Current Affairs

August: Orange County

Aug 19, 2014 | 0 Comments

Late summer is hardly peak season in the art world: Schools are out of session and gallery owners are on vacation. If art is being seen, it’s most likely at one of the outdoor festivals at the foot of Laguna Canyon Road or in the art competitions at the local county fair. Obviously nobody wants to be indoors when it’s 90 degrees, but there are a few shows ending soon that will make a quick venture indoors a worthwhile endeavor. One example is “Summer Luminaries” at Brett Rubbico Gallery on Old...

Tony DeLap: Magic Made Easy

Jul 1, 2014 | 0 Comments

illustration by Jared Millar (after Alfred Lutjeans) Museums these days are in the content creation space: From MOCAtv to the obligatory museum blog to the iPad apps put out by the Metropolitan Museum of Art — for better or worse, it’s about more than just publishing a scholarly catalog with a section of color-printed plates. Lately the Laguna Art Museum has entered the multimedia fray with a series of documentary films by Dale Schierholt entitled “California Masters.” The first of these,...

Art Opening: STOCK | California at Coastline Art Gallery

Feb 6, 2014 | 0 Comments

By Jared Millar This weekend saw the opening of “STOCK | California” at Coastline College’s Costa Mesa-adjacent gallery which overlooks the (as yet) undeveloped coastal wetlands of the Lower Santa Ana River. Much of the work in the show consists of collage or mixed media, playing with the definition of “stock” that relates to paper stock or card stock. Standout images include Elena Mary Siff’s playful collages and unique book objects and Julie Easton’s striking construction of burned cigarette...

Artist Interview: Tim Youd Fetishizes the Typewriter

Dec 11, 2013 | 1 Comment

“Do some living and get yourself a typewriter.” ― Charles Bukowski, On a recent Friday night Tim Youd sits in front of a small table at the Grand Central Art Center in Santa Ana typing away on an Olympia SG-3 electric typewriter, shifting his gaze between the Phillip K. Dick novel to his left and the typewriter keys in front of him. When he reaches the bottom of the page he re-inserts the same sheet back in the typewriter and continues typing on what is now a rectangle of dense black ink, by...

DAX Gallery: Orange County gets an edge

Nov 13, 2013 | 1 Comment

Orange County has solid museums, vibrant artists and several local art scenes, yet the cultural footprint of art in the community remains pretty shallow. Residents don’t venture too far from their neighborhood and the idea of a gallery event as part of an interesting night out doesn’t resonate with younger generations. So what’s missing? How can we break through suburban inertia and make the OC art scene something bigger? Alex Amador, owner of the new 4,500 square foot DAX Gallery, thinks he...

Laguna Beach Art Walk: Our Favorite Galleries

Nov 11, 2013 | 1 Comment

For November's Art Walk we feature three galleries that are elevating the Laguna Beach gallery scene (and one honorable mention) by exhibiting art and artists that stand out amongst the typical Orange County fare. Since the galleries are spread out along the coast we chose one to represent North, Central, and South Laguna (maps and gallery descriptions below). The current theme in Laguna Beach is Art & Nature though the artists we saw fused nature with industry or technology by using...

Tonight! Artist Tim Youd reproduces Philip K. Dick novel as part of Santa Ana Art Walk

Nov 2, 2013 | 0 Comments

Written by Jared Millar It was around 1976 that Philip K. Dick moved into a third-story condominium on Civic Center Drive just east of downtown Santa Ana, living and writing there until dying of a massive stroke just months before the release of the Ridley Scott-directed Blade Runner, the first in a long run of Hollywood adaptations of his novels and stories ... Starting tonight at Grand Central Art Center in downtown Santa Ana, artist Tim Youd will pay homage to the cult science fiction...

