The Palm Court Arts Complex is home to the Great Park Gallery and the Great Park Artist Studios. The Palm Court’s re-purposed military structures now form a cultural campus supporting the development of a fresh approach to establishing an interdisciplinary, public arts program.
Learn more about exhibitions at the Irvine Fine Arts Center here.
Learn more about exhibitions at City Hall here.
Thursdays & Fridays: Noon–4 p.m.
Saturdays & Sundays: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Free Admission
COMING SOON
California Landscapes: Then & Now
Exhibition: May 26–August 25
Exhibition Opening Reception: Sunday, May 26, 1–3 p.m.
Since the beginning of the 20th century, Southern California has been a rich subject matter for artists across the state. From the plein air Impressionist painters who made Laguna Beach home to mid-century Abstract Expressionism and Minimalism, the Golden State’s landscape, geography, and geological characteristics have inspired artists across generations. In collaboration with the Irvine Museum, California Landscapes: Then & Now features a selection of historical California Impressionist reproductions from the Irvine Museum collection, exhibited together with a survey of contemporary artists who have chosen the diverse cityscapes and landscapes of California as subjects to explore in a variety of media.
This exhibition will feature artworks by Andrea Bersaglieri, Rio Clarkson Colman, Samantha Fields, Christian Franzen, Kiyomi Fukui, John Gamble, Adam Harrison, John Hilton, Virginia Katz, Jean Nagai, Michael Nannery, Will Nettleship, Edgar Payne, Oscar Pearson, Granville Redmond, Greg Rose, Jack Wilkinson Smith, and Derick Stuber in addition to an exhibition essay by art historian Dr. Julia Friedman.
California Landscapes: Collage Workshop
Palm Court Arts Complex
Sunday May 26, 2024, 1-3 p.m.
Explore your creativity through landscape and the art of collage. Taking inspiration from exhibiting artist Oscar Pearson, this self-guided workshop provides accessible ways for participants of all ages to play with color, form, and other elements of composition to create original artworks that are unique to their visual experiences. While you are here, see the many ways artists have engaged with nature in California in the Great Park Gallery exhibition, California Landscapes: Then and Now. No advanced registration is needed for this free, fun event for all ages.
California Landscapes: Indigo Handkerchief Printing Workshop
Palm Court Arts Complex
Saturday, July 13, 2024 1-3 p.m.
Craft a unique summertime masterpiece with the natural world. By using the indigo plant in the tataki zome process, a leaf pounding dye technique, participants will create and transfer a natural blue pigment onto a silk handkerchief. This workshop will be led by artist Michael Nannery. While you are here, see the many ways artists have engaged with nature in California in the Great Park Gallery exhibition, California Landscapes: Then and Now. No advanced registration is needed for this free, fun event for all ages.
California Landscapes: Origami Workshop
Palm Court Arts Complex
Saturday, August 10, 2024,1-3 p.m.
Delve into the intricate world of origami and create a one-of-a-kind printed masterpiece inspired by the beauty of nature with exhibiting artist Kiyomi Fukui. No advanced registration is needed for this free, fun event for all ages; children under 10-years-old must be accompanied by an adult.
More information coming soon.
Thursdays & Fridays: Noon–4 p.m.
Saturdays & Sundays: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Free Admission
*Great Park’s Hangar 244 is subject to closures due to private event rentals and/or larger city-wide events. For building closure status, please call 949-724-6599.
In 1993, Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro was designated for closing by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission and all of its activities were to be transferred to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. The station officially closed on July 2, 1999.
Since 2002, the Legacy Project has documented the transformation of the former Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro into the Orange County Great Park. They have created more than 200,000 images and famously turned a giant jet hangar into the world’s largest camera and used it to take the world’s largest picture.
These photos capture the Flying Bull insignia around the military base and its buildings.
A Guide to Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro is a documentary about the history of the region.
This 9-minute archive will take you on a retrospective journey from the early days of the Irvine family’s prodigious ranching and agricultural projects, to the coming of World War II and the subsequent arrival of Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro.
The film screens every 20 minutes in the History Room hallway of Hangar 244.
