An Ode to California Dreaming

Art Business News, June, 2001 by Julie Keller

DEAR READERS,

I recently spent a week in the Los Angeles area visiting several galleries and art publishers, and I realized why the Mamas and the Papas waxed so eloquently about California Dreaming. Though I lived in the city for a year after college, I had forgotten the intoxicating pull of the West Coast and the Pacific Ocean. However, the minute I stepped off the plane, the sunny skies and ocean breeze immediately hooked me back in.

I stayed in a charming little bed-and-breakfast in Santa Monica located right on the beach, and every morning, I walked down to the water and was able to appreciate a stunning panorama of blues, greens and golds. I also visited the breathtaking oceanside community of Laguna Beach, the lush hills of Duarte and watched the sun set on the pier in Redondo Beach and was equally romanced by my surroundings.

It's easy to see why so many artists, publishers and gallery owners flock to the beautiful West coast. The weather is idyllic, the colors are inspirational and the people are warm-hearted.

Perhaps this is why the state is such a hotbed for art created en plein air, the focus of our feature this month on page 46. It's been more than a century since plein air artists started dominating the California art scene, but the style is a favorite among collectors and a top seller in galleries. Be sure to check out our story and find out why it seems I'm not the only one who can't get enough of the breathtaking beauty of the West Coast.

And even though it's been a few weeks since my trip, and the sounds of irate taxi horns and the crush of jam-packed sidewalks are again part of my daily Big Apple routine, the glow of sunny southern California remains with me. And I'm happy to say I'm still California Dreaming.

BEST WISHES,

JULIE KELLER Editors-in-Chief jkeller@advanstar.com