Our Guide to the OC Art Walks

Oct 29, 2013 | 0 Comments

It’s that time again! The OC Art Walks are happening the first week of November. To help you celebrate after Halloween check out our OC Art Blog guide to the Orange County Art Walks (since October 31st falls on a Thursday Laguna Beach art walk is next week). Street maps for each of the walks with our highlights are below, let us know where you went and tell us some of your favorites. OC ART BLOG ART WALK GUIDE More information and our photos from the October art walks: THE GREAT ART...

MOCA is losing its power in So-Cal

Jul 13, 2012 | 0 Comments

NEWS. On Thursday, July 13, 2012, renowned artist, John Baldessari resigned from his post on the board of trustees at MOCA. Baldessari's exit is the fifth MOCA board member to leave since February. "His exit after 12 years is another signal that the old guard of L.A.'s contemporary art scene has grown disenchanted with its direction under Deitch," according to LA Times writer, Mike Boehm. Baldessari told LA Times that his reasons include the recent ousting of respected chief curator Paul...

ISM turns 10

Jul 6, 2012 | 2 Comments

"You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time." If you have had any contact with the Orange County art scene over the past decade then you know what ISM: a community project is, what they do, why they do it and who they are. Right? Well, partially. In the spirit of the above saying by Abraham Lincoln, ISM is as an organization as elusive and open-ended as the classic definition of the term and that is...

Curator, Paul Schimmel FIRED

Jun 28, 2012 | 0 Comments

NEWS TODAY-- Apparently, long time curator at MOCA (pictured above) was fired last night. According to the Los Angeles Times, “The firing was made by the museum's board of trustees [last night] and is effective immediately.” Schimmel’s sudden departure was first reported by art journalist Mat Gleason. On his personal blog, he wrote: “Paul Schimmel was fired at MOCA - it was the end of the fiscal year and they tightened the belt.” Gleason, who is not favored by Schimmel from an...

E-WASTE ENCOURAGING EXCHANGE IN ORANGE COUNTY

May 18, 2012 | 0 Comments

Emulex Corporation is usually a computer parts manufacturer based in Orange County, but this year Emulex has taken an interest in spreading their wealth-- with their never-ending supply of creative materials, otherwise known as e-waste, and their passion for Orange County art, this computer parts company has partnered up with Cal State Fullerton to create The Art of Convergence, a sculpture competition featuring Emulex parts and products and CSUF sculpture students. The Art of...

OC Art Blogger on the move – Good Art in Texas?

Apr 17, 2012 | 4 Comments

San Antonio, TX. At the 2012 SSCA annual conference, this year held in The Alamo City, San Antonio, three Orange County writers were shocked and amazed by this fascinating and artistic city! Who would have thought that The Alamo City had good art! Ok, maybe Los Angeles and Orange County have warped my mind into forgetting about the other states outside of New York and California for art in America, but I stand corrected! Texas definitely has art. With a slew of public sculptures that brighten...

Hoff Foundation Announces 3rd Quarter Grant Award

Nov 28, 2011 | 0 Comments

The Hoff Foundation is pleased to announce that Long Beach based artist Julia Haft-Candell is the 3rd quarter grant winner. Julia will receive $1,000 for general support for her upcoming show in New York. For more info on the Hoff Foundation and the grant program please go to http://thehofffoundation.org/

The Great Picture: The World’s Largest Photograph and The Legacy Project

Aug 18, 2011 | 0 Comments

Riverside, CA. UCR Sweeney Art Gallery & Culver Center of the Arts present The Great Picture: The World's Largest Photograph & The Legacy Project, an exhibition in three parts that tells the tale of the successful campaign to make the world's largest camera and photograph. The photo's mammoth scale of 32 x 111 feet earned it a place in the Guiness World Records, and made it a photo history landmark. "It is also an exploration of the 172-year-old conflict between painting and...

Cruisin’ Magulandia

Aug 18, 2011 | 1 Comment

Magu, in his natural state - a smile. Pomona, CA. At the collector’s preview of the new exhibition at the dA Center for the Arts, Cruisin Magulandia, the all-around feeling of the event was that of reverence. The entire night was filled with shared stories, friendly faces, passionate music, home-made snacks, and dozens of people looking to open up and revel in the loving memories of artist, Gilbert Luján. Better known as Magu to most, he was a friend to so many people it was overwhelming to...

