Discover a Slice of Laguna at John Wayne Airport this Summer

Laguna artist Joan Gladstone part of Airport Exhibit ‘California Dreamin’

Air travel in and out of John Wayne Airport looks a lot more colorful this summer, thanks to the addition of the playful, bright creations of well-known Laguna Beach artist Joan Gladstone. Her five pieces, currently on display at the terminal, are part of John Wayne’s summer group exhibition “California Dreamin’,” which runs through Aug. 24. 

“It was amazing to be selected,” Gladstone said. “I’ve been through John Wayne Airport many times as a visitor. You’re passing the time, looking at the art. I never thought that one day I would be there. To know that the art was selected for the summer was really cool.”

After the John Wayne Airport Arts Program made a call for entries back in September 2022, Gladstone, along with Orange County artists Jeff Fleming, Mariana Ivanova, Jeffries Moore, Melissa A. Murphy and Kevin Short, were selected to contribute to an exhibition celebrating all things summertime, with each artist taking a unique approach to illustrating the sun, sand and sea through different mediums.

John Wayne Airport accepted Gladstone’s oil renditions of the Crystal Cove Shake Shack, Harbor Reflections of Dana Point, the Balboa Island Banana Stand, the Laguna Beach Lifeguard Tower and a colorful popsicle entitled “Sprinkles.”

“They contacted me in May to tell me I was selected, and I thought, ‘Oh, they were supposed to do it next year, but they moved up the schedule,” Gladstone said. “I was a little worried because four out of five pieces they wanted for the exhibit had sold since I submitted my proposal – I only had one left – the original sprinkles painting,” said Gladstone, who is currently showing her work at the Sawdust Festival. 

Gladstone said she was relieved the airport arts program would still accept her art as giclees – a high-quality fine art print version of the original work. 

“I’ve had people come by to see me at the Festival who live in Phoenix and other places say, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m flying out of John Wayne next week, and I’ll look for your art.’ I think it’s such a unique way to share art that will be seen by people from all over the world, as well as locals who are traveling out of town.”

Gladstone is also on exhibit until September at the Center of Hope, a new cancer treatment hospital in Irvine. 

“If you’re willing to display your art there, it will be for the benefit of the patients and staff who are there during trying times,” Gladstone said. “I’m happy that my work can be uplifting for the patients and the people who work at the hospital. Knowing that I can lift spirits with my work means a lot to me.”

More about Laguna artist Joan Gladstone and her art can be found by visiting www.joangladstone.com.