April 2026 Newsletter
This April, Michael Stearns opens his studio doors on three distinct occasions. Housed within the Los Angeles Harbor Arts Building, the studio offers an intimate glimpse into a practice shaped by spontaneity, symbolism, and the timeless.
We invite you to save these dates for a rare opportunity to experience the debut of New Abstractions, alongside the continuation of the Aerial Urban Landscapes series and a selection of works from Dreamtime, Primal Pond, and Chaos.
SAVE THE DATES
Please join us for one or all three events:
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San Pedro First Thursday
April 2nd | 6:00pm – 9:00pm
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San Pedro’s Second Saturday
April 11th | 1:00pm – 5:00pm
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Arts Open
April 25th & 26th | 11:00am – 5:00pm -
Michael Stearns Studio
Los Angeles Harbor Arts Building
401 S. Mesa Street, San Pedro 90732
NEW WORK: New Abstractions
Join us for the opening of New Abstractions, debuting fresh works that build upon the continuation of the Aerial Urban Landscapes series.
ON VIEW: Selections from Three Series
Within the studio, you will find a curated selection of works drawn from three distinct bodies.
Dreamtime
Rooted in the Aboriginal Australian concept of Dreaming, a timeless creation era that shaped the world, this series explores a worldview where past and present coexist, the physical is deeply connected to the spiritual, and land, ancestors, and people form an interconnected story. Each work reflects a personal Dreaming, speaking to one’s place in the world and connection to both heritage and environment.
Primal Pond
This body of work culminates in a manifestation of symbols, blending devotional convictions with forward-thinking concepts found in cosmology. As Carl Sagan wrote in Cosmos, “The surface of the Earth is the shore of the cosmic ocean… We are made of star stuff. We are a way for the cosmos to know itself.” Stearns channels this sense of cosmic longing and belonging, inviting viewers to wade into the waters of the unknown.
Chaos
Embracing spontaneity, Chaos breaks traditional constraints to foster unexpected forms of expression. Disorder becomes a generative force; accidents and randomness shape the work, revealing unexpected harmonies, emergent patterns, and structured compositions born from apparent disarray.
We hope you will join us to explore these narratives in person. Whether you come for the energy of First Thursday, the relaxed pace of Second Saturday, or the immersive weekend of Arts Open, we look forward to welcoming you.
Michael Stearns Studio
Michael Stearns Studio cordially invites you to a series of exhibitions and events this October.
First Thursday, October 2nd, 6:00–9:00 PM
Join us for the First Thursday Art Walk at the Los Angeles Harbor Arts (LAHA) building for the debut of two concurrent exhibitions. We are proud to present "Fragments," a solo exhibition of new work by Dave Clark, hosted in our studio space. Concurrently, the main gallery (upstairs) will feature the group show "Forces: Persuasion in Abstract."
Save the Date for the Artist Receptions: Saturday, October 18th, 6:00–9:00 PM
We invite you to an evening reception to celebrate Dave Clark's "Fragments" and the group exhibition "Forces: Persuasion in Abstract." This event offers a further opportunity to engage with the artworks and artists.
Long Beach Open Studio Tour: October 25th & 26th, 1:00–5:00 PM
Michael Stearns Studio will participate in the annual tour, opening its private residency to the public.
Public Discourse
Michael Stearns Studio Presents Public Discourse San Pedro, CA (August 1, 2025) – Michael Stearns Studio is pleased to announce Public Discourse, an exhibition of works by Phoebe Barnum, Rose C'est la Vie, Dave Clark, Diane Cockerill, Eugene Daub, Anne Olsen Daub, Patty Grau, Donna Herman, Jim Murray, Lowell Nickel, Paula A. Prager, Peggy Sivert (Zask), Michael Stearns, and Mick Victor. The opening reception will take place on August 7th, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM at Los Angeles Harbor Arts, 401 S. Mesa St., San Pedro, CA 90731.
Among the artworks, Uniform by Rose C'est la Vie, juxtaposes historical and contemporary imagery to create charged visual paradoxes. The layered composition walks a razor's edge between pointed commentary and open-ended inquiry, using symbolic collision rather than direct representation.In Take a Knee, Eugene Daub's small, blackened cardboard sculpture reveals flashes of green and red beneath its fractured surface. The kneeling figure's upraised fist emerges with urgent clarity. The work's rough texture and hidden hues hold both the grit of struggle and glimmers of resilience.
In VICTIM (War in Ukraine), Peggy Sivert (Zask) layers a New York Times front page depicting a young woman whose dinner is interrupted by shrapnel. The fissures tearing through the collage mirror the fractures of a nation at war, while the work's title extends to those facing oppression everywhere.
Public Discourse runs through September 20, 2025, and is curated by Michael Stearns and Edith MonDragon (MonDragon Fine Arts). Together, the works in this exhibition, whether through stark imagery, reclaimed materials, or symbolic forms, confront the tensions of our time with equal potency. In an era of conflict and division, Public Discourse asserts art's unique capacity to translate raw emotion into collective reflection.
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For press inquiries, interviews, or high-resolution images, please contact: Michael Stearns Studio @The Loft401 S. Mesa St.San Pedro, CA 90731
E: michaelstearnsstudio@gmail.com
PH: 562.400.0544
IG: @stearns.michaelFB: MichaelStearnsStudio
Studio hours: Saturdays, 1 - 5 p.m. and by appointment
Image (detail) : Mick Victor, The Burning of America, 2025, Mix Media, 18 x 20 in.
AT LA HARBOR ARTS (LAHA)
Our goal is to inspire discovery of San Pedro's Arts and Cultural District and all it contributes to the greater Los Angeles arts community. We aim to highlight and uplift our incredible local artists, performers, and musicians, showcasing the unique creative spirit that thrives throughout this vibrant city.
