Laguna Beach has a wonderful park that is filled with gorgeous ceramic details. Heisler Park perched on a bluff over the ocean has a magical quality with the many detailed pieces of artwork that populate the landscape.
The ceramics on view are by a local couple, Scott and Naomi Schoenherr, who have created a unique and gorgeous series of sculptures and mosaics. Their use of mixed media includes cast bronze fish, swimming upstream through a pebble swirled eddy. Even the glazed seaweed seems to wave in the current. These scenes are set in the pavement, where children can bend down to touch the texture of each fish and waving seaweed.
The mosaics seem to flow through their cement stream, inspiring so many ideas for the garden at home. How can we create a similar feel in our own gardens (with easily found objects, of course). Why not a meandering pebble stream with a few medallions embedded into the cement as well?
These colorful gears are another touch that adds so much to the concept.
Even the drinking fountains and buildings are embellished with brightly glazed tile mosaics. It becomes a treasure hunt to find all of these wonderful elements scattered around the park.
This dramatic and huge gear piece sits in a garden setting with its rich green glaze and remarkable fish 'story' seen in the texture of the clay.
Walking around the park, we came out on a view of Shaws Cove to the north. With classic cliff homes scrambling up the steep hill side, it creates the air of a secret resort.
And finally, there are always the sea cliffs with palms framing our view south as we walk the rim pathway around Heisler Park.
