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Catalina Museum for Art & History Presents Work by Sonia Romero

06.10.25

The Catalina Museum for Art & History is now showcasing From Los Angeles to Catalina: The Art of Sonia Romero, an intimate and visually rich exhibition by celebrated Los Angeles-based artist Sonia Romero. On view through Sept. 27, 2025, the exhibition features Romero’s iconic silkscreen prints, paintings, and a new site-specific piece capturing the nostalgic charm and layered cultural history of Catalina Island.

Romero, known for her intricate paper cutting, printmaking, and mixed-media paintings, spent summer 2024 in Avalon connecting with the local community. During her stay, she led museum workshops and explored the museum’s extensive archive of vintage Catalina ephemera, gathering visual references and historical insight for her latest work.

Deeply rooted in Chicano culture and shaped by the landscapes of California, Romero’s art explores themes of identity, community, and connection to place. The exhibition marks the beginning of her ongoing exploration of Catalina Island, a journey sparked by her first visit to the island at age 14. With plans for future works already underway, Romero intends to return to Avalon to continue expanding the series.

Visitors to the museum will be the first to experience this evolving body of work, a visual dialogue between artist and island that blends memory and imagination.

Exhibition details

From Los Angeles to Catalina: The Art of Sonia Romero

On view through Sept. 27, 2025

Catalina Museum for Art & History
217 Metropole Ave., Avalon, CA 90704

Museum hours
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed Mondays from September (after Labor Day) through May
Closed New Year’s Day, July 4, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day

Admission
Adults $18
Seniors 60 and older, active military and veterans, healthcare workers and students $15
Catalina Island residents with proof of residency $12
Golden State Advantage cardholders with up to two adults and their children under 18 Free
Children 15 and under with paid adult Free

For more information about the Catalina Museum for Art & History, visit CatalinaMuseum.org. 

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Ninth Annual Newport Beach Wooden Boat Festival to Celebrate Stories of the Sea

06.09.25

The ninth annual Newport Beach Wooden Boat Festival will set sail June 13-14 with a theme that celebrates Stories of the Sea: Wooden Boats in Film & Fiction.

Presented by Whittier Trust and hosted by the Balboa Yacht Club, the festival brings the romance and adventure of classic sea tales to life with a lineup of iconic wooden boats, many featured in films, fiction, or owned by Hollywood legends.

This year’s featured vessel is the fully restored Western Flyer, the historic sardine trawler that John Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts famously chartered to the Sea of Cortez, later chronicled in The Log from the Sea of Cortez.

The festival kicks off Friday, June 13, with an opening-night Premiere, channeling the glamour of Hollywood’s golden age. Guests will enjoy cocktails, heavy hors d’oeuvres, live entertainment, and a themed live auction. Attendees will also have the chance to preview boats on the docks and browse on-land displays. Tickets for Premiere Night are $95 and limited to 300 guests.

Proceeds from Friday’s auction and a portion of ticket sales will benefit the ALS Foundation (in honor of festival founder Ralph Rodheim), fund a scholarship at the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding, and support local youth sailing programs.

The main festival takes place Saturday, June 14, when more than 30 wooden boats will be on display on land and in the water. Festivalgoers can tour the vessels, hear stories from guest speakers, walk the Wooden Boat Walk of Fame, and view Cruising with Legends: The Boats of Hollywood’s Elite, a curated photo exhibit.

Visitors can also enjoy a cruise aboard Wild Goose, John Wayne’s iconic yacht, for $65 (includes Saturday admission).

“This year our festival has gotten bigger by getting smaller,” said event co-chair Stephen Paljieg. In collaboration with the Newport Beach Aquatic Center, the festival will also feature wooden rowing vessels—including some that have competed in the Olympic Games—celebrated in The Boys in the Boat.

A special weekend stay package is available through the festival’s hotel sponsor, Hyatt Regency Newport Beach.

The event is hosted in partnership with the City of Newport Beach, the County of Orange, and Visit Newport Beach.

Saturday festival tickets are $15, Wild Goose cruises are $65 (includes Saturday admission), and Friday’s Premiere Night is $95 (advance purchase only).

Tickets and information are available at newportbeachwoodenboatfestival.com. Tickets will also be sold at the gate on Saturday, June 14.

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