Laguna Beach and the Greenbelt
Celebrating a Treasured Historic American Landscape
Laguna Beach and its greenbelt are recognized as a Historic American Landscape of national significance, and this publication presents the documentation on which the designation is based.
Laguna Beach and its greenbelt are worthy of designation as a Historic American Landscape because the city’s beautiful and dramatic natural setting is intricately related to the community and artistic tradition that grew from it. Its geological formations, natural vegetation, and coastal location attracted artists beginning around the turn of the last century. The artistic influence and the character of the landscape shaped a unique community. Laguna’s history, including isolation from other development, its role as an art colony, and its leadership in environmental preservation all stem from the characteristics and disposition of the landscape itself.
Douglas McCulloh –
Douglas McCulloh
Senior Curator, Interim Executive Director
UCR ARTS: California Museum of Photography
“This book is a rarity—a treasure about a treasure. It’s also about a fight: ordinary small town citizens banding together to save an historic American landscape. Laguna Beach and the Greenbelt tells the tale, its marvelous illustrations reveal why the greenbelt is truly a treasure, and its example will inspire citizens everywhere.”
Captured in the chronologies of individual ranch settlement is the European immigrants “need” to own land and build an agrarian life. The authors thoughtfully explain the evolution of this “need” into the modern land conservation movement, guided by those in agriculture and the philanthropic community.
A “must” read for those seeking to understand the American West. And a wonderful adventure for anyone who cherishes our land and wildlife resources.
Mike Beanan, Jinger Wallace, Charlotte Masarik –
Mike Beanan, Jinger Wallace, Charlotte Masarik
Co-founders, Laguna Bluebelt Coalition
Laguna Beach and the Greenbelt
Celebrating a Treasured Historic American Landscape
The “Laguna Beach and Greenbelt” introduces a paradigm shift in our
symbiotic relationship between land and sea – the Greenbelt & Bluebelt.
Iconic images captured by generations of artists and photographers
reveals Laguna Beach’s natural wonders preserved by a dedicated and
knowledgeable community passion to protect forever what we love.
D. Michael Duggan, DDS, PhD, SEP –
D. Michael Duggan, DDS, PhD, SEP
Founder and Program Director, Duggan Oral Design
Continuing Dental Education for International Dentists, Irvine, CA
Laguna Beach and the Greenbelt
Celebrating a Treasured Historic American Landscape
A beautiful and informative journey into a city and community that is in many
senses what you wish every city, state and country were like. It has been embraced
by the people expressing their passions and is a history of the symbiotic living of life
in the context of everything we desire to surround us.
The title of this book doesn’t really do it justice, as Laguna Beach is more like a
complicated person than a place. And a complicated person deserves to be savored
and experienced while figuring out just why you were so attracted to them in the
first place.
This book makes it clear how the Laguna environment – geographically, historically,
culturally, spiritually, artistically, and politically – has lovingly shaped a village adored
by so many. The colorful pages are filled with the artistic expression of dozens of
artists working over a period of 100 years to show what they see in this wonderful
landscape, that attracts so many others that are equally smitten with this unique
place. Laguna appeals to “ALL” of the senses – and you can feel it in this book.
But it is not just about Laguna as it exists now – it is the evolution of Laguna that is
so clearly and richly presented in this book. The geography allowed its development
to be done in a much more considered way than for the surrounding areas of
Southern California – but it was not without a fight. And there were heroes along
the way, helping to carry Laguna past each hurdle in this evolution. Each challenge
is presented with those that helped surmount it.
C. Deborah Laughton –
C. Deborah Laughton
Publisher Methodology and Statistics, Guilford Publications
As you crest the hill driving south on PCH from Crystal Cove, the light transforms to a
shimmer heralding the entrance to Laguna Beach–that art colony bracketed by the hills
and green belt of Laguna Canyon and the cliff-lined ocean blue belt. Laguna Beach and
the Greenbelt reveals the history of this landscape and its visionary protectors. Stunning
paintings with counterpoints of artistic photographs invite readers to savor the views and
inspire us to hold this wonder intact as a treasure.
Liz Goldner –
Liz Goldner
Art & Cultural Journalist
In “Laguna Beach and the Greenbelt, Celebrating a Treasured Historic American
Landscape,” activist photographers, landscape designers and local historians trace
Laguna Beach, California’s history — from the Native Americans to the present. They
describe how the historic art colony became the first community included in this
nation’s “Historic American Landscape Survey.” HALS, founded in 2000 with the
Library of Congress, is administered by the National Park Service.
The book explains, “Laguna’s history…its role as an art colony, and its leadership in
environmental preservation all stem from the characteristics and disposition of the
landscape itself.” Enhancing the descriptions are more than 150 illustrative images
from the early 20th century to the present.
The earliest images, primarily Impressionist style paintings, depict Laguna’s bucolic
landscapes, townscapes, ocean vistas and canyons. Many paintings were created by
well-known local artists including Anna Hills, Frank Cuprien, Clarence Hinkle, Joseph
Kleitsch and William Wendt. Contemporary photographs of Laguna’s colorful scenes
today mirror in style and aspect the paintings. Also including b/w photos of street
scenes and historic buildings, the book presents descriptions and images capturing the
scenic splendor of Laguna Beach, past and present.
Anne K. Allen –
Anne K. Allen — Gardner and Landscape Painter, Western North Carolina.
Retired Marketing Executive, Philharmonic Center for the Arts, Naples. Florida.
Individuals interested in foresight, wisdom, and complexities associated with
preserving the Laguna Legacy are encouraged to read this meticulously researched
book.
Witness a masterpiece collection of landscape paintings, photographs, illustrations,
and accompanying narration describing a beautiful seaside city. Its origins can be
traced back to an art colony established in the 1900s, nestled within the protective
embrace of mountains and foothills.
Explore the history of Laguna Beach and the Greenbelt from the perspectives of
environmentalists, landscape architects, plein air painters, photographers,
philanthropists, civic leaders, wildlife preservationists, universities, activists,
historians, journalists, marine biologists, and its citizens who have collaboratively
preserved the Laguna Light for future generations. Enter the foresight and
leadership of nine individuals who earned the coveted Great American Landscape
designation archived in the Library of Congress. Their wisdom and enthusiasm
celebrate a treasured landscape with the nation.
Joanne Tawfilis (PhD, Fine Arts) –
Joanne Tawfilis (PhD, Fine Arts)
Director, UNESCO Center for Peace; California and Baja
Founder/Director Muramid Arts and Cultural Center
The Laguna Beach and the Greenbelt book Celebrating a Treasured American Landscape is indeed a beautiful visual and archival rendition of amazing photographic and original painting design compositions. The layout of the book created by Charles Michael Murray simply adds a masterful touch to a book that anyone will value for its intrinsic quality. As the book layout artist, Charles’ expertise certainly, was the final addition in magnifying the visual and literary voices of all concerned. This book serves as a testimonial not only of his long years of experience as a designer but illustrates the power of community to come together to preserve, conserve and celebrate Mother Nature’s gifts of natural beauty.