Laguna Art Museum invites you on a family-friendly adventure to the Mines of Southern California with modern alchemist, Adam Neeley!
Adam Neeley began visiting local gem mines to find gems for his jewelry as a child. After visiting the mines, he was inspired to combine the forces of art and nature – developing his deep passion for gems.
Oceanview Mine is the only actively open-to-the-public mine in the world-famous Pala Gem mining district, where visitors can also find their own gems! The Mine provides screens, water, buckets and shovels for you, plus a big pile of gem-rich dirt and gravel taken from our mines! After a brief training session, you have four hours to search the pile for gems. And you get to keep everything you find! Your ticket includes keeping all you find and one screened and washed 5-gallon bucket of rocks.
Guests will also receive a jeep tour of Chief Mountain to see all the currently active mines and prospects, as well as views of the famous Pala Chief, Tourmaline Queen and other historic mines.
This trip is suitable for ages 8 and up. We will meet at the entrance of Oceanview & Pala Chief Gem Mines at 9:15 am. Lunch will be provided. Alongside Adam Neeley, we hope this Father’s Day weekend and your family will explore the magic of finding art in nature!
Saturday
+ 9:15 a.m. Meet at Oceanview & Pala Chief Gem Mines
+ 9:30 a.m. Mine Tour with Adam Neeley
+ 12:30-1 p.m. Group Lunch – (they have two picnic areas)
+ 1:30 p.m. Depart Mine
Trip Cost:
$80 Ages 8-11
$95 Ages 12+
$320 Family Pack: 4 tickets
Contemporary Circle members may choose this event to use their complimentary attendance for two.
The ticket price includes a 4-hour guided mine tour, a meet and greet with Adam Neeley, and a catered lunch with Adam.
To make your reservation, please click here or contact Carly Bornmann, Development Events Coordinator, at cbornmann@lagunaartmuseum.org.
Adam Neeley is an award-winning artist-jeweler who transforms precious metals and gemstones into wearable art by traditional goldsmith techniques and modern technologies. His unique designs are inspired by the vast variety of shapes and colors found in the natural world. In fact, it was his childhood interest in collecting rocks that eventually drew Neeley to the master goldsmiths in Italy, where he would study the art of jewelry making. Eventually he developed his own style and techniques of goldwork that have won him international acclaim, as well as prestigious awards across the jewelry industry.
