Los Angeles County Museum of Art

4/10/2011

My favorite museum in Los Angeles! Oh how I miss LACMA.

The Broad Contemporary houses some excellent contemporary pieces including tons of Koons and Warhol and a huuuuge Serra piece in the bottom level. Very trippy if you walk in between the curving steel walls. I wish they let you take photos in the Broad though! It's very annoying having security people glare at you as you're trying to enjoy the work. Their permanent contemporary collection is also wonderful as well as their art from all different cultures and art by the masters. They have SUPER extensive exhibitions that change every few months. I also love when they have playful installations in the entrance and of course the City Lights lamps at the front that are now pretty much an LA landmark.

I was a little disappointed when the Resnick Pavilion opened though because I didn't expect it to be so....dull. Kind of a waste of space in my opinion but hopefully that will change soon!

This is def the place to get your fill of a variety of art in one location. It's also conveniently located near tons of galleries on Wilshire so you can make it an art day!

11/20/2012

LACMA is a huge museum, and they've really stepped it up lately with a nice balance between high culture exhibitions and more pop friendly stuff (like the wildly popular Tim Burton exhibit that ran there last year to sell out crowds).

Their new Stanley Kubrick exhibit, running through June, is a perfect hybrid of those sensibilities, giving a full museum retrospective to an uncmompromising craftsman whose works of coldly remote beauty just happened to be multimillion dollar Hollywood productions. Kubrick was a master who fused art and pop, and that's why the exhibition fits in perfectly at LACMA.

Also currently on display is a nice section on the work of Carevaggio, as well the permanent collection, their famous Lights installation outside, the giant rock thing they just added. Kubrick's films are currently playing in their theater on weekends (on the same beautiful screen where I sat spellbound for an hour and a half at 2 in the morning as Christian Marclay's magnificent collage film, The Clock, played earlier this year).

There's a ton to see at one of the best museums in Los Angeles, enough to please high culture snobs as well as people who usually don't visit museums. A wonderful place in the heart of The Miracle Mile.

4/13/2012

Has redonkulously awesome exhibits!! The traveling ones I've seen have blown my mind. Like once, I went to see Cheech Marin's personal Chicano collection where I fell madly in love with Patssi Valdez's mmmmMagical organized disorganization and Yoko Ono was there with her friend and asked me to step aside 'cause I was in her way and I snapped at her to "STFU Yoko!!".

Just kidding she didn't ask me to move out of the way. I am polite and stepped back on my own like a big girl. So Lacma is rad. Oh I love you Lacma! I could wander your halls all day. Inspiring and thought provoking, great for friends, dates, or forever alone days. Also, so many PRETTY things!!

I'm a girl, I like pretty what can I say.

8/15/2011

This past weekend marked our first visit to LACMA in all our years living in the LA area. We came specifically for the Tim Burton exhibit (which I will not bore with here, because I have reviewed that separately) but took advantage of the full ticket price to make the most of our experience and see as much as we could.

The exhibitions as a whole have a definite dated feel to them. Not just that the architecture is stuck in a time warp East of the entry pavilion, but the way that the works were exhibited felt aged and tired. There are many significant works on display, and I thoroughly enjoyed them, but it felt kind of depressing walking through the narrow galleries with no natural light, and uninspired layouts.

The nicest, newest building housing a permanent installation contains the most ridiculous examples of what some people consider art, also known as the "contemporary" gallery. So I can take shipping boxes for Kellogg's corn flakes and stack them along a wall, and it's art? Or put three signed basketballs floating in an aquarium and it's in a historic county institution for all to admire?? I am myself somewhat an amateur artist and craftsman, but I really don't get it. Then you take an inflatable pool toy centipede and blow it up so that it is sticking through two sides of a ladder, and it's worthy of being shown here? The way that the rooms were curated, with so much empty space, could lend itself to much more art being displayed, while really great pieces that were not contemporary were crammed together in older, stuffy rooms. I think this really put me off that so much space was devoted to these works (and negative space around them) while other historically significant masterpieces such as Picasos and Kandinskys are stuffed in dated displays with poor lighting.

