In January, we celebrate the start of the new year with our largest annual exhibition, Centered on the Center. This tradition, which has taken place for more than 20 years, features works by local, regional, and national artists. Join us in 2023 to celebrate this beloved exhibition again with our community of artists and guests. Centered on the Center 2023 will be on view from January 28th through March 11th.
Centered on the Center 2023 On View: January 28 - March 11, 2023 Member and Patron Preview: January 28 | 5:30 - 6:30 pm Public Reception: January 28 | 6:30 - 9 pm Art for Lunch: February 16 | 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
41st Annual California Cool Art Auction, Benefit & Bash
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Join 135 contributing auction artists, our community, sponsors and trustees as we raise money to support Laguna Art Museum’s mission to enlighten and engage people of all ages through art that embodies and preserves the California experience. Bid on and win artworks as you are treated to complimentary cocktails and appetizers, a red-carpet experience and a performance by Grammy-nominated, Lee Rocker of the Stray Cats.
Artworks are now on view throughout the museum galleries and bid on via the Artsy online auction through Saturday, March 4. Auctioneer Juliette Vara will MC the March 4 bash during a Fund-the-Future paddle raise as guests enjoy an evening of access to meet artists featured in the auction in an immersive California atmosphere.
UTILITY BOX SURFBOARD DESIGNS @ Golden Lantern & Stone Hill Drive
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Carolyn Johnson’s art has been selected to adorn the Dana Point Utility Box located at Golden Lantern and Stonehill Drive. These Utility boxes are part of the Dana Point Public Art Program to help beautify utility boxes located throughout the city.
My surfboards are saved from landfill and repurposed to wall art. With a prior life on the water - the miracle of transformation to wall art comes alive. Carolyn Johnson utilizes her own special techniques with metallics, acrylics, ink blends with resin layers to make coastal art come alive on a whole new level.
The art work is a complimentation of Recycled/Uncylced Surfboard Art that Carolyn Johnson has created since 2019. Each piece is "one-of-a-kind" created on surfboard "saved from landfill" having had a previous life on the water. Her unique approach was created from years of experimentation of paint combinations with acrylics, ink blends, and metallics - as well as layering techniques that crate depth and movement.
Carolyn has been an artist sincce childhood - with her first lessons at the kitchen table with er father. Years later, Caryolyn won a scholarshop to the Fashion Institute in LA - wich made her determined to make a home in Southern California. As a single mom and a career in Graphic Technology she raised her daughter. Years later after quiet practice - she emerged with a successful business as a professional artist creating a unique version of Coastal Art on Recyled Surfboards and wood panel. It can be viewed at www.CarolynJohnsonGallery.com
Golden Lantern and Stonehill Drive
DOLPHIN CREATION
Carolyn Johnson Art Show
I hope to see you at Balboa Island Artwalk
Sunday, May 15th - #53 @Ruby Street
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I will be showing my LATEST collection of beautiful recycled/upcycled surfboard art! Seems they are getting better all the time...the only thing missing is seeing all of you...so please come out to say "hello"!
Carolyn Johnson’s Recycled Surfboard Art is among pieces donated to Laguna Art Museum’s 40th Annual California Cool Art Auction
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Laguna Art Museum announced the 40th Annual California Cool Art Auction taking place February 5 through March 5 with both online and in-person auction events. Registration for the online auction began via Artsy on Wednesday, Jan. 12 with bidding starting on Saturday, Feb. 5. The in-person event will be held at the museum on Saturday, March 5 from 6-9 p.m. The silent online auction will close on March 5, during the event, at 7:50 p.m. PST. The live auction will begin at 8 p.m. Read More
This is Laguna Art Museum’s most anticipated and lively event of the year. From contemporary artworks to plein air painting, the 40th Annual California Cool Art Auction will showcase emerging, as well as seasoned California-based artists,” said Julie Perlin Lee, executive director of Laguna Art Museum. “Through the past four decades of curating the Art Auction, the museum has cultivated artists like Kim Abeles and Scot Heywood who have made their way to the forefront of the California art scene, and we are pleased to offer such an array of impactful work to the community.
