Over the weekend of Oct. 17 and 18, 250 artists displayed their work at the Fall Art Show in Beverly Gardens Park. Attendees admired the four blocks of sculptures, paintings, photography, jewelry, ceramics and more. Alongside the artwork, a wine and beer garden featured live music, a display from the Peterson Automotive Museum offered interactive activities and tables were set with paper crafts.
Jamie Miller won Best of Show and took home the first-place prize for his oceanic sculptures.
“I’m very honored that they selected me,” he said. “It’s a great crowd that comes out, and I’m appreciative.”
Miller recently retired from a 30-year career in motion picture sculpting and has found he now has more time to focus on his personal work.
“I’ve been focusing on marine life for some years now, especially the octopus. Miller said. “Sculpturally, they offer an unlimited number of challenges for me.”
Just a few booths over, Elizabeth Laul Healey and Duffy Healey sat next to their shimmering positivity watchdogs. The artists are both from Southern California and currently split their time between Wilson, North Carolina and Escondido, California. Each dog is covered in reflective tiles, stones, Italian tile and found objects, with a collar set to the time 11:11. The couple say this is meant to set a positive intention and inspire connection.
“I think we need more positivity in the world,” Elizabeth Laul Healey said. “We took our pieces from small to big so that we could spread positivity more broadly, because we want to bring everybody together.”
Photographer Jeremiah Alley won first place for his abstract photos of the moon. He shared the accidental discovery that brought him to this subject.
“I was doing abstract architecture photography and the moon actually got into one of my photos,” he said.
After this, he began to focus on the full moon and for the next six years, he would photograph every one.
Robin Walker stood next to his vibrantly colored paintings and told the Courier how he found his personal painting style.
“It’s not how you succeed; then you’re copying someone else, but how you make the mistakes that become your style,” he said. “In part, I just make mistakes and go, ‘I like it.’ That pushes me in the direction of making more mistakes that might be interesting.”
He then described the emotional connection to his work.
“Another word I use to describe my painting is authentic, because it comes from me and my personality,” Walker said. “[…] I want it to be more about a feeling rather than a thought and that all becomes your style. If you do it for forty years, like I have, this is what comes out.”
In honor of the 100th anniversary of Route 66, which runs along Santa Monica Boulevard, the Peterson Automotive Museum displayed a white car with black designs that guests could color in with special markers. This, alongside Beverly Hills High School’s paper art club, printmaking and other interactive crafts, gave visitors the chance to create their own art.
Artist Carolyn James ran the printmaking station with stamps in the shape of Route 66 signs and vintage cars. She has been printmaking since her time at UCLA and has taught art for 30 years at Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena.
James told the Courier her favorite aspect about teaching art.
“I love watching people have discoveries and learn new things,” she said.
The Beverly Hills Art Show is biannual and will return to Beverly Gardens Park on May 15 and 16, 2027.