We were getting tired, and didn't make it into the Japanese wing, but saw most of the other works in the Ahmanson building and all of the art in the American Art building. I enjoyed the Diego Rivera on display, though the light that should have shone on it was burned out in the track lighting above. I also enjoyed the Virgin de Guadalupe with it's gilding and enormous stature.

Parking in the underground lot is $10, which was fine to not have to worry about meters, or where we were going to park and walk to the museum. Admission without the special exhibits fee is $15, which is worth it for a world class institution, however, not sure that I will go back to see the permanent collection again, unless there is another special exhibition that we are there for.

5/17/2012

I love coming here and spending time by myself with the art! Especially with the newly discovered Stark Bar, I think having a drink before walking around might make everything much more interesting.

Students get a discounted price which is nice but I came in on a Friday after 7pm which is when they do their free admission and since it wasn't too bad and parking is free, I think I will stick to coming during these times.

1/7/2011

LACMA is a great Los Angeles institution. Sure it's not as grand and awe-inspiring as the Getty, but this is an accessible, vital place for art in the heart of LA. I hadn't been in a while, but a Groupon offering half off an annual membership enticed me to pay a visit. I like the new additions they've built (forget the name associated with it), with the bright red steel supports that add some visual pizzazz. I got to check out the following exhibits: "Fashioning Fashion: European Dress in Detail, 1700-1915," "
Olmec: Colossal Masterworks of Ancient Mexico," and "Eye for the Sensual: Selections from the Resnick Collection." Since I have an annual membership now I didn't feel the need to overload--a short and sweet couple of hours, a walk around the tar pits and a jaunt over to the farmer's market made it an awesome LACMA day.

8/11/2011

Not a fan at all. Parking is $10 on top of the $15 permanent collection ticket (or $20+ for special exhibits).

Instead of just offering audio tours for those with special disabilities, they offer very little information on each piece and expect you to spend $7 for an audio tour device to hear more about the works on display. It seems really unfair! So for Tim Burton, I would have had to pay $37 for parking, ticket and audio device. These devices are a complete hindrance to everyone else because people stand with their face two inches in front of a painting and stay there until the audio clip on their device is finished. It's pretty annoying

The special exhibits typically don't allow any photography, which makes no sense to me. I went for the Warhol and Tim Burton exhibits and you can't photograph them, even without flash on your phone. Yet you can take as many photos as you like in their permanent exhibits, which are much older and far more delicate. I even saw people with tripods and full Nikon setups. For $20 plus parking, I think I have the right to take a non-flash picture on my phone of a Nightmare Before Christmas figurine.

The grounds are beautiful and I like that everything is spread out in different buildings. However, the high prices and incompetent staff who don't speak English are not worth it.

5/26/2012

LACMA is one of the best local attractions in LA. This museum has a ton to look at, and not just look at, but also interact with. For there are special events to attend to.

There are artifacts from the Ancient Oceanic times to Modern Art.

Also, this place is great for kids; whenever I go there I see kids having fun.

Those who are students and teachers, this place is great to visit and learn amazing things.

I went here with my family and we just had fun looking at so many interesting things. The environment is friendly and cheerful. It's a place where you could go and relax or just have a blast. Either way, this museum has a great environment and it's near to a lot of great cities: Hollywood and Beverly Hills.

Not to mention, they also have a Tim Burton themed museum, but this is a separate cost to the LACMA museum itself.

Overall, there is a variety of things that you can check out at this museum!

6/24/2012

Huge fan.  Free for military, they have a huge collection of great art.  My favorite was in the contemporary museum where they had a huge toy race car track set up  with hundreds of cars going everywhere.  

Also parking on the street is a better deal than in the museum parking lot...$4 vs $10 for 4 hours.

