Adam Neeley named Artist of the Year in Laguna's Art Star Awards
Adam Neeley's creations shine brightly for the many who wear the finished products created by the Laguna Beach jewelry designer and goldsmith.
Before a crowd of his creative peers and other purveyors of the arts, Neeley received the Artist of the Year award on Wednesday at the 17th annual Art Star Awards in his hometown.
'Twenty years ago, I dreamt of coming to Laguna Beach and joining this amazing art colony, and I did,' Neeley said. 'With a great leap of faith, I opened my first gallery on PCH in North Laguna gallery row. I was 21 years old, and here we are 20 years later.
'I joined the Festival of Arts and exhibited proudly for 12 years and felt like, 'You know what, I'm becoming part of this amazing art community.' … Last year, I was very honored to be the first decorative art exhibition at the Laguna Art Museum. … Along this creative journey, I've met so many wonderful friends and patrons that have supported my art and a deep thank you for this, and for this community to continue to focus [on] and support the arts.'
The other nominees were Piper Bangs and Andrew Myers.
Bangs, who graduated from the Laguna College of Art and Design with a degree in drawing and painting in 2024, had exhibitions throughout the country, with another exhibiting engagement in Seoul, South Korea.
Myers was nominated after showing 'Life in Translation' in a Honarkar Foundation exhibit. The artwork displayed versatility across the mediums of painting, screw art, and sculpture. He recently opened a gallery on Forest Avenue.
Chris Quilter, a longtime writer for local parody production Lagunatics, emceed the event, held annually by the Laguna Beach Arts Alliance. Given his background, the show could not go on without some well-placed jokes, including shots he took at his own artistic credentials, and of course, word play.
'They've been limited to largely writing for Lagunatics — for 20 very odd years,' Quilter said. 'Now, we don't know a lot about art, but we know what we like to poke fun at. We accuse the Pageant [of the Masters] of standing still artistically. It takes a moment, then it sinks in.'
In the closing moments of the celebration, Jean Stern was recognized with the Lifetime Achievement award. Stern has served as the director emeritus of the Irvine Museum, senior curator of UC Irvine's Institute and Museum of California Art, and as a curatorial fellow at Laguna Art Museum.
'I am deeply sorry that my wife, Linda, and I could not attend this in-person, as I am writing this from my hospital bed,' Stern said in remarks read by Victoria Gerard, deputy director of Laguna Art Museum. 'Most of all, I am grateful and reassured by the LBAA's dynamic and active organizations that Laguna Beach will continue its significant role in the arts of California.'
The evening also featured live caricature drawings of guests, as well as a display of some of the handiwork worn on the runway during the Laguna Art Museum's upcycled couture fashion show.
Prior to the awards program, the Laguna Beach Community Jazz Band set the mood with its live performance from the stage.
Arts Patron of the Year went to Faye and Wayne Baglin, both of whom have served on the board of numerous arts organizations in the community.
The Outstanding Arts Collaboration honor went to Laguna College of Art and Design, Group Y and Rivian, which worked together to put on a speaker series called Creativity Flow.
'Creativity Flow began as an idea to bridge the classroom and the creativity industries to bring our students closer to the visionaries shaping culture and to inspire conversation at the intersection of art, design, innovation and impact,' LCAD president Steve Brittan said. 'What it has become has exceeded our wildest expectations. Held at the beautiful Rivian South Coast Theater, Creativity Flow has evolved into a marquee gathering of creative energy, where students meet mentors, ideas meet opportunity, and industries meet the next generation of talent.'
Laguna Art Museum's Creative Foundations K-12 Education was recognized as the Best Arts Program. The program helps connect underprivileged youth with access to arts education and reaches 5,500 students across 46 schools from 16 districts. It provides art supplies, community events, in-class instruction, teacher professional development and free museum admission for children under the age of 12.
The winners went home with a 'Louie,' the name given to the sculpted works of local artist Louis Longi handed out as trophies.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
Billy Joel insists he's ‘not dying' after brain disorder diagnosis, Howard Stern says
Howard Stern has shared a positive update on Billy Joel's health after the singer's shocking brain disorder diagnosis. On Tuesday, during an episode of SiriusXM's 'The Howard Stern Show,' the 71-year-old shock jock revealed that Joel is 'not dying' after being diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus. 'I saw Billy Joel two weeks ago,' he told co-host Robin Quivers. 'We had dinner together.' 8 8 'Yeah, he does have issues,' Stern continued. 'But he said, 'Yeah, you can tell people, you know, I'm not dying.' You know, he wants people to know that. He just, he's gotta deal with some medical stuff, but he was delightful.' Stern added that he and the 'Piano Man' singer had a 'great conversation' and that he even 'brought out the guitar' to celebrate Joel's 76th birthday, which was on May 9. 'We had a great time with the wives. We had a great conversation,' the Sirius XM host said. 'I was telling him I'm enjoying playing classical music on the guitar.' 8 8 'Then it was his birthday. I even brought out the guitar and sang 'Happy Birthday' to him, then he threw up,' Stern joked. 'He didn't seem real impressed.' Stern's relieving update on Joel's health comes after the 'New York State of Mind' musician revealed that he was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus last month and canceled all his tour dates through next year. The rare disorder, which reportedly affects about 0.2% of people between the ages of 70 and 80, occurs when cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) builds up inside the skull, presses on the brain and disrupts cognitive functioning. 8 'Billy Joel has announced that he will be cancelling all scheduled concerts following a recent diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH),' the 'Only the Good Die Young' crooner's team said in a lengthy Instagram announcement on May 23. 'This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision, and balance,' it continued. 'Under his doctor's instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period.' 'I'm sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience,' Joel added, 'and thank you for understanding.' 