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The Month's Events

November 2024

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11:30 AM

Senior Thanksgiving Luncheon

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7:00 AM

Dana Point Turkey Trot

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Santa's Jolly Trolley

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Pines Park Tree Lighting

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Sea Coast Symphony Concert

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🌟 November Art Spotlight 🌟

Artist: Christopher Pecharka | Veterans Memorial Bronze Sculpture | 2009 | Strands Beach

In 2009, local artist Christopher Pecharka was commissioned by the City of Dana Point to create a bronze sculpture in memory of our fallen heroes and in honor of those who serve. The sculpture features two patriotic eagles on either side of the flagpole base.

On April 12, 2010, the Veterans Memorial Park at Strands Vista Park was dedicated to commemorate all five branches of armed service. Colonel Willard A. Buhl, Commanding Officer of the 5th Marine Regiment, on behalf of Brigadier General L.D. Nicholson, Marine Expeditionary Brigade Commanding General, presented Mayor Steven Weinberg with a certificate that accompanied an American Flag that was flown over Camp Leatherneck in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan on February 21, 2010.

Every Veterans Day, the City and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9934 rededicate the monument.

🌟 October Art Spotlight 🌟

Artist: Morgan Finelt & Kent Baker | “Bright Beauty” Elephant Parade | 2013 | Louise Leydon Park

In 2013, Dana Point welcomed an international exhibition called the “Elephant Parade” and became the first city in the United States to host the outdoor art event. Artists and celebrities of all kinds participated in creating their artwork on large 5’x5’ elephant sculptures, in an effort to raise awareness for the plight of the Asian elephant.

The local community was encouraged to participate as well. “Just before school got out in June (of 2013), more than 2,000 fourth and fifth graders from 18 Capo Unified elementary schools, experienced a two-week curriculum about the Asian elephant, a critically endangered species, according to the Asian Elephant Foundation.” (Patch.com). During this time, students participated in an art competition where they submitted their elephant artwork, with the winning art to be recreated on a full-scale elephant sculpture.

Morgan Finelt, a fifth grader from Ambuehl Elementary School was chosen as the winner. Kent Baker, a local high school art teacher, went to work helping Finelt’s colorful diamond-rowed creation come to life. “Bright Beauty” is one of 38 large elephant sculptures exhibited at Elephant Parade, Welcome to America in 2013. 🐘

“Bright Beauty” currently resides at Louise Leydon Park, overlooking the ocean in Capistrano Beach.

🎨 October is Arts & Humanities Month! 🎨

Join us for fun activities to celebrate this month!

The Arts & Culture Ambassadors, along with @danapointhistorical will be hosting a Trolley Art & History Tour on Sunday, October 13th at 12pm. A limited number of tickets for the tour are $20 each and can be purchased at www.danapoint.org/recreation. Search Activity #8769, #8770, or "Trolley." Join the fun and explore art and culture on the Dana Point trolley! 🚌

Afterwards, come be a part of a community celebration of fine art, live music, food, and more at the Dana Point Art and Wine Fest. 🖼️

The ArtFest will take place on Sunday, October 13th from 10am - 4pm on Del Prado Avenue. For more information, visit www.dpartfest.com

🌐 Visit our website at www.danapoint-arts.com to learn more about art in public places, upcoming events, and more!

🎨 The Dana Point ArtFest will be on Sunday, October 13th from 10am-5pm on Del Prado St.

🍷 Dana Point Art & Wine Festival is an outdoor, top-quality juried art and music event that brings artists and the community together in and around the Dana Point, CA area. The event includes 80 local artists, live music from various artists, wine and beer garden, and restaurants. Del Prado Ave. will open early for the event – providing food and libations.

For more information, visit www.dpartfest.com.

#DanaPoint #art #festival #DelPrado #music #wine #trolley #tour #artists #history #docent #event

Join us for a Trolley Art & History Tour to celebrate October as National Arts & Humanities Month! 🚌

Sunday, October 13, 2024 at 12pm

A limited number of tickets for the Trolley Art & History Tour are $20 each and can be purchased on danapoint.org/recreation. Click the online registration button and search Activity #8769, #8770 or “trolley.”

🎨 Each trolley will have an Art Ambassador and a docent from the Dana Point Historical Society to provide information and insight at all the stops. The wide-ranging city tour will include locations such as the Lantern Bay Park Stairs, Doheny Village Mural, Hide Drogher Sculpture, Watermen’s Plaza, and Woodruff Homes, among a total of 10 stops. The tour lasts for approximately an hour and 30 minutes.

Join the fun and explore art and culture on the Dana Point trolley!

🌟 September Art Spotlight 🌟

Artist: Lubica Selecka | Tall Ships Mosaic | 2009 | Dana Point Bridge

In 2009, Lubica Selecka was commissioned by the City of Dana Point to create a vibrant mosaic for the then-new Dana Point pedestrian bridge.

