New exhibit at Newport Beach Library showcases local artist's depictions of Route 66 and coastal Orange County
'In my freshman year I thought, 'How will I ever make a living as an oil painter?'' said Gladstone, who now resides in Laguna Beach. 'And I didn't have the confidence back then to stick with it.'
She switched her major to journalism. That led her to a successful career running her own public relations firm.
Gladstone said she never lost her passion for the visual arts and visited exhibits as often as she could. She tried to keep her skills sharp by taking classes offered by the city of Laguna Beach beginning in 2007.
But she just couldn't afford to make art her priority, given her other responsibilities.
'After dabbling in classes, I'd do a painting and I'd feel a month or two would go by and I'm starting all over again,' Gladstone said. 'I'm kind of going backwards; I'm not progressing because I'm not investing the time in it.'
She described painting as a dormant 'seed.' And it wasn't until she started to step away from her first career that she began finding time to truly nourish and cultivate her latent talents.
'We have to be realistic about not trying to do too much at the same time, and that was my problem,' Gladstone said. 'I was trying to run a business. We had huge, important clients and [I was] taking art classes at the same time. And it just didn't work. I think we need to give ourselves permission to say we may have to do things in stages.'
Looking, back, Gladstone said she's grateful opportunities life offered eventually led her to a point where she could fully dedicate herself to art. Her work, much of which offers a local's perspective of the sights and culture of coastal Orange County, has been displayed at John Wayne Airport as well as art shows in Huntington Beach; she's planning another show for Los Angeles in September.
Earlier this month she debuted the first five of a new series of paintings she has been working on, inspired by trips with her husband across iconic Route 66 in 2009 and 2024. Those, as well as six of her paintings showcasing life and landmarks in Laguna Beach and Newport Beach, are on display at the Newport Beach Central Library through Aug. 31.
Her Route 66-themed series, with a nod to its upcoming 100th year, evokes 20th century Americana with depictions of signage travelers may have spotted along the 2,448-mile 'Mother Road' from Chicago to Santa Monica.
In her pieces Gladstone casts the signs and billboards in the bold, primary colors they would have brandished when they were new, rather than the faded shades they grew into after decades bleaching in the sun. The addition of subtle lighting effects with precisely blended paint adds a layer of depth, instilling a shimmering, lifelike quality to much of her work.
For many travelers, the signs in Gladstone's work served as either beacons offering respite or landmarks guiding their progress. Several library visitors who stopped to chat with the artist as her pieces were installed recounted the first time they saw the exact same scenes she had painted.
Many of those signs had been either destroyed or removed by the time she made her second trip across Route 66. Her latest work is partly an effort to catalog and preserve these artifacts. And 10% of proceeds from sales of prints and originals from the series will benefit the Route 66 Centennial Commission.
Other pieces she has on display at the library celebrate the culture and mood of coastal Orange County. These include depictions of the Main Beach lifeguard tower in Laguna Beach, the Balboa Fun Zone's Ferris wheel, a stack of surfboards on the sand and more.
Prints in a variety of sizes, as well as a limited collection of original paintings, are available through her website. She also invites patrons to stop by her booth and connect at the upcoming Sawdust Art Festival, which runs from June 27 through Aug. 31.
'I meet so many people at the Sawdust who are retired, and they're blossoming because they've gone back to music or art or writing or some creative pursuit that they just did not have time to do when they were working and raising a family,' Gladstone said.
