Laguna Beach OKs monthlong installation of ‘Anastasis’ by local artist at City Hall

To help celebrate Laguna Beach’s Ethnic Diversity and Black History Month, a 12-foot sculpture created by a local artist will sit at City Hall’s front lawn in February.

Artist Gerard Stripling sculpted “Anastasis” out of weathered steel and glass. Two angular pieces of steel loosely intertwine and are topped with flat polish glass laminated together. The base is a steel band with pea gravel.

Five seating elements will surround the 12-foot-by-6-inch tall artwork to encourage people to gather. To help illuminate the piece and ensure public safety, solar lighting will be placed at the sculpture’s base.

“Def. coming back to life, rising from the ashes, resurrection” Stripling wrote on his Instagram account June 1. “The rest of our lives starts today, pretty excited!”

The Laguna Beach City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved the proposal with no discussion. The installation is funded by the Laguna Art Museum and has no impact on the city’s budget, according to city’s agenda.

Julie Perlin Lee, executive director of the Laguna Art Museum, pitched the proposal to the city’s Arts Commission earlier this month.

Thursday afternoon, Stripling shared a photo of the sun beaming down on his Ford truck attached with a utility trailer. A ladder laid atop equipment to install “Anastasis.”

“I’m all fully loaded and ready for the installation,” Stripling said.

This isn’t Stripling’s first time featuring his art for the city. In 2003, he created “Repose,” a five-piece functional sculpture, mimicking rock and wave formations. The sculpture overlooks the ocean at Treasure Island Park. In 2018, he restored “Boy and Dog,” the city’s oldest public piece in its collection after it was doused with a liquid that hardened around the sculpture.

A dedication ceremony for “Anastasis” is slated for Feb. 9 along with other activities spearheaded by resident Rebecca Washington-Lindsey, according to minutes from the Jan. 10 Arts Commission meeting.

The sculpture will remain at City Hall, 505 Forest Ave., from Feb. 1 through 28.

Support our coverage by becoming a digital subscriber.