Passings

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Victoria Ann Buzzo

Victoria Ann Buzzo, 54, of Laguna Beach, was one of eight people slain in a Seal Beach salon last week by a gunman apparently seeking revenge against his ex-wife.

 

Dennis Ekstrom

Contemporary painter and local resident Dennis Ekstrom died last week.

Ekstrom never went to art school but spent his adult life dreaming of becoming an artist some day. Busy as an heir to the Cardinal paint fortune, he kept images of minimalist painters like Ad Reinhardt in his desk drawer to remind himself that his dream could materialize any time he chose.

His knowledge of the chemical properties of ordinary paint led to experiments in putting it onto canvas and, in several visual permutations, making it stay there. When his canvasses, defined by subtle hues and a signature web of purposely instigated finely cracked lines, were exhibited at local galleries as well as in major European ones, he knew that “some day,” had become “now.”

On Oct. 29, the S Cube Gallery at 346 N. Coast Highway will show a selection of his works during a reception between 7:30 and 10 p.m. and be on display for a week thereafter.

“This is not a gesture of mourning, but a celebration of Denny’s life and talent, ” said Sanja Simidzija, owner of S Cube Gallery, a sister venue to Art Cube on Forest Ave.

Ekstrom worked in a spacious studio in Laguna Canyon and lived a life defined by fine art, architecture and travel and culture with his wife, sculptor Cheryl Ekstrom.

Dennis was our own “cool cat,” even if chances were that he would not have wanted anyone to describe him as such.  He was Denny, happiest when surrounded by family and friends, traveling abroad with Cheryl and listening to the poetry of “Bobby,” Bob Dylan that is.

—- Daniella Walsh

 

 

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