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NYC designer Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra's tragic death on Montauk boat eyed as suspected accidental drug overdose: sources
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Yahoo
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Inside Lollapalooza 2025: What We Saw On the Ground At One of the Summer's Best Music Fests
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission. This was another Lollapalooza for the history books. The four-day music takeover of Grant Park in Chicago saw one of the most stacked lineups in recent history, from tributes to musical legends of yore (Cage the Elephant paying tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, Sabrina Carpenter wowing fans with a surprise appearance from Earth, Wind & Fire), to women and international artists absolutely dominating with crowds in the tens of thousands (Twice's KPop Demon Hunters-themed drone show, anyone?). 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We're talking about finding the smaller stages in the shade, talking to DJs about up-and-coming performers, people-watching to spot how the latest festival fashion trends are evolving, and sometimes even finding the best margaritas served in little Patrón-shaped bottles. Festivals have been rapidly evolving in the past couple years to integrate more activations, larger and more elaborate brand stunts, and thankfully, more ways to support smaller artists around the fray — Lolla is no different. We've seen it all, so let's break down what you missed offstage at Lollapalooza 2025. Forget the Free Keychains And Giveaways — Bring On the Mini-Stages And DJs Who among us hasn't waited in line to spin a spinner with the 1/18th potential to win a branded slap bracelet or hand fan? While those can be a fun (and free) alternative to the dreaded Artist Merch booth line, at this year's Lollapalooza, we saw far more brands like Patrón, Bacardí, and Liquid IV transforming into experiential hosts — setting up mini-stages, bringing in DJs, and creating atmospheres where the 'music' in music festival wasn't just a backdrop, but still at the core of their presence. Concertgoers weren't simply greeted with freebies, but invited into living, breathing mini-venues where people hung out naturally around performance. Among the myriad pop-ups stood the Hacienda Patrón — an immersive, two-story bar inspired by the brand's iconic distillery in Jalisco, Mexico. In a calming, tree-lined area of the park, folks took a break from the crowd crush to crush Patrón Headliner Margaritas instead while guest DJs spun some pretty interesting vinyl sets (an entire hour of Brazilian funk made us say 'why isn't this guy on the main stage?!'). Sweetening the deal, a few lucky fans during happy hour each day received a complimentary margarita in a custom collector's cup inspired by Patrón's signature bottle. Panoramic views of details transporting fans to the heart of tequila country set the vibe. Festivalgoers could unwind on bamboo chairs under ceiling fans, and the whole area had a kind of relaxed sophistication to it — even amidst the festival's controlled chaos. It's there that we got to sit down and chat with DJ/producer duo Eli Sones and Matthew Halper of Two Friends (yes, actual lifelong friends), who played a surprise set there before their main performance on Perry's Stage. They talked everything from their Big Bootie Mixes, to how they prep (and pregame) backstage. 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Like fast fashion, almost micro-trends. So there's two ways to go about it: You can really chase the trends, or you can adapt and do your own thing tastefully. Obviously, you pivot and you try new things, but I would say, for the most part, we've done that second path. There's so many cool sounds that are coming out that by the time you try to copy it, it's already too late. What we've kind of done is that if we think it sounds good, and we like it, we're happy. Our ear has to be the final judge of what we want to release. And it took us a while to get there. But another ear-related consideration for them is hearing health, which Halper admits they might not have taken as seriously five years ago as they do now. Halper: Ear plugs are a necessity, ear safety is so big for us. Not five years ago, and luckily we're okay, but yeah. (You can check out some of the RS Editors' favorite earplugs for music festivals here). While the duo loves to shoutout artists that they think deserve more love (Sones: 'Daniel Allan is crushing it. He played some shows on our bus tour earlier this year,' Halper: 'We've got a song with Corbyn Besson, and one coming out with Natalie Jane, who's got an amazing voice. You just gotta keep your ear to the ground'), they also know how to give the people the classics they want. Their Patrón Hacienda DJ set served festivalgoers remixes of classics like 'I Will Survive' and 'Mr. Brightside,' which was thoroughly crowd-pleasing. And in true athletic fashion, Halper did jump up onto the bar. Overall, Two Friends gave attendees a memorable