From the interplay of light and nature to pressing environmental concerns, the art program at Fairmont Breakers seamlessly blends artists’ personal passions with the property’s singular genius loci. In this feature, several contributing artists share insights into the motivations that fuel their creative practices and shape their distinctive works.
Olivia MacDougall: The Dynamic Beauty of Glass
“Years ago I wanted to begin utilizing stained glass within a home, and not just in a window. Stained glass is valuable both for the beauty achieved with sunlight, but also in its own right without backlighting, so I explored other uses of glass to add beauty within an interior space. This led me to focus on designing pieces for corner spaces, as well as installing spacers for depth and a hint of light reflection within their frames.”
Mark Rebennack: Drawing Breath into Form
“My work is a meditative practice—each freehand line is drawn for the length of one breath. I begin at the bottom of the piece with the straightest freehand line possible. As I put my pen on the paper, I inhale and I exhale as I draw the line. Each new line mimics the previous. Any imperfections in one line are responded and reacted to in the following lines, creating the ‘waves’. This is an organic process with a focus on mindfulness and honesty. Each line, one breath.”
Cody Lusby: The Surreal Divide of Wet and Dry
“Cannon Ball II is part of a larger body of work called Arid West. Arid West takes a surrealistic approach on the importance of water and how here in Los Angeles, water conservation is a way of life. By combining black and white desert scenes with lush full colored bathers, I give a stark reminder of California’s divide between the wet north and the dry south.”
Manon Steyaert: Material Illusions and Wonder
“A massive influence to my practice is the feeling one has as a child: being curious about the mundane—discovering, observing, and being present in the stage of observation. I try to create works that confuse the viewer to become more present in the act of viewing, becoming aware of their confusion and curiosities towards the pieces. This is one of the reasons I’m fascinated with silicone, using such material to blur lines between mediums and attracting a viewer to discover more.”
Amber Goldhammer: The Language of Happiness
“Words are so powerful, and I use them in my art to inspire happiness. I was given the opportunity to create the mural at the Fairmont Breakers using a lovely quote by Clark Gable (who used to frequent the hotel back in the day) which is “When You Smile, It’s Like The Sun Coming Up.”
Ronald R. Santos: Dancing with Liquid
“I was inspired by calligraphy and movement. I begin by pouring paint strategically, then move it around using various tools: rulers, spatulas and brushes. The image is gradually built up until I’m satisfied with the balance of shapes.”
Caryn Baumgartner: Nature’s Hidden Beauty
“My inspiration for both selected pieces stems from nature—revealing a hidden beauty that was always present. Capturing this essence of discovery and transformation, even in abstract form, is central to the work.”
Explore the extensive art program, iconic history, and more in the Fairmont Breakers Case Study.
