Get in the car and get yourself to the Laguna Art Museum and start trespassing in a fantastical neighborhood curated by Greg Escalante who essentially invited his extended family of visionaries to create the diorama of their dreams.

Art Shack is a three dimensional celebration of form, color, structure, and fancy. If you ever felt like stepping inside one of Shag’s paintings, here’s the chance.

Don Ed Hardy’s glint-eyed panthers stalk and envelop as you peer at the tools of his trade. A 500 watt candy color palette lightens (or darkens?) a slumbering childhood in Jason Maloney’s tableaux. Liz McGrath’s Bambi is the proverbial deer, but this time, lost in a forest of glittering jewels. And warm yourself up in Mike Shine’s warm temperate zone of peace and nature’s prosperity.

As for Craig Stecyk’s shack? The one at the end of the road? It’s there, I might have the wrong street.

But you really do have to go for yourself, because these are just a few of the artists who have created the ultimate theme park at the Laguna Art Museum at 307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach, California, now through October 3rd. –Gwynned Vitello

The oceanside museum's facade

Outside Mike Shine's shack

A Mike Shine painting adorns his shack wall

Mike Shine nomadic warriors

Kenny Scharf's neon trailer

Savanna Snow

Gregg Gibbs

Gregg Gibbs detail

A walk inside Shag's shack

Liz McGrath

George Herms

Herms detail

The Clayton Brothers

Jason Maloney

A packed opening

Art Shack will remain on view through October 3, 2010
Laguna Art Museum
www.lagunaartmuseum.org

Upcoming Art Shack Events:

July 18, 2010 at 1:00 pm.

"Build Your Own Art Shack" workshop with Hurley resident artist and Art Shack artist Jason Maloney for kids K-8. Learn the art of shack-making from this local artist, and take home your very own art shack. Only 40 spots available.

Reserve your space for the workshop here.

October 3, 2010 2:00-5:00 pm.

Art Shack Open House: select artists will be available to give brief tours of their art shacks and to answer questions.