It’s doubtful that the nation’s first postmaster general, Benjamin Franklin, would have approved of the artwork in Laguna Beach’s old post office – at least publicly. Privately, who knows?
And that’s what makes it interesting.
Local businessman Mo Honarkar is opening the mysterious building at 298 Broadway St., to the public on Dec. 1, Hospitality Night. The 4,200-square-foot historical building is a state-of-the-art gallery space that resembles a small museum, complete with a large community room and several smaller spaces.
The first artist? Jorg Dubin, of course, Laguna’s resident bad boy artist.
“The first one is all Jorg. I just like his work,” said Honarkar, during a tour. “It’s a beautiful building. I’ve always wanted to do this.”
Future exhibits will host other local artists. Fellow gallery owner Peter Blake is helping out, along with curator Genevieve Williams.
“I’m just the janitor,” Blake joked. “Mo was dead set on having local artists, so who better to kick things off than Jorg.”
It will be the largest, most comprehensive showing of Dubin’s work, divided by themes: social/political commentary, portraits, and of course, his nudes.
Blake noted that Dubin’s approach to nudity is never exploitative or voyeuristic. There is always a bigger point that mutes any titillation.
In addition to the Dec. 1 opening, the space will be open on Dec. 7, during the First Thursdays Art Walk. Honarkar plans to have the gallery open daily once things get off the ground.
The building was previously owned by Gerald Buck, a Newport Beach developer and art lover who passed away in 2013. Buck secretly housed much of his extensive collection at the location, which includes elaborate security, temperature controls, and other specific art-related features.
The Buck family donated his collection, more than 3,200 works, to the University of California, Irvine.
