The artist behind ‘The Shopper’

Suzie Harrison

Andrew Myers might not be a name everyone in Laguna Beach knows, but

with the unveiling of the 25-year-old’s sculpture on Dec. 2 at the

corner of Beach Street and Ocean Avenue, he’ll be gaining an

audience.

Myers won a city public art competition in May for his piece

called “The Shopper.�

“I’ve always wanted to do a public sculpture,� Myers said. “It’s a

big honor to have a permanent piece in the city for everyone to see.�

Myers chose to create a sculpture of a woman shopping because it

pertains to the Laguna Beach lifestyle.

“I wanted to keep it away from the beach that everyone focuses on

and bring it Downtown,� Myers said.

City cultural arts manager Sian Poeschl said the City Council and

residents expressed desire for figurative and representational art.

“The competition was composed with that in mind ... artwork that

would be discovered and would represent our community and the

importance of the arts,� Poeschl said.

Myers grew up and Spain and spent time living in Seattle working

construction.

“My parents lived down here and I went to visit,� Myers said. “I

drove by the art college looking for something to do and one of the

teachers convinced me to go to the school.�

Myers was asked to show his portfolio, but he never had done

drawings, paintings or any art before.

“They said go home and do these five drawings, come back and we’ll

let you know,� Myers said. “I went to the art supply store, bought a

pencil and paper and found out for the first time that I can actually

draw. So it was pretty interesting.�

Myers attended the Art Institute of Southern California, now

Laguna College of Art and Design, for two and half years.

“I took all the foundation classes ... drawing, painting and

sculpture, and really focused on sculpture after that,� he said.

Myers rented his own art studio and has been prolific. Being

accepted into the Festival of Arts in 2003 was the impetus to his

status as a full-time artist. Next summer will be his third festival.

“It was the beginning of my career to make money off my work and

survive.� Myers said.

The dedication is prior to First Thursday’s Art Walk at 5 p.m.,

followed by a reception at Diane DeBilzan Gallery, 224 Forest Ave.

Myers mixed media exhibit, his first gallery show, will open at

DeBilzan Gallery on Thursday.