Festival of Arts officials announced the death of local sculptor Terry Thornsley, 56, earlier this week, but a spokeswoman declined to provide other details.
The name may not be familiar to those outside the artistic community, but Thornsley’s work embellishes the town from north to south.
His most recent work of public art, “Grace,” embellishes the lifeguard headquarters at Main Beach and was installed last May. It depicts lifeguards making a rescue on rough seas in a rowboat. Built in six sections of bronze, copper and stainless steel, weighing roughly 150 pounds each, Thornsley estimated that at least half the $40,000 commission went to cover material and production costs and that he put in 2,500 hours of work. The piece is even more impressive at night hidden lights give the mural greater depth. “It’s a thank you for the opportunity to the city and a gift to the community I live in,” he said in an interview last year.
In April, Thornsley was a nominee for the Laguna Beach Arts Alliance award as artist of the year.
Thornsley’s “Peacescape,” a 12-foot long bronze landscape, centered on a giant oak and the fauna of Laguna Canyon, faces Coast Highway and screens an entrance to the Montage resort ballrooms. His sea lion and pelican sculptures known as “Laguna Locals” overlook the water in Crescent Bay Park and his bronze seals cavort at the Laguna Beach campus of Mission Hospital.
Thornsley’s portfolio includes installation in Seal Beach and Maui as well. He also painted in watercolor and oil.
A 31-year local resident, Thornsley exhibited for 28 years at the Festival of Arts until 2012. He shared his studio with woodworker Randy Bader.
According to Thornsley’s website, he traveled extensively in his youth, the son of a U.S. Navy family. At 14, he began to teach himself to sketch and paint. In high school he trained as a draftsman and once considered becoming an architect, but began to exhibit and sell work in galleries.
In 1976, Thornsley settled in Southern California and further refined his artistic skills at a foundry at San Jacinto College in Houston, Tex. He was also an ocean kayaker, sailor and certified diver, his website says.
[…] times are upon us. With the passing of Richard White, Terry Thornsley and now Cheryl. Laguna has lost three important contributors to its “real” cultural […]