The Seal Beach Lifeguard Headquarters has a new surf and weather report board to display outside the station next to the pier. Local artist and owner of Wanderbloom Fine Jewelry, Amanda McGinnis created the sign as her second commission from Lifeguard Chief Joe Bailey.
Lifeguards installed the updated report board earlier this month.
McGinnis expects this new sign to be a fun landmark for beach-goers who want information about the waves and weather conditions.
The report board will now have larger spaces for information and a colorful panoramic mural.
Bailey first approached former Seal Beach Jr. Lifeguard, Amanda McGinnis in 2006 to update the weather report board after learning that her art and jewelry designs were being displayed in local galleries. At the time, the board was a very simple grid with no real aesthetic interest.
When that sign needed repair, Bailey recruited McGinnis to create a sign that would bring color and excitement to the Lifeguard station. McGinnis’ first motif was a view from inside a wave with the pier in the background. The surface of the 2006 mural has been kept in great condition.
However, due to the pier-side location, the board itself has warped from extreme weather. Therefore, Bailey has again recruited McGinnis to update the mural on new board. The 2014 version is a design that was chosen by Bailey and a few of the Lifeguards from eight sketches presented by McGinnis. The chosen design was then hand-painted by McGinnis as a 9 foot by 4 foot mural on wood.
McGinnis lives and operates her fine jewelry business in Seal Beach. She developed her passion for fine jewelry during high school and college as an apprentice at a jewelry store on Main Street. She grew up surfing and was a member of Seal Beach Jr. Lifeguards.
McGinnis has a classic art education including: a BFA from CSULB and a 4.0 GPA in Art Center College of Design and Laguna Art and Design extension courses. Check out her latest jewelry designs @: www.wanderbloom.com
