Hermosa Walks the Walk at Annual Arts Fair

An array of art was sprawled across the front and side lawn of the Hermosa Beach Community Center this weekend as part of the Hermosa Beach Art Walk.  

The Arts Group of Hermosa Beach sponsored the two-day festival, highlighting the work of nearly 100 juried fine artists. And the Hermosa Beach Art Walk committee booth rental fees were purposely kept low for local artists, as "the term 'starving artist' is heard too often these days," said Ken Klade, director of the committee.

Finger-painting tables occupied youngsters. Pottery ranged in colors from opulent pink to bright yellow. From customized quilts to aluminum-imprinted artwork to astrological renderings, each tent offered something unique. 

Nichole Blackburn, Hermosa Beach native and the Art Walk featured artist of the year, was painting an interactive on-site 20-foot mural at her booth. Throughout the afternoon, onlookers offered suggestions about what to add to the mural, including someone's name, a surfboard and a sailboat.

The mural and all money raised over the weekend at Blackburn's tent went toward her organization, Big Sky Countries, she said. The nonprofit donates large-scale murals to orphanages and children's facilities around the world. 

A mariachi's trumpet belted a shrill cry near Blackburn's corner of the Art Walk. Nearby, Hermosa Beach resident Chico Munson displayed his wood portraits of popular figures, including singers Bob Dylan and Stevie Wonder and defending NBA champion Laker Lamar Odom.

Munson, a former graffiti artist, said he has shipped custom-made orders as far as France. A  Michael Jordan portrait he stained was pilfered from a previous art exhibit.  "Oh well," he said. "Sacrifices."