Dante Liberi Laguna artist Dante Liberi died...

Dante Liberi

Laguna artist Dante Liberi died last week.

Born in 1919, Mr. Liberi was an artist, sculptor and former

gallery owner from Laguna Beach. His paintings have been on exhibit

for several years at Lu Martin Galleries and Anastasia Cafe, and he

had been an exhibitor at the Festival of Arts.

Mr. Liberi worked as an artist his whole life, saying he was not

happy unless he was painting.

Growing up in Brooklyn in an immigrant Italian working-class

family, Mr. Liberi quit school in the seventh grade and became and

artist. In the 1940s, after serving during the WWII, Mr. Liberi

returned to New York as a commercial artist, designing home

decorations and women’s fashions. Most of his artwork was drawn from

his experiences in the New York theaters and ballet companies, such

as the Joffrey Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. Mr. Liberi became

passionate about the art of performance, painting acrobats, tight

rope walkers and Harlequins.

Recently, Mr. Liberi lost his wife and lifetime partner Nevalda.

Theirs was a true love story, and aspiration to their family and

friends. Mr. Liberi will be missed by the entire Laguna Beach arts

community.

He is survived by his son Milano and daughter Ilona.

Ethel Lewis

Laguna resident Ethel Lewis died July 23 of coronary artery

disease. She was 88.

Ms. Lewis lived in Laguna Beach for seven years. She was a retired

proprietor of a gold shop.

Services will be private.

Ms. Lewis is survived by her son Clarence Boyd III.

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