To some young adults, the words art + history can trigger suppressed memories of large lecture halls, the ongoing droning of a professor’s monotonous voice and hazy overhead slides of classical and Modernist paintings.
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art aims to erase those flashbacks by providing an inviting atmosphere for visitors at the largest art museum in the western United States. This summer, LACMA hosts three exhibitions from three very different artists and art forms.
Summer Exhibitions
EATLACMA is a yearlong initiative between Los Angeles collective Fallen Fruit and LACMA. Visitors can see gardens designed by artists throughout the LACMA campus and also an exhibition featuring works from LACMA’s own private collection as well as new art media from Fallen Fruit.
Proving that art can extend past paintbrushes and sculptures, Cell Phone Stories uses mobile phone technology to circulate stories and narratives. Users can text “LACMA” to 67553 and over a three-month season experience five cell phone-exclusive stories, with contributors Rainn Wilson and the creators of Rodarte, Kate and Laura Mulleavy.
Finally, John Baldessari’s fresh and simple artistic works give his exhibition’s title justice. John Baldessari: Pure Beauty highlights the combination of painting, photography and film stills that Baldessari uses in his work. Baldessari brings the quintessential relaxed, Californian style to his work, whether it is a collection of photocompositions or a painting. To close the show, Baldessari will be displaying a multimedia installation particularly designed for this retrospective.
Visiting the Museum
A proponent of this type of contemporary art, visitor guide Jorge Leal encourages college students, young adults and families to take a tour of the modern works of art that the museum has to offer.
“It’s a good opportunity to experience the museum with family and friends, it’s very welcoming in the sense that you can bring your friends, you can bring your cousins, you can bring your younger siblings, or kids to the museum,” Leal said.
Alternative Art Forms
If art exhibits are not part of one’s interests, but musical concerts are, LACMA also offers a free concert series geared toward Latin grooves and beats every Saturday afternoon throughout the summer. Starting at 5:00 p.m., patrons can sit on the grass hills of Hancock Park and bring picnic baskets all while enjoying the rhythms and sounds of Latin music.
No matter what visitors are experiencing at LACMA, there seems to be a segment of art and music for every type of movement and personality.
Photos: courtesy of LACMA