moment outside the main festival programming that still felt woven into the weekend's rhythm. This might just be the new festival wave: a BizBash report from Lollapalooza 2024 confirms how brands are moving beyond giveaways (like merch or samples) to more entertaining offerings — and we couldn't be more ready to rock. Y2K Brands Ruled Supreme On the Festival Fashion Front Was it a little weird to see teens in festival get-ups with pieces that used to take over our closets? Maybe so. Just from looking around while running from stage to stage, it's clear that fashion brands synonymous with the 2000s (Hollister, Von Dutch, Abercrombie, etc) have become staples again for Gen Z and Alpha. Besides the continuing dominance of Westernwear (was it for Combs? Could it be left over from the Cowboy Carter tour?) we saw tons of butterfly hair clips, tiny sunglasses, and lots and lots of body glitter. It feels only right that a brand synonymous with good, chill vibes would become a presenting partner for Lollapalooza. Hollister — the store you once begged your mom to make a mall pit stop for — is back in a big way. And the four-day festival was just the beginning of the apparel brand's new mission. shop hollister As far as events go, Hollister decided to take things beyond the festival grounds and hosted a group of media and influencers, with everything curated to perfection from start to finish. There was a yacht party on Lake Michigan — complete with Hollister-branded buoys, floats, and towels. There was a day soirée where guests could customize their own Hollister hoodies and leave with a bag full of goodies (so many goodies). But the center of it all was the clothing and the music. Hollister dressed several festivalgoers, and I was genuinely impressed. I was a serial Hollister wearer through middle and high school, but hadn't touched the brand in nearly a decade (I am now a changed woman). Their clothes fit true to size, feel comfortable without being restrictive, and show real design thought — from the rise of the jeans to built-in shorts under mini skirts. (You can shop some of my favorite picks here). Even my husband (a fully grown 31-year-old man) came along, and he loved how he looked. Hollister can be as casual as a tee and shorts, or as bold as a hot dog shirt, which he wore and received many, many compliments. Their products are shockingly affordable for the quality and structure. I had to double-check the tags. The music programming was equally thoughtful. Hollister has been very outspoken about the importance of mental health and destigmatizing the conversations surrounding it, so when curating their after-show lineup, they sought artists who shared those values. They produced intimate performances by Gen-Z talents like Gigi Perez, Max McNown, and Wyatt Flores. Hollister calls them 'Feel Good Fest Artists,' a term coined last year for a concert series that toured high schools and entertainment venues nationwide. Now, these rising stars are part of that growing community. Each after-show embodied the spirit of Chicago, the artists, and Hollister's ethos, featuring cozy venues, incredible sounds, lots of merch, food, and drinks. There are a lot of ways to do Lollapalooza, but Hollister got it all right. Even At Their Most 'Unplugged', Music Festivals Still Want Us to Stay Plugged In From simple quality-of-life upgrades that streamline the festival experience like smart wristbands and cashless payments, to VR demos and interactive instillations, tech is integrating into music events in ways that are unprecedented and unexpected. Even with spotty cell service and a 'live-in-the-moment' attitude, brands are creating new ways for digital assistance to make the jump into your real-world festival day. Amazon debuted Alexa+ to the public during Lollapalooza, called 'Alexa+ Clubhouse' ala choose your adventure mode from either a 'party' or 'chill.' Personally, I tried it before the festival and asked Alexa to build me an outfit for Lollapalooza, and it immediately sent me options that I could easily shop. I also found it helpful how it shares recommendations for new artists I can discover within the extensive festival lineup, based on my music preferences. On top of that, it has other capabilities like managing your calendar, creating reservations, booking a car service, drafting an email, creating meal plans, and more. Alexa+ is Amazon's latest, smartest, and most sophisticated version of Alexa, with its generative AI-powered model that allows users a more personalized and advanced digital assistant experience. get alexa+ early access We previewed Party Mode on the ground, where Alexa asked about our favorite music genre and ends with a surprise. There was also a photo op afterwards, and a fun claw machine where you could win prizes from their partners, including a VIP ticket, Uber rides, Ticketmaster gift card, Lolla cash, and Artist Merch. And even if you didn't win anything, you'd still be getting Alexa+ merch towards the end. Alexa+ Early access is available now for customers with an Echo Show 8, 10, 15, or 21, Fire TV, Fire Tablet, and Alexa app. Per