This panoramic view is part of the Catalina Island Museum's exhibit on the murals in the Casino Ballroom. Photo courtesy of Alan Barlow
Museum to feature Casino murals in exhibition-
"Fantasy Into Art" is the first
exhibition dedicated to the murals
of the Avalon Casino, which were
executed by the artist John Gabriel
Beckman during an astoundingly
short three-month period in 1929.
The only remaining prelimi-
nary sketches of the Casino murals
will be exhibited for the first time,
including the original conceptual
sketch that convinced William
Wrigley, Jr. to commission Beck-
man for the project.
The painted sketches on ex-
hibition-all part of the Catalina
Island Museum's own permanent
collection--lend unprecedented
insight into the execution and em-
bellishment of one of California's
landmark buildings and provide
a rare glimpse into the working
method of one of the region's most
respected artists.
Upon his completion of Gmu-
man's Chinese Theatre in 1927,
John Gabriel Beckman earned the
reputation as one of the foremost
muralists living on the West Coast.
Meanwhile, the noted business-
man and entrepreneur William
Wrigley Jr. was in the midst of
transforming Avalon into a world-
class resort; its crownjewel a grand
casino building that was to house a
state-of-the-art movie palace and a
ballroom of immense size.
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Wrigley's close associate, Da-
vid M. Renton, was in charge of
planning and executing this monu-
mental feat in a period of just 14
months. Renton had'visited Grau-
man's Chinese Theatre shortly after
its opening, and was so impressed
by its murals that he arranged for
Beckman to meet with Wrigley.
A mere two days after dining
with the chewing gum magnate in
his plush Pasadena home, Beck-
man presented him with a concep-
tual sketch of the Casino theatre's
interior. Wrigley was impressed by
what he saw, and selected Beck-
man for the commission almost on
the spot.
In order to complete the project
on time, Beckman assembled a tal-
ented group of artists, who executed
the building's large-scale murals by
transferring the scenes depicted by
Beckman in a number of modestly-
sized painted sketches.
Th exhibition of these sketches
reveal an overall conceit for the
murals that is without parallel in
any comparable project. The scenes
spring entirely from Beckman's own
imagination. Many of the theater's
walls bear murals that are wildly
imaginative and depict, fantastic
scenes that are loosely derived from
California's early history.
In contrast to these, the murals
on the building's exterior are utter
fiction, and offer a glimpse into an
undersea world dominated by tow-
ering kelp forests that gently caress
the central figure of a monumental
but highly sensual mermaid. High-
ly ambitious in scale and grand
in execution, the entire program
is reminisceat of the large-scale
fresco painting of the Italian High
Renaissance. Thus, the Avalon Ca-
sino murals have significant mean-
ing, and represent a singularly
great gesture by a modern artist to
resurrect the artistic traditions of
an era long past.
Fantasy Into Art will be on view
from Feb. 4 through June 17 at the
Catalina Island Museum.
Opening Reception for
=Fantasy into Art"
The Catalina Island Museum
invites you to join us for the open-
ing reception for "Fantasy into
Art: The Avalon Casino Murals of
John Gabriel Beckman" from 6 to
9 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 4. Tickets
are free for members of the muse-
um and $5 for the general public.
The Catalina Island Museum is
Avalon's sole institution devoted
to art, culture and the rich history
of Santa Catalina Island. It is lo-
cated on the ground floor of Ava-
lon's histori6 Casino, and is open
i
CATALINA COUPLES: Local Catalina couple "Sanchez" and Lupe Sanchez enjoy
a dinner outing. Please send us your favorite photo of yourself or of another local Catalina
couple to be included in the Catalina Islander. They can be young or old; in-special places.
special occasions or just at home. Email your high resolution PhOto to ed@cinews.us.
Courtesy Photo
seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to
5 p.m. For more information, the
museum may be reached by phone
at (310) 510-2414 or at its website:
CatalinaMuseum.org.
BIRTHDAYS
Friday, January 27
The Catalina Islander
Angela Strege
Cris Rodriguez
Lolo Saldana
Elisabeth Huart
Alexis Marshall
Saturday, January 28
Ken Foster
Denisse Campos
Aria M Araiza
Sunday, January 29
Alicia Chavolla Mulgado
Bonnie Hardey
Jorge Hernandez Jr
Miguel Leyva Campos
Leticia Hernandez Delgado
Linda Mulgado Alcala
Rebecca Peguero
Monday, January 30
Jeri Morales
Tom Waite
Joanna Garcia
Kathleen HilI-Z eller
Rocky Sillas
Anna Hunt
Tuesday, January 31
Connie Velarde
Claudette Konigsmark
CindL Alvitre
Brian McDougall
Kim Farrell
Eric Huart
Ray Smith
Jo Jo Machado
Pauline Voishan
Wednesday, February 1
Shannon Elena Lopez
Olivia Hernandez
Ed Arnold
Thursday, February 2
Christine Cassano
Irene Strobel
Kris' Smith
Tyjuana Brookins
Lorenzo Gonzalez Sr.
ANNIVERSARIES
Friday, January 27
Kevin & Jing Boultinghouse
Tony & Cdncha Padilla
Thursday, February 2
Dick & Nancy Kellogg
6 Friday, January 27, 2012
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THE CATALINA ISLANDER
