PAT DARRIN

“THE BEACH IN MY BACKYARD (State Beach in the Sixties)”

Artist Opening Reception

Saturday, June 20, 2026

5pm - 8pm

“When I moved to Santa Monica Canyon, Will Rogers State Beach was simply the backdrop of my adolescence, a place to hang out and photograph my friends. But as I watched the shoreline through my lens, that personal backyard transformed into a remarkable microcosm of California culture. What began as an intimate chronicle of local surfers soon expanded into a sweeping documentation of the entire beach. The Beach in My Backyard captures a unique convergence, the effortless overlap of Hollywood actors, visionary writers, and boundary-pushing artists with the daily rhythms of local characters and curious tourists. This collection is both a nostalgic look at a formative personal era and historical record of a sun-drenched sanctuary where creativity and leisure met at the edge of the Pacific.” - Pat Darrin (Artist Statement)

BIO

Pat Darrin is a filmmaker, director of photography, and photographer with a career spanning over five decades. He transitioned into film in 1970, with early work including a documentary about songwriter Johnny Mercer. As a cinematographer and director of photography, Darrin has shot projects across feature-length documentaries, narrative film, and music, collaborating with a range of artists and directors to capture prominent cultural figures and movements. His still photography focuses on coastal culture and the social microcosm of Southern California beaches. His images have been published in The Surfer’s Journal, Zero Break, and Taschen's Surfing. He is currently developing The Beach in My Backyard, a photo essay and upcoming grid installation documenting the community of Santa Monica Canyon. Darrin’s educational background includes teaching filmmaking in France on behalf of the U.S. State Department, as well as leading lighting workshops, such as "Beyond the Soft Box," at the Palm Springs Photo Festival. He works from his studio, combining analog and digital workflows to produce prints and installations.

An evening of Community filled with Art, Food, & Drink!

*complimentary valet parking available for the evening of the opening

 For any additional information please contact the gallery.