By Eric Longabardi
When you think of Newport Beach, or at least when I think of Newport Beach, I don't think of a place brimming with artistic talent. Don't get me wrong, and no offense, I'm sure there are very talented creative people here in town and I know a few of them. People like Miriam Baker, a longtime sculptor who lives on Balboa Island and just finished molding clay in ways I can only dream about for a life size soon-to-be dedicated statue of former President Ronald Reagan that the City will unveil later this year.
It may just be me, but when I like many in this city think 'art', I tend to look south towards Laguna Beach. That's where you'll find the world renown artist colony just down Pacific Coast Highway. When I'm looking for that special kind of person, the kind you can call an 'artist', that is usually where I'm sure to find one. Although I'm not sure I can define exactly what one is, I can assure you I know it when I see it!
One thing I do expect to find here in Newport Beach is surfers. Surfers love Newport and Newport loves them. It always has and always will. The sport and its culture have been a part of the fabric that ties this city together since the first days the sport took hold so many decades ago.
I've seen with my own eyes a few works of art over the years. People like that Italian guy, what's his name?, who painted the 'Mona Lisa' hanging in the Louve in Paris. Her eyes once followed me as I walked by. I remember it well. Or even the vivid dolphins, whales and the rainbow of sea-life a guy named 'Wyland' sees as his never-ending ocean canvas. I've seen all that and everything in-between.
I've also seen a lot of surfers and even more waves here in Newport Beach. From the world famous "Wedge' to 'The Point' or north to the jetties of upper Newport. I spent my youth on the beaches of Newport seemingly every day growing up in this town. I have the chronically messed up ears from being in the water too much to prove it!
But what I have never seen before in Newport Beach is someone who has turned a passion for surfing and a love of woodworking into a lifelong passion for art.
That was until recently. When I met Mike Bless.
Actually I met Mike long ago growing up here in Newport. I just sort of forgot. Life has a way of doing that. With age memories fade and they did this time as well. Mike and I went to the same High School in Newport. We knew some of the same people, but for some reason our paths never really crossed or stayed connected. We weren't close friends growing up in this mecca of surf, sand and sun. But what tied us together, then and now, was that we both had the same mutual friend. We did then and we still do now. His name is Rich. He doesn't like publicity and is humble modest guy, so I'll leave it at that.
As you probably expected Rich is a surfer too, just like Mike. Turns out I wasn't much of a surfer in my younger days, but I always managed to find another way to stay in the ocean for hours on end, either body-surfing or on a boogie board. Now I tell stories about what I can remember. Sometimes as you might expect the waves and wipeouts have grown bigger and more spectacular with time. I'm o.k. with that. I tell stories for a living.
One thing I know for sure about Mike now is that he paid a lot more attention in high school wood-shop than I ever did. That was when he wasn't at the beach surfing or hanging out just like I was. Or maybe he just had a special innate ability to understand how creating things with your own two hands is a lost art more and more in these days. Mike's dad was in the construction business, that probably played a role for Mike. He can cut, carve, shape and customize wood and other things related in ways I and most others will never know.
You can see some of that special talent and artistic ability in a special video I created about him. Take a look you will see what I mean:
Mike's passion for his 'art' turned into his profession long ago.
He still does it all right here in Newport Beach. He even built a house to showcase it. If you're heading north on West-PCH in Newport Shores hang a right and head to Newport Shores Drive. When you run into the house that looks like Newport's 62nd lifeguard tower, you'll know you're in the right place!. You can't miss it.
Mike's path has crossed mine once again. This time nearly 30 years later we both have families and we live not far from each other here in Newport Beach. Recenly we reconnected via that same old friend once again. This time, unlike the last time, I intend to make sure our paths stay connected.
Long ago somebody told me 'art' is in the eye of the beholder, but an 'artist' is somebody who can sell their art and gets paid to do it.
Mike Bless is an 'artist'
I think you'll agree.
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