The Hilbert Selections

Newport Beach art collectors, Janet and Mark Hilbert, generously donated 17 beautiful giclée framed prints of paintings inspired from their private collection. The paintings are installed throughout the Pacifica campus.

The Hilbert collection is world-class and one of the largest collections of California Scene Paintings in the United States. The collection consists of more than 1,000 paintings—mostly works in watercolor and oil created from the 1930s to the 1970s. Artists in the collection include Millard Sheets, Emil Kosa Jr., Phil Dike, Milford Zornes, and Rex Brandt.

“Our painting collection represents positive and uplifting images of everyday life in California, during the last 60 years,” said Mark Hilbert.

“Displaying these beautiful paintings on our campus is a privilege for Pacifica and we are very grateful,” said David O’Neil, Head of School. “The paintings are inspired by scenes of everyday life in California and capture Pacifica’s desire to appreciate beauty and to teach our students to live well—wherever God puts us.”

The appreciation and cultivation of beauty are significant to a Pacifica education—, especially within the Arts Department. G.K. Chesterton said: “Art is the signature of man.” Art is a distinctly human endeavor: of all God’s creatures, only humans express artistic creativity. Only humans, from the disordered raw materials around them, try to create beauty.

The Hilbert Selections at Pacifica serve as daily reminders of the beauty present in everyday life whether at work, play, or rest. Each painting teaches students that every aspect of their lives matters. It is for good reason the apostle Paul exhorted the faithful to look at—abide in—beautiful things: “Finally, brethren … whatever is lovely … dwell on these things.” What we experience, what we taste and see, shapes who we are and who we will become. Our students must not merely read about beauty, but must dwell on it in order to appreciate and internalize it.

Pacifica’s goal is to make learning a joyful endeavor. Surrounding our students and teachers with beautiful art inspires them to find joy in all facets of life. G.K. Chesterton articulates this concept clearly: “Men do not produce art in order to become joyful. They are joyful, and, therefore, produce art. Men do not dance to be happy. They dance because they are happy. Art is not the mother, but the child of beauty.”

The Hilbert Selections at Pacifica reflect beauty in the places where students think, live, learn, create, engage, and do ordinary life.