5/24/2012

The LACMA is a special kind of museum. It's a sprawling oasis surrounded by the rush of stopped traffic. The LACMA is a kind of community center filled with beautiful bits and hosting events that, just for a moment, make the city seem smaller, friendlier, and filled with like-minded compatriots.

If you get a chance, go on a tour with the charming edible gardener. Watch Metropolis II for 15 minutes, alternating from following the tracks to looking at the wonder on faces of small children as they discover its intricacy. Follow the LACMA on twitter for always interesting event announcements that will bring you a little more much-needed delight in your life.

The LACMA is so much more than just another art museum.

11/7/2012

LACMA is thee best art museum in LA covering modern to contemporary, even some antiquities at times. It's always a great time, especially since the renovation of 3 new buildings.

I went to see the Stanley Kubrick exhibit and it is massive, overflowing rooms of info.

The Ken Price ceramic sculpture exhibit is also worth seeing--fabulous.

Levitating Mass was less exciting than I had expected being that there is no risk of it falling and doesn't seem to levitate and one side is much more interesting than the other, but the feat of finding the ideal rock and getting it to the museum is interesting, much like the shuttle to the Air & Space museum.  The trend here is apparently to get a picture taken with your cameraphone so that you appear to lift the giant rock in the air. (Also his life sized photos of rocks are on the 3rd floor of the red/contemporary building)

If you haven't been definitely check out the entire contemporary building (west end)--The Richard Serra, etc, as well as the modern building (in the middle).

Oh and the 2nd floor of the red/contemporary building has a decent exhibit on Surrealism.

Also, don't miss the Robert Mapplethorpe: XYZ exhibit.

The Ed Ruscha was disappointing being that a lot of his work is missing, but at least they have his parking lot series.

In four hours I was exhausted and only got through half the museum and could have spent more time if I wasn't so exhausted. So yes, it's far more than you can see in a single visit unless you speed walk and don't read anything. LACMA now rivals MOMA.

$20 is steep but If I had joined I could have had a free ticket to the Kubrick exhibit for about $75 a year...keep meaning to join. It's really pricey but one ticket does get you into all of the exhibits.

They had a deal over the summer that for $10 a ticket (father's day?) you got a free pass for the entire summer, and I didn't even end up using my free pass, but if you get on their mailing list or happen to show up on the right day they do have deals.

Oh and if you have small children they will love Metropolis in the contemporary building. With about a thousand matchbox cars running through a massive city it's the equivalent of crack for kids, not that I would know.

9/4/2012 Updated review

It seems to be a trend of mine to visit the LACMA every Labor Day weekend. But I guess it's also becoming a trend of mine to be in LA every Labor Day weekend.

The best thing about going to LACMA on a Labor Day weekend is free general admish if you've got a Bank of America card! And luckily for me and my unemployed self, the EDD Bank of America card works as well! Thank the lucky stars for that, god knows I gotta save that admission money for foods! :)

Came by to see the Metropolis exhibit, pretty damn amazing. I loved all the toy cars and trains moving around in the exhibit. It was amazeballs I could probably just sit there and stare at it forever.

The Levitated Mass exhibit was pretty cool too. I read an article beforehand about how it took a super long ass time (can't remember how long exactly) to transport that boulder over to the museum because it could only be transported at night due to it's weight and sat parked on the side of the road during the day.

Also hit up the other exhibits I skipped on last time, like the Art of the Americas and East Asian Art. The art I still didn't really care for but I loved the architecture of the building housing the Japanese art. Pretty amazeballs, kind of reminded me a bit of Frank Lloyd Wright's style.

I'm sad the giant balloon dog and the cracked egg are gone now. Sadsies.

Now that I've seen everything at the museum, I think I'd only come back for a special exhibit, especially since I'd be coming down from the Bay and they've gotten rid of my favorite balloon dog.

5/25/2013

It's LACMA. Need I say more?

10/11/2012

You might be under the impression that a fine art museum in Los Angeles might be second class, since LA and high culture don't exactly make nice.  

But, you'd be wrong.  