their site, Alexa+ Early Access is available to both Prime and non-Prime members who own a compatible Echo device. When Early Access ends, Alexa+ will be a free Prime benefit, and non-Prime customers will be notified that they can subscribe to Alexa+ for $19.99/month. No- And Low-ABV Drinks Reigned Supreme With the rise of 'sober-curious' living, it seems like less and less people are partying these days with something heavy and boozy at music festivals. Heineken 0.0 has found their own way for a legacy brand to make non-alc 'cool' again, and Live Nation even recently signed a deal with Athletic Brewing Company to bring their beer to more than 100 Live Nation venues across the U.S. (we were pleasantly surprised to spot it on bar menus at Lolla this year). But that doesn't mean goodbye booze forever, and if there was one drink everyone seemed to have at Lollapalooza, it was NÜTRL vodka seltzers. The four-day festival was packed with hundreds of drink options — from classics like Bud Light Seltzers to the ever-popular White Claw — but somehow, a light, sessionable 4.5% ABV NÜTRL was in practically every hand, mine included. It ended up being my drink of choice all weekend, with the occasional Red Bull vodka sprinkled in (don't judge, sometimes you just need that final set pick-me-up). shop nütrl on reservebar What I love most about NÜTRL is simple: they just taste really damn good. No weird aftertaste, nothing synthetic — it actually feels like you're drinking a fresh cocktail made with quality ingredients, without the artificial overload. They strike the ideal balance of sweetness, which definitely helped make the Sunday Scaries less scary, thanks to the lack of a hangover. Flavor-wise, there's something for everyone: My personal favorite was pineapple (yes, I know it's polarizing), but every option was just as good as the last. And for festival drinks, they're also surprisingly very reasonably priced. Throughout the weekend, NÜTRL went beyond just being a Lollapalooza partner — they hosted brunches, dinners, and even had a festival activation where guests could snap photos, grab a can, and relax in a lounge filled with plush seats that your feet needed after hours of standing. The setup matched their effortless and cool vibe that you don't need to go hard to have fun: just some neon lights, great signage, and good company. 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Fox News
7 hours ago
- Fox News
Sydney Sweeney's Dolly Parton-inspired Western will benefit from ad backlash: expert
Sydney Sweeney is channeling Dolly Parton in her new Western heist movie "Americana," set to be released on the heels of the actress's American Eagle "Good Jeans" ad. In the film, debuting in theaters Aug. 15, Sweeney, 27, stars as Penny Jo Poplin, a small-town diner waitress who is obsessed with the country icon and dreams of following in her footsteps. "Dolly is definitely her biggest aspirational role model," Sweeney said of her character during a June interview with Entertainment Weekly. She continued, "Dolly is almost like a godlike figure to Penny Jo, and I really wanted to make sure that we had the aspirations of being Dolly, but then, she doesn't have the resources." "It's trying to find that in-between place of who Penny is and what she has," Sweeney added. "But then also who she wants to be. Penny Jo dreams of being able to have Dolly's outlook on life because her world feels so gray, dark, and trapped. [Dolly has] this beautiful big personality and energy that makes everything have color again, and that's what she wants." In "Americana," Penny Jo, who is also an aspiring country music singer-songwriter, joins forces with lovelorn military veteran and ranch-hand Lefty Ledbetter (Paul Walter Hauser) to procure a rare Native American artifact — a Lakota Ghost Shirt — after it lands on the black market in their South Dakota town. However, Penny Jo and Lefty's pursuit of the valuable artifact "puts them in the crosshairs of a ruthless criminal working for a Western antiquities dealer, and soon, others, including the leader of an Indigenous group and a woman fleeing a mysterious past, join the battle for the Ghost Shirt," according to a plot synopsis for the movie. "She finally sees something that can be her ticket to Nashville," Sweeney told Entertainment Weekly. "It's her ticket to be able to go and chase her dreams. And she's past the point of waiting for it to happen." "Americana" marks the directorial debut of screenwriter Tony Tost, who also wrote the screenplay. The movie also stars pop singer Halsey, Eric Dane, Zahn McClarnon and Simon Rex. Though "Americana" originally premiered at the 2023 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival, the movie's worldwide release date comes as drama continues to swirl over Sweeney's July American Eagle ad campaign. However, PR expert Eric Schiffer shared his view that Sweeney's character will be a big draw for audiences, and the timing of the release will prove to be serendipitous for the production. "She plays Penny Jo, a waitress who worships Dolly; that disarming sweetness offsets the AE edge and