70°
Archive. Preserve. Exhibit.
Spring is here! Let’s sail into warmer weather and enjoy the beauty of this season. 🐋 Join us on board a sailing adventure with the Ocean Institute to see whales and dolphins. 🐬
From the Archives
“There may not have been a John Wayne if it wasn’t for Newport Beach.”
-Ethan Wayne, President of the John Wayne Foundation
View the Virtual Exhibition curated by 70°. Visit the Newport Beach Historical Society on Thursdays – Sundays: 2:00p.m.–6:00p.m. They are located at the Balboa Fun Zone at 600 E. Bay Ave. Newport Beach, CA 92661.
Artists of the Month
“I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people.”
– Vincent Van Gogh
Don Ryan, Anne Pierce, and Cynthia Ona Innis
Soka University Spring 2025 exhibitions will be on display until August 28, 2025 in Founders Gallery. The artists are Cynthia Ona Innis: Fixing on a Horizon and Don Ryan: Lipstick/Waterline.
Book of the Month
“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”
F. Scott Fitzgerald
This year marks the 100th anniversary of The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s timeless novel that first captivated readers when it was published on April 10, 1925. A century later, Gatsby’s glittering world of lavish parties, unfulfilled dreams, and the relentless pursuit of the American Dream remains as compelling and relevant as ever.
The Great Gatsby has inspired countless adaptations, from Baz Luhrmann’s dazzling 2013 film to immersive theater experiences that invite audiences to step into the roaring world of West Egg. Its influence extends beyond literature, shaping pop culture and fueling discussions about wealth, privilege, and the American identity.
The 2025 Newport Beach Wooden Boat Festival is themed “Stories of the Sea: Wooden Boats in Film & Fiction,” will be held on June 13-14, 2025 at the Balboa Yacht Club. This theme honoring the role boats have played in iconic movies and books. Among the many things to see and do, visitors will have the opportunity to explore John Steinbeck’s Western Flyer, dive into the rowing traditions of The Boys in the Boat, and view a photo exhibit of Hollywood stars with the wooden boats they loved. Tickets to the Friday Night Event are $175. Admission to the Saturday Festival is $15, with additional donations gratefully accepted to support youth sailing.
Sawdust Spring Fling is an all-new three-day immersive art experience marking the start of our 59th season. Be a part of this exciting new event April 4-6th from 11am-5pm. This fresh, vibrant event brings over 130 artists, live art demonstrations, and a fully re-imagined Town Square with collaborative art pieces and interactive stations. Come be a part it!
Commemorating the 60th anniversary of UC Irvine (1965-2025), Anteater Experience traces more than six decades of campus development, illustrating key features and milestones that have helped shape the campus culture and environment. Laura Davick and James Irvine Swinden shared their family’s history with guests at the reception. The exhibit is on display from February through September 2025 at the Langson Library.
The CSUF Center for Oral and Public History is exhibiting “Overlooked Injustice: The Children’s Village at Manzanar,” with curator Kiana Nakamura. This exhibit features interviews from our Japanese American Oral History Collection and shares stories of the children who were interned at Manzanar. You can view the exhibit Monday-Friday from 8am -5pm.
Casa Romantica is exhibiting “Gems of California Impressionism,” curated by James Irvine Swinden, showcases landscape paintings from California’s coastal scenes to picturesque mountainscapes and everything in between. This exhibition highlights the rich diversity and natural beauty of California. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore paintings from the James Irvine Swinden Family Collection with a personal tour on April 17th with an RSVP.
Harvest Beauty: The Artistic Labels of California Growers
The Sherman Library and Gardens is exhibiting labels from the 1880s to the mid-1950s. The library exhibit is open Tuesdays – Thursdays 11:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. The California citrus growers. They used colorful paper labels on wooden boxes to identify and advertise their fruit, reflecting a rich social and commercial art history. The practice declined in the 1940s and ended by 1956 with the shift to cardboard boxes.
