(SANTA ANA, CA) – From July 14 through August 24, 2023, the John Wayne Airport Arts Program presents California Dreamin’, a group exhibition featuring oil painting, acrylic, and fiber art. Six talented Orange County artists, Jeff Fleming, Joan Gladstone, Mariana Ivanova, Jeffries Moore, Melissa A. Murphy, and Kevin Short come together to share what they love about beach life in Orange County, California. This bold, colorful exhibition celebrates all things summertime as each artist takes a unique approach to illustrating the sun, sand, and sea.
Jeff Fleming eloquently encapsulates his painting ideology with the following, “Art is alive! I don't just add paint to a canvas, I combine color and composition to create a dynamic spirit. Art should catch your eyes and speak to your emotions. My paintings are meant to be companions, they have personality and character, and when you look at them, they answer back with inspiration.”
Shimmering light upon gentle waves and a surfer glistening in the sun as they walk ashore are key features of Kevin Short’s work. The dance between light and color portrayed in Short’s paintings allow viewers to revisit moments in their childhood, where troubles seemed smaller and thoughts were clearer.
Huntington Beach based muralist Melissa A. Murphy scales down her typical work for this exhibit to showcase the magical world hidden under the waves. Utilizing every shade of green and blue to capture these depths, Melissa playfully captures moments of joy between sea creatures.
This painting-heavy exhibition is complimented perfectly by the delicate cross stitch works of Mariana Ivanova. Inspired by time spent walking the streets of cities around the world, she is inspired by streetlamps and lanterns with their lights, beauty, elegance, and mystery. Ivanova’s pieces act as a keepsake of her memories.
Also featured are the playful, iconic works of Joan Gladstone. Capturing snapshots of OC beach life, from ice creams to lifeguard towers, Joan’s paintings evoke a sense of nostalgia and simpler times. Having studied at Boston University's School of Fine Arts and the Laguna College of Art + Design, she has painted oil paintings that celebrate beach life for over 20 years.
The energetic, hyper realistic paintings of Jeffries Moore seek to capture the sea at its most powerful, highlighting both the beauty and danger of the water. His large-scale painting Hand of God is surely a focal point of the exhibition.
The entire collection of work is viewable pre-security. Paintings span from the upper Departure Level near security in Terminals A, B, and C and on the lower Arrivals Level by Baggage Carousels 2 and 4.
For more information about the John Wayne Airport Arts Program,
visit www.ocair.com/terminal/artexhibits.
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