Carolyn Johnson’s Recycled Surfboard Art piece “With Every Breath,” is among the featured auction items at California Cool
Among the many pieces donated to the LAM’s California Cool Auction is Carolyn Johnson’s Recycled Surfboard Art. “This feels like a year of new beginnings even as business struggles around us because now is the time to lean in and support the businesses, groups and causes that we love,” said Johnson. “To hear that this year’s donations are up greatly, makes me so encouraged. This is the first year I have donated one of my Recycled Surfboard Art pieces. The Recycled Surfboard Art I am donating is “With Every Breath,” a 20”x 78” board which has beautiful rich blues, foamy ocean waves and depth of color with the metallic paints and inks that I use.” Read More
In addition to Johnson’s work, the museum-curated auction will feature works by more than 100 of California’s most coveted artists including Maria Bertran, Judy Chicago, Alex Couwenberg, Woods Davy, Laddie John Dill, Phil Dike, Jacques Garnier, Jimi Gleason, Kelsey Irvin, David Krovblit, Andy Moses, Kenton Nelson, Ed Ruscha, Millard Sheets, Beth Davila Waldman and many more. Proceeds from the annual auction provide support of the museum’s mission of collecting and preserving California art, providing critically acclaimed exhibitions and expanding art education for all ages.
On the evening of March 5, the live in-person auction will attract hundreds of competitive bidding art collectors, a hosted bar with creative cocktails and hors d’oeuvres crafted by Kora Kroep and West Coast Event Productions. The live auction will be presented by auctioneer Aaron Bastian from Bonhams Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers.
Tickets to the live auction event on March 5 are $160 and are available for purchase at www.lagunaartmuseum.org/events. To participate in the online auction starting February 5 via Artsy, register at www.artsy.net.
Sponsorship opportunities for the 40th Annual California Cool Art Auction are available. For more information, contact the office of Julie Perlin Lee at svitale@lagunaartmuseum.org. As a special thank you for supporting Laguna Art Museum, sponsors will be invited to join a VIP Preview and Artist Reception on March 4.
For more information about the 40th Annual California Cool Art Auction and Laguna Art Museum, visit www.lagunaartmuseum.org.
SURFERS HEALING ANNUAL AUCTION at THE RITZ CARLTON
Click on the link to view all of the amazing boards created by well known personalities. The benefit provides the gift of surfing to children with autism. Please support.
SYQUAN CASINO BINGO BALL
CAROLYN JOHNSON FOR SYCUAN 6ft BINGO BALL CREATION
BALBOA ISLAND ARTWALK
GUITAR AUCTION
This is going to be FUN!!!!
Awards & Achievements
My devotion to art and the coast has not gone unnoticed
Laguna Beach Vibe Favorites - 2022
Curated Coastal Magazine - 2022
Ocean Institute - 2022
DANA Point Utility Box Art Program - 2022
Balboa Island Artwalk-Kudos Magazine "Best of Show” - 2019
This is my very first surfboard award!! I remember being shocked since I didn’t even know they gave awards away at the show. There are 5 businesses that make the “Best of Show” selections.
The Balboa Island Artwalk is 1 mile of artists (about 100) and 3 bands along the way. It is a fun day in the sun (usually – that’s another story). Setup begins at 6 am so we would always get there at 5 because Balboa Island is also known for very narrow streets with houses practically joined together with very little parking. I have been to some of these houses and “they are beautiful”. It sits in the bay and has this wonderful walkway with a short breakwater wall which is also a bench - all around the edge of the island.
In addition to getting my picture in the local Newport Beach newspaper, KUDOS MAGAZINE gifted me with free advertising. (First add created for my surfboards).
Surfers Healing - 2022
ArtReach - First Surfboard - 2019
The first surfboard I did is this one. I named the board “AWAKEN” because I really felt the creativity of working on Recycled Surfboards to AWAKEN my calling to a new art direction. Now over 400 boards later…I was right. I used my SOFTCARVING TECHNIQUE, METALLICS, ACRYLICS, SHELLS and RESIN. I painted the “fin” side of the board since I didn’t know there were other options – like cutting them off so that the board could lay flatter on the wall. But if I cut them off this would never have happened…on the left bottom the design look like the noses of orca whales and the fins look like they are on the orcas!! I was sooooo lucky to pull this off. Whew!
AIA Artwalk Special Citation Award-Surfboard Perfect Peace” - 2022
Festival of Arts Fashion Show - 2022
Featured Artist - 2018
I was named as the Featured Artist for the 16th annual event featuring 200 juried artists from 25 countries, 20 states, and prestigious institutions. My celestial mixed media painting Midnight Bloom (39"w x 54"h) commissioned as the festival s commemorative print. Midnight Bloom captures the splendor of the desert night sky and blooming cacti against a glowing galaxy. Inspired by the sense of connectedness in the universe and nature.
