Fossil Murals

Upon entering the Laguna Hills Community Center, there are 3 large murals that represent the 3 major paleo-environments. The Community Center murals illustrate the prehistory of the City of Laguna Hills changing landscapes. These are represented by a shallow tropical embayment, and open sea, and Ice Age grasslands. View the fossil murals photo gallery.

Open Sea

Open Sea Mural

Ice Age Grasslands

Ice Age Grasslands Mural

Shallow Tropical Embayment

Shallow Tropical Embayment Mural
About the Artist-John Iwerks
Muralist John Iwerks studied landscape painting, sculpture, drawing, and printmaking at Santa Barbara Art Institute, Mendocino Art Center, and Santa Barbara City College. He is a founding member of The Oak Group, a group of artists who paint in support of protecting natural landscapes and the environment, and has long been involved in interesting projects that involve natural history. He has worked in Exhibit Design and Mural painting for many organizations. These include:
  • “Ceramics Revisited” exhibit Illustrations
  • California State University, Northridge
  • Carrizo Plain National Monument Visitor Center
  • Channel Islands National Park
  • Cross section Murals of N. America and of Santa Barbara Channel
  • Diorama, Nature Trail illustrations
  • El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park
  • Geology Mural
  • Santa Barbara City College Geology Department
  • Santa Barbara Island Visitor Center
  • Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
  • The Natural Conservancy
In addition, he has painted murals for dozens of other community venues and several colleges. His primary focus is on the geologic forces that influence the gesture of landforms, as well as capturing life in motion.

Experience
John Iwerks and his wife Chris Chapman served as Preserve Managers from 2001 to 2005 on the Arroyo Hondo Preserve for the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County. John Iwerks has taught landscape painting and sketching at Santa Barbara City College since 1991.