Art of the ordinary

“Ordinary” is not a characteristic artists usually strive for in their work. But for Newport Beach photographer Lauri Mendenhall, ordinary is her business.

Her “Oddly Ordinary” photography series, on display at the Newport Beach Central Library, explores the elusive quirk in everyday moments, such as a T-shirt drying in the sun or a line of paddle boats waiting for summer to begin.

“Lauri can look at something that seems familiar, but look at it in a new way that understands and expresses the beauty of its shapes and colors,” said Jana Barbier, the city’s cultural art’s coordinator. “It’s precisely the everyday quality of the work that makes it stand out.”

After working for a decade as an art columnist, Mendenhall ventured into the applied side of the industry six years ago, looking both for a complement to and a diversion from her writing.

Response to her first professional photograph — three boys tap dancing along Bourbon Street in New Orleans — was positive, and Mendenhall discovered a love for the activity, though it is rare to find people depicted in her work.

“I don’t think we linger long enough in certain moments because we are always worried about multitasking,” she said. “Photography slows me down so I can experience daily life with more gusto.”

A warm, sunny day is a good work day for Mendenhall, who is fascinated by brilliant colors and the workings of natural light, shadows and reflections in a composition. Her new favorite vacation destination is the central Mexican town of San Miguel de Allende, prized for its photographic light, where several of the series photos were shot.

But she doesn’t have to venture far to find inspiration. The Los Angeles native’s “Lois Lane” snapshot was taken earlier this year at the Griffith Observatory on what the artist called “the most spectacular L.A. day I could remember.”

“For me, it’s fun to always have my eyes open for something captivating,” said Mendenhall, who has won several local awards and exhibited frequently throughout Orange County in the last few years. “The adventure of what you might see in the most mundane activity adds spark to life.”

Working without digital manipulation, Mendenhall is almost always prepared with her 35mm camera for a good photo opportunity. Mendenhall shot “Future Beach” while running errands in Newport Dunes and captured “Mint Condition” during a one-day layover in Cincinnati while traveling home from the Kentucky Derby.

“Art is a constant adventure,” she said. “You can look at something and suddenly have this ‘ah-ha!’ moment, which is just amazing.”