Dr. Lila Crespin receives a well-deserved emeritus

On Thursday, June 10, Dr. Lila Crespin, Ph.D., was honored for her arts activism and advocacy by the Newport Beach Arts Commissioners on behalf of Mayor Avery and the City Council. The city’s esteemed art matriarch was presented with an emeritus award for her prominent role on the Newport Beach Arts Foundation board.

For 22 years, the Newport Beach Arts Foundation has worked together with the Newport Beach Arts Commission to keep art and cultural events at the forefront of city program offerings. Crespin has played an integral role in art advocacy, first as an arts commissioner, then as a leader of the Arts Foundation. 

According to resident Carmen Smith, “Lila Crespin is the ‘heart and soul’ of the Foundation. A role model for us all, Lila leads by example. She is always encouraging us to achieve more, and she is willing to volunteer her time and talent whenever needed.”

Courtesy of Newport Beach Arts Foundation

(L-R) Leslie O’Rourke, Diana Ghoukassian, Juanita Holley, Lila Crespin, Carmen Smith and Pat Jorgensen at the presentation

As a small child, Crespin loved producing art. As the youngest, with a substantial age gap to her siblings, the family quickly discovered her passion. Not only did crayons and drawing paper keep her busy, she created art promoting happiness, peace and continuity. As her family moved a lot during her formative years, she found her artistic talents to serve as an icebreaker for “the new kid in class.” It was through visual art production that Crespin’s self-esteem and confidence grew to gain acceptance from other students. A motivated student, she elevated her expertise by studying illustrations in books and magazines. Art helped her develop resiliency to succeed in all of her future endeavors. 

Throughout her primary education, art paved the way for Crespin’s undergraduate studies at UCLA. Throughout her life, all who meet or work with her become quickly aware of her leadership skills. The Mountain View School District asked her to develop and teach a K-8 district-wide art program. Later in life, she went back to get an MA in art production followed by a Ph.D. in art education. Her doctorate expanded her teaching beyond elementary school children to students at the Cal State universities (both Fullerton and Long Beach), as well as at Los Angeles Harbor College. 

After she retired, Crespin was given an exciting adventure when The Getty invited her with five other esteemed art educators to assist school districts nationwide to strengthen their art education programs. For five years, this effort served many states before the Getty chose to focus on the Los Angeles Unified School District. After the program ended, Crespin moved on to co-author an art education series that is still used by many school districts throughout the nation.

In 1998, Crespin joined the newly formed Newport Beach Arts Foundation and quickly moved from member to chairperson. Under her leadership, the partnership between the Foundation and the City Arts Commission grew. In 2003, she helped to produce the first Art in the Park, which has since become a significant fundraiser for the Newport Beach Arts Foundation.

According to fellow NBAF board member Pat Jorgenson, “Lila has always loved three things – her family, getting to know people and an interest in the arts.” At 92, Crespin is the mother of three boys and has eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. In addition to making a social impact, her greatest influence may be witnessed in the life of her grandson, Benjamin Victor, a prominent sculptor who has received national acclaim. Locally, his work can be seen in Newport Beach’s Castaways Park. 

Victor is the only living artist to have three works in the National Statuary Hall in the United States Capitol. His first work to receive attention was a life-size statue of the biblical character Samson, sculpted when the prodigy was a sophomore art major at Northern State University. The piece earned Victor a scholarship “in recognition of his aesthetic and conceptual integrity” from the prestigious National Sculpture Society in New York City. At age 23, Victor was commissioned to produce his proposal of a trio of soldiers for the Aberdeen Regional Airport War Memorial in South Dakota. He has completed numerous commissions from cities, institutions and nonprofits for public artworks throughout the west and upper midwest, often to commemorate individuals or groups. 

Crespin has devoted her life to both the arts and her family. Through her volunteerism, her legacy continues to impact future generations. The Newport Beach Arts Commission and the Newport Beach Arts Foundation are proud to honor her.

Crespin invites you to visit the Foundation’s new website at www.newportbeachartsfoundation.org to learn more on how to get involved.