LACMA is worthy of mention in the same breath as other top museums around the country.  Their collection spans millennium and world cultures so there is literally something for everyone here, from the ancient world, to modern art, and everything in between.  

The facility itself is modern, exceptionally clean, and very Californian.  Couple that with a number of choice cafes and eateries on the museum grounds and you can easily spend a day at LACMA and not get bored.

The bad: parking is expensive, and admission isn't cheap either.  Also, the building of Japanese art is underwhelming.

6/3/2011

Not as great as The Getty, but it has a full bar hoo ha!

Great for a date because you're left alone and it's in the heart of L.A.

Free for L.A. residents after 5 p.m. and $10 for college students with a valid I.D.

Great areas around to take pictures.  You can play in the rows of lamps because even 25 year olds need playtime!

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  Trying to play hide and go seek, didn't work so well haha

  Trying to play hide and go seek, didn't work so well haha

3/6/2012

A membership pays for itself.  Especially if there are a couple of ticketed events you're interested in seeing.  

If you're reading this before June 2012 or so, definitely check out In Wonderland, where you can see some amazing female art and also several pieces by my favorite artist Remedios Varo that are on loan from my favorite Mexico City museum.  The Two Fridas also seems to be a big hit.

Don't bother with their restaurant or bar, but instead bring a picnic (like a Frenchie) and wander towards the tarpits on a warm day.  In fact, our favorite date is getting some Mozza to Go, and hitting either the sculpture garden or the Tarpits.  Who needs art when you have butterscotch budino? Of course, we do quite enjoy the art as well.  

The good thing about a membership, I'd like to add, is that you can see the collection and exhibits at your leisure, and don't feel pressured to see everything in one day.  Seriously, just do it.  You want to support the arts, don't you?

2/9/2012

After an entire summer and much ensuing sadness over never getting the chance to check out the Tim Burton exhibit, I jumped at  my first chance to check out LACMA. I went with a pretty large group and spent about two and half hours just walking around and checking out almost every exhibit. And, of course, taking copious amounts of pictures with the light posts outside.

I found especially interesting the California exhibit focusing on how the Golden State pretty much became the ish after World War II. Soaking up the sunny rays going from one exhibit to the next was the perfect complement.

Most of the collections there were pretty tight, except for a couple I just could not really see very much into...maybe I'm not artsy enough? Anyways, they also have a nifty cafe set up if you need a snack or coffee inbetween your appreciation of the fine arts.

My only real gripe is that some of their employees/security/whatever can be freakin' weird. They straight up made me and my friends feel super awkward at times. If you've ever seemed like you are aimlessly wandering around here, you will know what I mean.

Compared to my experience at the Getty Museum last year, it's definitely more modern, but the two are too different to compare. While I don't consider myself to be an art snob, I'd like to think that after my visit, LACMA really does have something for everyone. I would definitely come back in the future if I found myself with nothing to do in West LA.

4/15/2013

Came here yesterday on a gloomy sunday but none the less it was an awesome experience! The art was great. Not BANSKY great but none the less old school great. I really liked the roman catholic display. Also the victorian era display was pimp. I could see myself dressed very distingushed. Pop my collar one time feel me? They also had little match box cars life size city where they roam around. It was so cool. Like a train set but just all cars. The asian display was sorta weak to me. It didn't really showcase japan and korean culture i thought they would. The spanish display was good too. They had weapons and cooking ware diplays billions of years old. Then they had a room full of pink furniture which was a bit odd but hey that's art. It was pretty cool. I loved the gold plated jewelry and tribal mask and ceremonial wear. I like the foo dog and samurai display also. The cafe was cool but didn't eat there. We can think of more places for food. Sooo many filipino security yelling don't touch the displays please lol. WTF haha

7/1/2013

We came for the Kubrick exhibit and stayed for the atmosphere.  The Kubrick exhibit, despite high praise on Yelp, is rubbish to any Kubrick fan.  It's a display of props from his films.  That's not a notable exhibit, that's just literally an exhibit.  There's nothing that separates this from placing props from his films in my home with a note card next to it denoting the prop and the movie.  This wasn't an experience.  Kubrick would've been disappointed and clearly whatever brain trust was inspired to put on this exhibit has learned nothing from the mastermind himself.  There's barely three half rooms for 2001, a short hallway/room for Clockwork and a sad display of props from The Shining.  Here's an example of a cheap move: when you enter the exhibit, one of the first displays is a long case of lenses.  How inspiring.  Even to a DP/Camera operator.  