Inspired by a photograph taken by Cliff Wassman of the “Spirit of Dana Point,” she began creating the mosaic at her studio in Capistrano Beach. “She crafted the ship with hand cut mosaic tiles in a style she compared to brush strokes.” Selecka added a personal touch to her artwork by inserting herself, family members, friends and even her dog as passengers on the ship. These people were created by a photo emulsion process that Selecka developed directly onto the tiles.

“The Spirit of Dana Point”, a 118-foot replica of the Revolutionary War-era privateer schooner, is part of the Ocean Institute’s living history program and is its signature tall ship. ⛵

🌟 August Art Spotlight 🌟

Artist: Mia Tavonatti | Endless Summer Mosaic | 2019 | Watermens Plaza

In 2019, award-winning painter and mosaic artist, Mia Tavonatti, was commissioned by the City of Dana Point to create a public mosaic of the iconic “Endless Summer” poster, a poster originally created for the 1966 film by Bruce Brown. 🎥

John Van Hamersveld, a surfer studying graphic design, created the movie poster at his kitchen table in Dana Point and it soon became the most recognized surf imagery in the world. 🏄‍♂️ “The photograph on which the poster is based was taken at Dana Point’s Salt Creek Beach using Bruce Brown, Robert August, and Mike Hynson as models.” (HMdb.org).

The mosaic is about 3’ 6” wide and 5’ 3” in height and is made from stained glass, smalti and fused glass. Mia Tavonatti is the same artist responsible for the new staircase mosaic at Lantern Bay Park that looks over the Dana Point Harbor.

July Art Spotlight 🌟

Artist: Soterios Anagnostou of Interior Branding | Doheny Village Mural | 2022 | Capistrano Beach Post Office

In 2021, local building owner Bob Chade had the vision to liven the neighborhood by having a colorful mural painted on his property. He collaborated with the City of Dana Point’s Arts & Culture Commission and a “Call for Artists” was announced to the public in order to find the right artist for the job.

A group of graphic artists who grew up in Dana Point jumped at the opportunity to capture the City’s history through surf pioneers and local landmarks. “We wanted to show the progression of changes from the founding of the City of Dana Point. The original founding families that built the community from PCH to the Lantern streets, the homes, the hardware store, the gas station,” Soterios Anagnostou, owner and art director of Interior Branding, told the Dana Point Times in 2022.

The mural depicts historical photos, local surfing legends, and Dana Point landmarks. Using new technology, the final artwork was vinyl wrapped on the 16’x18’ wall near the post office in Doheny Village.

June Art Spotlight ⭐

Artist: Brian Kesling (Designer) and The Draculas (Painters) | Surfing Car Mural | 2019 | Dana Point Tower

The "Surfing Car Mural" was designed by Brian Kesling, owner of Kesling Design Agency specializing in design, illustration and branding. To create this large-scale piece of art, located on the Dana Point Tower, Kesling collaborated with 2 other artists known as The Draculas, to help bring his vision to life. The Draculas, a Southern California-based duo comprised of artists Gary Musgrave and Jeff McMillan, are known for creating their work in the dark of night and indeed created this mural during the evening hours in 2019. The full car mural is crafted on two sides of the building facing PCH. Both front and rear of the car have the qualities of that surfer vibe that reminds many of us of summers spent on the beaches in Dana Point.

May Art Spotlight⭐

Artist: Steve Adam | Abstract Palm Series | 2022 | Pacific Coast Highway and Crown Valley Parkway

In 2020, the City of Dana Point began a call for artists to create locally inspired artwork to be featured on city-owned utility boxes. Local artist Steve Adam had his artwork chosen, with "Abstract Palm Series" being one of many variations of his brightly painted magical palm trees. This series from Adam is featured on multiple utility boxes throughout the city, and can also be seen on a large-scale elephant sculpture, part of the local Elephant Parade, as well as on a dolphin sculpture, located at Dana Bay Gallery on Del Prado Ave.

The City wrapped a total of 40 utility boxes created by 28 different artists through a variety of mediums. For more information on utility box artwork and art in public places, visit https://www.danapoint-arts.com/.

April Art Spotlight⭐

Artist: Lance Jost | Mary Ellen Thomas Memorial Fountain | 2011 | La Plaza Park

In 2011, local artist Lance Jost collaborated with Dana Point landscape architect Yvonne English to create the Mary Ellen Thomas Memorial Fountain located in La Plaza Park.

The fountain honors the late Mary Ellen Thomas, a local artist, historian and writer, who lobbied for the creation of a cultural arts commission in Dana Point in the 1990s. “She wanted to bring arts to our community” says Karin Schnell, current Arts & Culture Ambassador, and upon her passing, donated the funds to make the creation of this fountain possible.

“The fountain not only includes surfers, but Jost said the City wanted to see local marine life incorporated into it, which Jost researched.” Jost uses his home in Dana Point as a workshop and has created many of his art pieces here. “What makes Jost’s mosaics unique is his technique- ordinarily mosaics are made out of little pieces of glass arranged together, but because Jost is a sculptor, he carves pieces, molds them and casts them into glass.” (Both quotes taken from DP Times article, 2017)

March Art Spotlight⭐

Artist: Lance Jost | Humpback Whale Mosaic | 2009 | Pedestrian Bridge on PCH South

Created by Dana Point artist Lance Jost in 2009, this bright hand-crafted mosaic features a humpback whale breaching in front of the harbor, celebrating the annual migration of the California Gray Whales.