MAGULANDIA

Jul 20, 2011 | 0 Comments

dA CENTER FOR THE ARTS Presents: Cruisin’ Magulandia A Benefit for the Preservation of a Legacy August 13 –30, 2011 dA 252 South Main Street, Pomona, CA 91767 Opening Reception Saturday August 13, 2011 at 3:00–10:00 p.m. Closing Reception Saturday August 27, 2011 at 6:00–10:00 p.m. POMONA, CA. The dA CENTER FOR THE ARTS is honored to host a benefit art exhibition for one of the most influential figures in the Chicano Art movement, Gilbert "Magu” Luján. The exhibition will...

Art in the Streets

Apr 17, 2011 | 0 Comments

Los Angeles, CA Okay, so the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA is not technically in the Orange County, but everybody who's anybody was at this monster of an event! And you have to believe that OC Art Blog Followers were not going to miss out on this "members only" premiere. Art in The Streets is a huge milestone for street art as a whole, and for Los Angeles street art specifically. This event will go down in history. The first giant museum exhibit of street art from beginning to end. The...

Brandon Boyd and the spectacle

Apr 6, 2011 | 0 Comments

Brandon Boyd wrap-around wall mural at the )( Space gallery in Costa Mesa, on view now until April 15th, 2011 (photo by Joanna Grasso) There I was, Friday morning, hitting the road. I was flying back to the OC just in time to catch the much anticipated Brandon Boyd exhibition at the Hurley )( Space gallery. That's right, another collaboration between the local surf and clothing mega company and a high profile artist. I say much anticipated, but that is because only after researching...

BRANDON BOYD Opening at the Hurley )( Space Gallery

Mar 31, 2011 | 0 Comments

Don't miss a chance to meet artist, musician, surfer and activist BRANDON BOYD. (yes, that is the very same Boyd from rock band INCUBUS) Brandon Boyd working on drawing selected for H.O.P.E. & Hurley collaboration (image provided by Hurley) Another Collaboration for HURLEY - This time they are working with Brandon Boyd and H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Everywhere) to raise funds and bring awareness to conserving our oceans. If you haven't taken a walk on the...

The OC Art Blog was created in 2004 as a way to build community and promote the marginalized but dynamic Orange County art scene.

Awakening: Moncho at Gallery Sonder

Jun 2, 2026

By Mason Fujikawa Awakening at Gallery Sonder is the first exhibition in the United States by Mexican artist Moncho. Moncho takes an instinctive approach to his practice. He doesn’t sketch or even plan before painting. Instead, he draws from his subconscious, working...

Low and Slow at Danger Gallery

May 28, 2026

By Alisa Ochoa Low and Slow is on view at House of Danger Gallery, nestled in an unassuming shopping center just off the 55, beside a Circle K and below the Attic Skateshop. The space is operated by Jackie Danger, a visual artist and brand strategist who opened the...

On Creativity, Constraints, and Staying Alive to the World

May 24, 2026

By Chris Hoff I’ve been messing around with learning to play guitar for as long as I can remember. It’s been a story of starts and stops for years. In a more recent start I picked up the book How to Write One Song by Jeff Tweedy. I thought it might provide some...

Art Confronts Infrastructure in UC Irvine Langson OCMA

May 24, 2026

By Maggie Luy What shifts when the ground beneath everyday life begins to move? Infrastructure is usually what disappears first. In “Breakdown/Breakthrough: Art and Infrastructure," it stayed exposed. The exhibition, on view at UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum...

Legacies Come Alive, Spring Blooms at Irvine Fine Arts Center

Apr 8, 2026

By Maggie Luy What does it mean to be remembered, and who gets to be seen? Through textured brushwork and carved forms, Sergio O’Cadiz Moctezuma honors labor and ancestry. That legacy continues in Edgar Fabián Frías’s layered digital collages and psychedelic video...