ARTnews, Summer 2002
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: AN ART OASIS
By Daniella Walsh,
Editor

Palm Springs, the desert playground of the Hollywood elite, has emerged as a cultural center, boasting three museums and several art galleries. One of these galleries is the Ron Chespak Paper Sculpture Gallery which as become an acclaimed destination for collectors and enthusiasts who appreciate the elegant, clean-lined, hand-formed paper sculptures created by Chespak.

Chespak’s sculptures are mostly white on white – or white with splashes of vibrant color – and skillfully combine representational and abstract elements. He sells prints and postcards to make his work accessible to a wide audience. “My work thrives on light and reflection. It is very graphic and always natural in form. My art is my gift – I use it to connect with the world around me,” he says.

Chespak’s work is included in a textbook titled Art: A Global Pursuit and has been featured on several national and local television programs. He also operates a children’s museum known as the “Olly-O Museum,” so named after a children’s book written by Molly James. Chespak’s illustrations continue to inspire a new generation of art lovers and his paper sculptures continue to be sought out by collectors around the world.

Laguna Beach, an artist colony since the turn of the 20th-century, has set the tone with its year-round art festivals and myriad galleries. Artists like Chespak and gallery owners like Morrison and Ramsden, who first established themselves in Laguna Beach, are now bringing quality art into other locales, making Southern California one of the most diverse art scenes in the Western United States.

Return To: Ron in the Media