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Corona del Mar Today: ‘Guerrilla’ sand artist discusses his unique work

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An artist who creates masterpieces in the sand at Corona del Mar State Beach said the circles that appeared earlier this month were indeed his work, the last pieces he created before an injury sidelined him.

Christopher Owens has been creating sand artwork for more than a decade, and the beach also known as Big Corona is one of his favorite canvases.

“Corona is my favorite because the view from the bluffs is phenomenal, and the sun hits it perfectly,” he said. “I usually show up in the late afternoon. It’s all about patterns — smooth sand versus grooved sand. It’s all about the shadows and the way the sun sets. I get into my work, and it’s really relaxing, and I look up and see a crowd taking pictures, and it makes me happy.”

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On Jan. 5, Owens visited Big Corona and created circle patterns in the sand.

A few days later, he said, he was at Crystal Cove State Park, working out plans for a new design, when he sprained his ankle.

“I was looking at the stars and stepped off a curb and rolled my ankle and landed on my knee,” he said. “It was a week-and-a-half-long setback. Hopefully, I’ll get out a couple nights this week. I’m going to be OK, and I’ll be back.”

Owens said he likes to move from beach to beach, referring to himself as a “guerrilla artist” who enjoys surprising people with his work rather than announcing where and when he’ll appear.

He has created hearts, shooting stars, snuggles and even a portrait of a woman in the sand.

“And maybe a shamrock for St. Patrick’s Day,” he said.

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Mayor addresses chamber about city’s future

Ed Selich, speaking for the third time as Newport Beach’s mayor, told the crowd at the Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce’s annual mayor’s luncheon that he looked forward to working with four new City Council members during his last two years in office.

“It is a drastic change,” Selich told the crowd at Five Crowns Restaurant on Tuesday. “I look forward to new blood on the council. I think it’s a good time to take their new ideas and blend them with city policy. We don’t have revolution. We have evolution.”

City Councilman Scott Peotter also attended. Chamber President Linda Leonhard thanked both men, saying they had been supporters of Corona del Mar and the chamber for years.

Selich said he didn’t want to give a preview of his mayor’s dinner speech, which he will deliver at the Speak Up Newport event on Feb. 5.

But he did present an overview of last year’s City Council accomplishments, which included beautification projects, revitalization efforts and improvements for bicycle and pedestrian safety.

He urged residents to attend the 9 a.m. Jan. 31 goal-setting meeting in the Civic Center Community Room.

Possible goals for the new year, he said, may include adding more dog parks and creating a Corona del Mar bypass plan, which could ease traffic congestion on East Coast Highway by using signs with real-time traffic updates to encourage motorists to use Newport Coast Drive or San Joaquin Hills Road, and possibly toll reductions on the 73.

The City Council also will consider whether to fund a Corona del Mar entryway beautification plan, he said.

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Topiary dolphins growing slowly

Bad news for locals who were looking forward to new dolphin topiaries that were to be planted in Corona del Mar this winter: The slow-growing critters won’t be ready for probably another year.

“Unfortunately, the dolphin topiaries are not ready,” said Dan Sereno, Newport Beach’s landscape manager. “The vendor was apologetic at the slow growth but promises that they will be full by the end of this year and ready to transplant. Therefore, if they look good by fall of this year, we will plant them in time for the holidays. Otherwise we will wait until January 2016.”

The dolphins are created by growing a hedge around a wire topiary frame shaped like a dolphin, and the new topiaries are only about halfway up the wire cage, he said.

Late last year, Sereno said he hoped the replacement dolphins would be ready to be installed next month. Previously, members of the Corona del Mar Business Improvement District said they hoped the new dolphins would be ready by September 2014.

In February 2014, the improvement district board voted to replace the 12 dolphins planted in 1993, which had become overgrown and misshapen.

Since 2011, former City Councilwoman Nancy Gardner and district members had discussed the need for replacements, saying the dolphins looked like manatees that needed a diet, and that crews were having problems shaping them correctly.

Replacing the dolphins, including median landscaping and improvements, will cost about $13,000.

The improvement district had hoped to auction the current dolphin topiaries as a fundraiser, but Sereno said transplanting them would be costly, and it was likely half would die as a result of being moved.

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Pocket park could be done in June

A Corona del Mar pocket park, which has been on hold for more than a year, will begin moving forward, Selich said at the Corona del Mar Residents Assn. meeting on Thursday.

Selich first suggested creating a pocket park in the sloping lawn below the Hobie Surf Shop mural in 2012. The property owner agreed to donate the land to the city, but when she died in December 2013, the property transfer was delayed.

At the association’s January meeting, however, Selich said the project would be going out to bid soon.

“The deed went to the county recorder for recordation,” Selich said in an email. “As soon as we get it back, we will advertise for bids as the plans are complete; that takes about three to four weeks. It will probably go to council to approve the construction contract in early March.”

Construction could begin in April and be finished in about 90 days, perhaps late June, he said.

Plans for the 1,300-square-foot plot of land at 3140 East Coast Hwy. include terraced, drought-tolerant landscaping, an irrigation system, low block retaining walls, concrete seating and walkway and up-lights for the existing adjacent Hobie wall mural. The cost would be $90,000.

Corona del Mar Today appears Sundays in the Daily Pilot. Read daily updates at coronadelmartoday.com.

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