The Dawson Cole Fine Art Gallery located in Laguna Beach (there is also a location in Carmel) is actually a misnomer.  It should be called the Richard MacDonald Gallery, for he is the artist that the gallery features most prominently. MacDonald also had a hand in designing the Laguna Beach space itself.  The gallery is truly a work of art with its semi-enclosed outdoor space, which features some of MacDonald's larger works. At a recent "meet the artist" event, MacDonald mingled with patrons and signed--or rather mini-buzz sawed-- purchased work.  

MacDonald describes himself as a former "New York painter and self-taught sculptor."  He delights in the way that art encourages "love and faith and beauty".  As he inspects his life-sized version of "Blind Faith," a Cirque du Soleil-inspired piece, in the galley's outdoor courtyard in brisk beach weather, MacDonald is like a parent gazing at his child. He explains that the juggled balls represent "all facets of life" and that there is an element of courage in the tenuous balancing of the sculpture's standing leg perched atop the point of a cube.  

One of the most interesting elements at the gallery are the bases on which each of the sculptures stand.  The bases swivel and revolve, so that they can display each sculpture in the best light and at different angles, if desired.

A particular section of the gallery is dedicated to MacDonald's current work with the Royal Ballet in London. MacDonald has designed a large memorial in honor of Dame Ninette de Valois, founder of the school.  The expansive work showcases the stages of the dancer--from unsure student to prima ballerina.  His plans are thoughtful and focused on evoking deeply felt emotion.  His miniature clay model of Penchè Pressage is a work that exquisitely displays balance and grace.  Every single muscle of both of the dancers depicted is sculpted in such a lifelike way that the viewer begins to wonder if there is actually sinew and blood pulsing beneath the modeling clay. 

It seems that the reason MacDonald's work has not been highly affected by the current recession is because it's relatable.  It is high art in that it is sculpture that is executed like a well-lit painting--each piece seems to radiate with an internal source of light--as though each piece has a semblance of a soul.  It makes sense, then, that most of the work on display in Laguna Beach is part of MacDonald's "The Light of Life:  The Continued Exploration of Life's Energy" collection.  His work is fantastically accessible to the general public. His well-muscled ballerinas and Cirque du Soleil performers cross the divide that a mostly blank canvas displaying a single orange stripe of paint down the middle does not.

MacDonald's light-bearing bronze statues, especially the life-sized works, are definitely a must-see in Laguna Beach's art-conscious area, just around the corner from where the Pageant of the Masters takes place annually.  During this holiday season, take a break and lose yourself in the wonder and majestic light of Richard MacDonald's work.