When Jost heard a bridge was being built off of Coast Highway, he pitched his idea of having local artists create mosaics to be featured on the bridge. This is one of his two mosaic artworks featured at this location, inspired by an actual photograph taken of a whale breaching just outside of the Dana Point Harbor. He told the DP Times in 2017, “It’s wonderful because not only does it encourage local recreation but it promotes the arts.”

Dana Point is trademarked as the Dolphin and Whale Watching Capital of the World and was the first designated Whale Heritage Site in North America.

CALLING ALL PERFORMING ARTISTS!

Get your act together, Dana Point! We want YOU to be a part of the Dana Point Community Talent Showcase! All residents, groups and organizations in Dana Point are encouraged to present their talents. We are looking for family friendly dancers, singers, magicians, actors, jugglers, poetry, and more! This is a chance for us, as a community, to cheer on local performers. Gather your family and friends and show us what you’ve got!

For more information and to submit an audition video, visit https://bit.ly/DPTalentShowcase2024. Please submit a link to your audition video by March 1, 2024.

The Dana Point Community Talent Showcase will take place on Saturday, April 27, 2024 from 6-10pm in the Porthole Theater at Dana Hills High School. More information and tickets to the showcase to come.

February Art Spotlight ⭐

Artist: Christopher Pecharka | Historical Mural | 2010 | Nature Interpretive Center

Located in the Nature Interpretive Center, this wall sized mural shows rancheros throwing cow hides off the cliff to the sailors below honoring the early history of Dana Point.

When the Nature Interpretive Center was officially dedicated on Earth Day in April 2010, local artist Christopher Pecharka had much to say when asked about his mural and the inspiration behind it.

“The mural is inspired by the story of the first Americans who came here. The first Americans came here to do trade. They sailed ships like the Pilgrim from places like New York, Baltimore, and Boston which was the United States then, this (Dana Point) was Mexico. They would come here and bring with them manufactured items, seeds, textiles, farm machinery and things like that, and they would trade them for cattle hides. The cattle hides would be thrown off the cliffs, then gathered up and taken into long boats and then rowed into their awaiting ships. When they returned, they would bring in the cargo and take it into town.”

January Art Spotlight⭐

Artist: John Terken | Richard Henry Dana Bronze Sculpture | 1972 | Dana Point Harbor

This nine-foot bronze sculpture honors the history of Dana Point by depicting Richard Henry Dana Jr., a Harvard-trained lawyer, seaman and author of the classic sea journal, Two Years Before The Mast (1840).

In 1835, Dana arrived on board the brig Pilgrim, a tall-masted sailing ship out of Boston, bound for the California coast. When Dana arrived here, in what was once called Capistrano Bay, he was so impressed by the beauty of the terrain, with its dramatic cliffs and promontory, that he described the cove as “the only romantic spot” on the coast.

Homage was further paid to Richard Henry Dana when the City of Dana Point held its first inauguration ceremony on board the full sized 1945 replica of the brig Pilgrim on January 1, 1989.

TOMORROW we're celebrating Arts & Humanities Month at @stationcraftdp, from 12:30pm to 3:30pm. There will be live music from @sidneybowen_ and @anthonysmallmusic - he'll be playing his new album “El Viejo” for us! And, two incredible local artists, @shleeart and @ethanespi, will be sharing their visual art too! Open to the public, food and drink specials, no cover.
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Don't miss out on this fun event as we celebrate October Arts & Humanities Month!

Trolley Art & History Tour
Saturday, October 21, 2023
Times: 11:00am, 11:30am
Meet at Prado Square - 34201 Amber Lantern

A limited number of tickets for the Trolley Art & History Tour are available for $15 each - purchase them through our online registration portal at danapoint.org/recreation
-11:00am Tour: Activity #8316
-11:30am Tour: Activity #8319

Each trolley will have an Art Ambassador and a docent from the Dana Point Historical Society to provide information and insight at all the stops. The wide-ranging city tour will include locations such as the Lantern Bay Park Stairs, Doheny Village Mural, Hide Drogher Sculpture, Watermen’s Plaza, and Woodruff Homes, among a total of 14 stops.

The tour lasts for approximately an hour and 15 minutes and there will be a reception following the tour at Station Craft with live music, featured artists and discounted beverages for attendees.

For more information, visit danapoint-arts.com

Meet your Arts & Culture Ambassadors!

Maria Elena Banks | Alicia Erlinger
Natalie Hribar-Kelly | Nancy Jenkins
Ashley Keene | Jennifer Keil
Karin Schnell | Anthony Small
Laura Smith Hatch | Alex Wilson
Dana Yarger | Bob Zasa

Dana Point Arts & Culture Ambassadors are connectors, art champions, promote arts and culture in Dana Point and work with the non-profit arts community to enhance Dana Point's unique sense of place. To contact an ambassador, email artsandculture@danapoint.org

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