 2005, will feature more than 70 artworks up for auction, martini and wine bars, live music and gourmet food, all within the gracious ambience of the Wells Fargo Bank on Ocean Ave.

Despite a common belief that the Arts Commission is responsible for all of the city’s publicly viewable art, the commission is only directly responsible for art installed on public land, CAP board vice president Rebecca Meekma said.

Organizations like CAP arrange to have art situated on private land and buildings. For example, the CAP sculpture site near the Bank of America on Forest Lane may appear to be on public land but is in fact located on bank property.

The Arts Commission approves projects brought forward by CAP.

The road to public art can be rocky. Board president and founder Julita Jones recalled that a ceramic fish installed in a bank artpad was destroyed after its installation, most likely by intoxicated bar patrons.

“We no longer do ceramic pieces,” Jones said. “You have to be so careful; there’s a lot of things you have to think about.”

CAP also helped back the first “Postcards from Laguna” mural installation, which has since been turned over to the Arts Commission.

“That project maybe wouldn’t have happened without our funds,” Meekma said.

Another major component of CAP’s programming is educational. Members are treated to studio and private collection visits and wine and cheese receptions.

“You learn and you have fun at the same time,” Meekma said.

Although not explicitly ordered to do so by its charter, CAP tries to use local artists for its projects, and its leadership tries to focus on local preferences in art.

CAP conducted a community survey to determine what artistic style to focus on. Although no strong preference was stated, representational art was preferred by the many of the respondents, Meekma said.

“We’re always looking for up-and-coming artists,” Jones said.

An impressive feather in CAP’s cap last year was Michele Taylor’s “Canyon Preserve” mural, which was installed at the water district’s headquarters.

In designing the piece, Taylor conducted extensive research on local flora and historic color schemes.

CAP’s major accomplishments, which include public art installations and several educational events, belie its austere origins.

“It all started when a couple of us were on the Arts Commission,” Jones said.

The commission was not as well funded as it is today, she said, and she and co-commissioner Carole Reynolds thought there was a need for an organization that could work with private property owners on installing art in the public view.

They began by putting the word out to local artists and holding meetings, and had an early affiliation with the now-departed FACT Gallery in South Laguna.

Jones has remained heavily involved in the organization since its founding. She is the current board president, in addition to exhibiting at the Festival of Arts and Sawdust Art Festival. A Laguna resident for more than 40 years, she is also a founding board member of Laguna Outreach for Community Arts.

“She is a professional artist and then after that she’s very devoted to CAP,” said Meekma, who also manages the Sawdust Art Festival’s public relations efforts.

Artist David Milton, who donated a piece to be auctioned, discussed the reciprocal relationship between local artists and groups like CAP.

“There are all these worthy arts organizations that we have to support,” Milton said.

Through donating works for auction, artists are able to ensure that such organizations continue to thrive.

Both the city and many local organizations have made grants and other contributions to CAP. A Festival of Arts grant allowed the project to install lighting to its gallery space in the Wells Fargo Bank.

CAP was also selected by the Laguna Board of Realtors as one of its beneficiaries.

The majority of the CAP-sponsored public art pieces are located downtown.

JD Hansen’s “Birdman,” installed in December 2005, stands outside Wells Fargo Bank. It replaced Sharon Loper’s “Wolf.” CAP sculptures at Wells Fargo and Bank of America are rotated regularly.

Nearby, Yuri Kuznetsov’s 2002 “Adventure” mural hangs on an outside wall of the Latitude 33 bookstore.

The organization intends to focus on non-downtown locations for future installations.

A newer piece that embodies that goal is the “Heron” sculpture by James Koch that stands near Team Nolan Realty, at Glenneyre and Thalia Streets.

Several future projects are in the works for CAP.

It will hold a joint show with the Festival of Arts — “Impressions and Expressions: Everything You Wanted to Know about Printmaking But Were Afraid to Ask” — at Wells Fargo, followed by a Southern California artist show this summer.

The organization is applying for a grant to install a mural on one of Hagan Place’s walls, in celebration of the residence’s 10th anniversary. The building is located on Third Street.

“All these things tie together to make Laguna a better town,” Meekma said.

CAP will hold a reception at Wells Fargo bank 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday honoring those “Friends of CAP” who have submitted works for the auction. The pieces will be on view from Saturday through Feb. 23 during banking hours.

Jones said she is also in talks with the Pacific Marine Mammal Center about installing a permanent piece there to commemorate its sea lion rescue efforts.

“I think there’s just no end to what you can do,” Jones said.

For more information on CAP, call (949) 598-9844 or e-mail [email protected]. Membership in CAP is $35 per year for individuals and $50 per year for families. Higher levels are available.