Paso Arts | Lonnie Hood’s Legacy Lives On

from Central Coast Journal • May 2022

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PASO ART

Lonnie Hood’s Legacy Lives On

BY BAILEY ADAMS

words, Lonnie used each and every syllable to express his excitement and joy for the every-day. Throughout his life, he approached anything new with curiosity and gusto. He loved art, music, and nature. Lonnie believed that your eye is the best camera, and he encouraged all to learn to use that instrument.

There’s a lot more to Studios on the Park’s photography exhibition than meets the eye. Sometime in his teens, Lonnie got a camera. The photography bug bit him hard, and when he came to Cal Poly as a freshman, he earned extra money by photographing the ROTC cadets. As his life unfolded in the Los Angeles area, he continued to take and develop (old school indeed) photos. He was passionate about his beloved pictures until he passed away in 2021.

Lonnie Hood had a talent for seeing the familiar in an unfamiliar way. Just as some artists use paints or clay, Lonnie used his camera to tell his story. If a picture truly says a thousand

“This exhibition embodies the mission of Studios on the Park by inspiring and encouraging young artists and the community,” said Anne Laddon, a resident artist at Studios. This show was made possible through an anonymous donation in his name. What better way to celebrate the life of a photographer than to witness his love for capturing the ordinary in extraordinary ways through the eye of the next generation?

In this exhibition, the photography of aspiring young photographers aged 7 to 18 was displayed all along the atrium walls at Studios on the Park, all thanks to the influence of Lonnie Hood. With this photography show, “Through the Eye of the Next Generation,” Lonnie Hood’s legacy lives on. Studios on the Park was absolutely thrilled to be able to honor the man who captured his life, his story, our county, and our hearts with his photography.

Lonnie’s wife, Pat Hood, shared that “Lonnie would be so happy to see that his legacy is supporting young photographers. I bet he would think that they mastered the art of utilizing the eye and the camera.” 