broadens demo reach," the Reputation Management Consultants CEO told Fox News Digital. He continued, "Country-curious teens and red-state moms will test-drive the movie; coastal critics bring pitiless scrutiny — perfect storm for sales." Last month, the clothing retailer debuted their ad campaign titled "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans," which received a mixed response on social media. Some dubbed the campaign as "tone-deaf" due to the alleged racial undertones, others have praised Sweeney for killing "woke" advertising. In a promo video posted to the brand's Instagram, Sweeney was seen walking toward an AE billboard featuring her and the tagline "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Genes." Sweeney crossed out "Genes" and replaced it with "Jeans" before walking away. In a second ad, Sweeney was seen laying down and fastening her jeans while saying, "Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color." The camera then panned up to her blue eyes. "My jeans are blue." The ad's detractors have suggested that it has shades of "eugenics" and "White supremacy." According to Salon, the term "great genes" was historically used to "celebrate whiteness, thinness and attractiveness." American Eagle released a statement on its social media on Aug. 1, which read, "'Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans' is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. We'll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone." Sweeney has yet to publicly comment on the ad or its reception. While speaking with Fox News Digital, Schiffer explained how controversy could potentially turbocharge the actress's career along with her net worth. "The AE firestorm shoved Sweeney into toxic culture-war crosshairs — exactly where attention monetizes fastest," he said. "Backlash may spook a few 'safe' brands, but risk-tolerant studios will ruthlessly overpay for her heat. "American Eagle's denim blitz could jam an outrage cocktail of $5 million more in Sweeney's wallet before Labor Day," Schiffer added. "The viral jeans spot is a ruthless napalm-grade cash cannon — every click fires fresh royalty checks at her $40 million pile. Critics rant, but controversy drives denim sales — she's riding a volatile tornado straight to the bank." Schiffer also explained that the backlash the actress has received could lead to an influx of career opportunities for her. "Outrage addicts labeled the ad 'eugenics' but Hollywood execs smell radioactive buzz and cast her faster," he said. "Hollywood forgives denim puns; it rewards controversial cash." Schiffer continued, "She proved she can take heat and directors love an actress with fierce armor. Her blend of bombshell and backlash is near lethal catnip for producers. Hollywood loves a polarizing star with a merciless marketing punch that sells." However, PR expert Steve Honig voiced his opinion that the backlash was unlikely to affect Sweeney's career. "Regardless of which side you are on, the ads have undeniably gotten the actress, and the company, more attention and publicity than they have ever had. Judging by the public's split opinion, I don't think this will have much, if any, impact on Sweeney's career or upcoming projects," he said. "She is a popular, up-and-coming talent with a bright future ahead of her." Honig went on to cite other ad campaigns that saw great success by courting controversy. "Historically, ads for jeans have been provocative," he noted. "Look back to Calvin Klein's advertising campaign in the early 1980s featuring Brooke Shields; there was a lot of criticism about how a 15-year-old girl was being portrayed. The ads turned out to have a positive result for both Klein and Shields, and in many ways put the actress/model on the map." Honig continued, "As far as the Sweeney ads being too sexual or aimed at 'male gazing,' I would point to the highly successful Pepsi ad campaign with Cindy Crawford, which was recently rebooted. Gloria Vanderbilt's advertising campaign was all about her name being on a woman's backside." "The bottom line here is that American Eagle decided to push the envelope in much the same way Klein and Vanderbilt did," he added. "Like it or not, the campaign is sparking discussion and getting a lot of notice, which is likely what they set out to do." In addition to "Americana," Sweeney also has several other projects in the works. The actress is set to return for the third season of the hit HBO series "Euphoria," which is aiming for a 2026 release, according to Deadline. Sweeney is also starring as real-life former professional boxer Christy Martin in the upcoming biographical sports drama "Christy." The Washington native produced the film through her company, Fifty-Fifty Films, along with several other production companies, including Anonymous Content, Yoki, Inc., Votiv and Black Bear Pictures. The actress will next be seen starring alongside Amanda Seyfried, Brandon Sklenar, and Michele Morrone in Paul Feig's upcoming film "The Housemaid," which is based on Freida McFadden's 2022 novel. "The Housemaid" will be released in theaters on Dec. 25.
