A Circuitous Path Leads to Arts Commission

By Guest Contributor on June 20th, 2014

By Kellie Hall, Special to the Independent

Carmen Salazar at work.

As a metalworker, glassblower, landscape architect and lighting designer, Carmen Salazars experiences as an artist span across varied terrain.

Describing her career path as circuitous, Salazars pursuit of many different art forms all seem relevant to her newest role on the Laguna Beach Arts Commission, which provides advisory recommendations over public art commissions to the City Council.

These recommendations frequently involve public arts projects, competitions often open only to local artists. The citys collection of public artworks now numbers over 65 pieces. Past projects include The Peoples Council sculpture by Linda Brunker near City Hall and Canyon Chess and Checkers by Marlo Bartels on Main Beach.

At the meeting to appoint new commissioners, the council considered but rejected reducing the number of arts commission members to seven from nine. The terms of four commissioners were expiring. Ultimately, three arts commissioners were re-elected, including architect Donna Olsen Ballard, artist and owner of a marketing company Suzi Chauvel, and retired marketing executive Mary Ferguson. The fourth seat was occupied by Nicholas Hernandez, who served four years on the commission but failed to turn in his application for reappointment on time. That provided the opportunity for a new appointment, hence Salazar.

Salazars selection comes a month after artist Jorg Dubin publicly criticized the arts commission for failing to compensate artists adequately, rushing installations and for aesthetic choices he deemed provincial and safe.

Salazars connections to an arts community in Santa Ana, her interest in boundary-breaking art and her young age perhaps reflect that Dubins concerns struck home.

Born in Washington, D.C. in 1975, Salazars frequent trips to the National Mall developed her interest in public art, she said in interview following the City Council appointment on June 3.

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A Circuitous Path Leads to Arts Commission