8 Joel's wife, Alexis Roderick Joel, 43, broke her silence on her famous hubby's startling diagnosis days later. 'Thank you for the outpouring of love and support,' she wrote on his Instagram account alongside a shot of herself, Joel, and their daughters Della, 9, and Remy, 7. 'We are so grateful for the wonderful care and swift diagnosis we received.' 'Bill is beloved by so many, and to us, he is a father and husband who is at the center of our world,' she added. 'We are hopeful for his recovery. We look forward to seeing you all in the future.' 8 Despite the 'Scenes From an Italian Restaurant' music legend's health issues, sources close to Joel insisted he is 'not ready to retire.' 'He is happiest while performing,' a music industry insider told People last week. 'Music is, has been and will always be his life. He's not ready to retire.' 'He is not retiring and hopes to be able to resume performing as his recovery progresses,' another insider told the outlet. However, The Post exclusively reported that Joel will not be attending the Tribeca Festival opening night world premiere of his new documentary, 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes,' on Wednesday, June 4, in the wake of his diagnosis. 8 'Our hearts are with Billy Joel and his family following today's announcement,' the film festival's co-founders, Jane Rosenthal and Robert De Niro, said in a statement. 'We send our love and full support and wish him strength and a healthy recovery.' 'We're deeply honored that this year's Opening Night celebrates his remarkable legacy and enduring influence on New York's cultural landscape,' they added. 'This is the perfect moment to recognize a creative force whose work reflects the very soul of our city – and the heart of Tribeca.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Howard Stern gives update on Billy Joel's health amid brain condition
NEW YORK — SiriusXM host Howard Stern said he and Billy Joel had dinner after the Piano Man canceled his upcoming tour due to a brain condition, and can assure Joel's fans the rocker isn't on his deathbed. 'He's doing fine,' Stern said on his Tuesday morning program. Joel announced on May 23 that he was taking a break from performing following a recent diagnosis of hydrocephalus, which the National Institutes of Health describes as 'an abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid deep within the brain.' Symptoms can include vomiting, vision problems, difficulty walking and memory loss or other cognitive impairment. Stern said Joel told him a few weeks ago, 'You can tell people, you know, I'm not dying.' According to Stern, Joel wants people to know that while he's not fit to play concerts at the moment, that doesn't mean he's not long for this world. Stern conceded that Joel does face medical challenges, but described him as 'delightful' when the two Long Islanders got together with their wives. The 71-year-old radio personality didn't say where their dinner took place, but claimed he serenaded Joel with a guitar he'd brought to celebrate the Grammy winner's recent 76th birthday. 'He didn't seem real impressed,' Stern confessed. One of the upcoming shows Joel had to cancel was a July 8 gig at Yankee Stadium with Rod Stewart, who himself nixed a Las Vegas performance hours before it was set to begin on Sunday due to illness.
Fox News
a day ago
- Fox News
Billy Joel is 'not dying' despite rare brain disorder diagnosis
Howard Stern is sharing an update on Billy Joel's health – and the iconic musician is "not dying." On Tuesday's episode of SiriusXM's "The Howard Stern Show," the host said he saw Joel two weeks ago, around the time the musician announced his rare brain disorder diagnosis. Stern's co-host, Robin Quivers, noted Joel's recent health concerns and Stern said, "Yeah, he does have issues, but he said, 'Yeah, you can tell people, you know, I'm not dying.'" "You know, he wants people to know that. He just, he's gotta deal with some medical stuff, but he was delightful. We had a great time with the wives. We had a great conversation. I was telling him, I'm enjoying playing classical music on the guitar," Stern said. Stern told Quivers that they were celebrating Joel's 76th birthday and Howard pulled out a guitar and sang him "Happy Birthday." Stern joked that Joel "threw up" and wasn't impressed with his performance. Joel announced that he had to cancel all of his shows after being diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), which affects his vision, hearing and balance. According to Yale Medicine, it is a rare condition. The singer-songwriter took to his social media to share a statement with his fans in May. "This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance," it read. "Under his doctor's instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period. Billy is thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritizing his health. "He is grateful for the support from fans during this time and looks forward to the day when he can once again take the stage." The statement concluded with a quote from Joel himself, which read, "I'm sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding." Joel's wife, Alexis Roderick Joel, shared a statement with Fox News Digital at the time. "Thank you for the outpouring of love and support. We are so grateful for the wonderful care and swift diagnosis we received. Bill is beloved by many, and to us, he is a father and husband who is at the center of our world. We are hopeful for his recovery. We look forward to seeing you all in the future," she said. NPH is a condition that happens when cerebrospinal fluid builds up inside the skull and presses on the brain. This condition is most likely to occur in people over 65. Treating this condition involves surgery to implant a shunt to drain excess fluid from the inside of the skull, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The "Uptown Girl" singer-songwriter's wife previously spoke to Fox News Digital about her husband's health challenges. "He's doing well," she said in March. "It's funny, I was just having this conversation the other day. He's going to be 76. And I don't think of him that way. People don't think of him in that way, but he is. And he's been doing this job nonstop for 15 years – just this recent run." She continued, "Sometimes your health has to take priority, and things have to get postponed. But really, in the grand scheme of things, he's a healthy person, and he's well and working on himself, trying to get better and do what he has to do medically. So it's important, you know, we need him around so he has to do what he has to do." Alexis and the "Piano Man" singer-songwriter share daughters, Della and Remy. Joel is also father to daughter Alexa Ray, whom he shares with his ex-wife Christie Brinkley.
