Matthew Rolston’s “Art People”
The Laguna Art Museum Is Extending This Incredible Exhibit Celebrating Pageant of the Masters Until January 2, 2022
One of the most incredibly unique art productions in the world has taken place each summer in Laguna Beach, California since 1932. It is known as Pageant of the Masters and is quite literally artists creating “living” art out of art. It is a show that takes place at the Festival of Arts where actors, designers and a full orchestra come together to recreate the most incredible works of art in history right before your eyes.
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Inside an outdoor amphitheater under a canopy of stars, the stage is set up with re-creations of classical and contemporary well known works of art, where real people pose to look exactly like the counterparts in the original art pieces.
For example, an actor’s body might be painted entirely in gold or silver as he or she poses on stage perfectly still in the exact same stance of a famous sculpture. It is so incredibly life like that you think you are staring at the actual real life object of art.
In the next scene, you may find multiple actors dressed in outfits to match a painting from the revolutionary war. A giant frame around them as they stand before an intricate giant back drop holding a giant American flag matching the original work of art flawlessly.
A professional orchestra plays as you gaze in awe at the scene spread out before you, a narrator painting the story behind it, the lighting perfectly cast. It is absolutely breathtaking, and now you can experience it through the photography of legendary American artist Matthew Rolston.
Matthew Rolston is a famous artist, photographer and director who was born in Los Angeles and is well known for photographing the glamour of Hollywood. Rolston has been inspired by the Pageant of the Masters since his childhood. So in 2016, he and his team set up backstage and captured portraits of the cast during their final dress rehearsals, intermissions and after the shows over a period of several weeks.
The resulting exhibition is absolutely captivating and his astonishing portraits can be currently found on display at the Laguna Art Museum. The show was set to end on September 19, 2021, but was so popular, it has now been extended through January 2, 2022.
A visit will literally transport you into the mystery and charm of the Pageant and is a must see for anyone who is local or visiting Laguna Beach. You can even watch a short film about the Pageant and see the real life scenes of the photographed actors in Rolston’s portraits come to life.
The Laguna Art Museum is located at 307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach, California next to Las Brisas Restaurant at the corner of Cliff and PCH. For more information, call (949) 494-8971 or visit the museum’s website.
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