The rooms should've been immersive.  Easy example, the room for The Shining should have blood splashed on the walls.  It's an experience, what Kubrick worked towards all his life for his viewers.

Conclusion, this is a fine exhibit.  But fine is not Kubrick, so it's shit.  If it's not perfect, it's shit.  And that's okay to say.

7/8/2013

1. Each Museum you attempt to enter 'NO DRINKS!!'. 'You have to THROW AWAY your drinks!'-----I paid damn $6 for our small crappy drinks and they want us to throw it away?! WTF!! Why sell it in the 1st place?!
2. Each Museum you attempt to enter: 'WHERE'S YOUR TICKETS!!'
3. July 08 2013 between noon-1pm attempted to enter Hammer Museum. Tall obese long hair w/ a ponytail 50 or older age African-American lady w/ accent. 'YOU NEED 2 TICKETS to enter.' ----This made no sense when my nephew had the NexGen Card which entitled us to a free adult ticket. All the other buildings just required us to show 1 ticket. What's worse is that she asked us to go to the ticket booth and the pale skin young slightly overweight dark brownish black hair girl wearing a white shirt that day (perhaps had glasses) just ignored us. She sat in the middle seat or Ticket seat (not member) during the time of noon-1:30pm.
4. When attempted to enter the Resnick building between 11:30am-1pm tall Hawaiian/Samoan male young past the shoulder length curly in a pony-tail hair was an A**HOLE. 'YOU HAVE TO THROW AWAY YOUR DRINK!'
5. Ticket booth girl and Hammer Museum Lady = B*TCHES!!

1/8/2012

Very cool collection of art and artifacts here. I am no art buff, but I do enjoy going to museums and looking and admiring works that have been deemed important enough to be put on display there. It's a nice place to just lose yourself in your thoughts.

The presentation at LACMA is very cool, I love the "campus" feel that the grounds have, I love the "Streetlights" piece out front, I love the big heads on poles representing the Zodiac, its all very entertaining.

They currently have a showing of pieces regarding the history of design in California, and it was quite interesting to see how my home state influenced the rest of the world from that perspective.

They also have "Five Car Stud" by Edward Keinholz on display. This almost feels like an interactive piece of art, because it is a life size scene that you can walk through and inspect for yourself. It is a bit disturbing, but I still recommend it if you have not seen it.

7/11/2011

I've been coming to LACMA since I was a kid. Its great to see the complex growing, maturing, into a full fledged comprehensive museum. The campus complex screams "LA" and I'm glad its remained as such. The smell of tar, on occasion, wafting through the public spaces always reminds you of the unique location (La Brea Tar Pits are next door).

Living in Massachusetts, I've been spoiled by the brilliant collections of the MFA and Peabody Essex. LACMA has a ways to go to catch up, especially with their American collection. Still, with all of the $$$ floating around LA, its nice to see there is enough attention and support to grow the museum.

8/26/2012

Good museum. The rating is more of a 3.5.  I would definitely come back. There is a lot of art to view on the inside and has some great architectural work to view on the outside. I've only been here twice and I have not had enough time to view everything. The museum has enough exhibits to keep me wanting to come back.

The staff at the entrance were very friendly and helpful. I also enjoyed the latte I ordered at the cafe. There are also more places to eat on the outside. On the Friday I went it looked as if they were setting up for a concert. I did not have enough time to view and enjoy but would love to check it out the next time I come.

This museum is also great to bring children. I believe there is also a section where children can work on creating art with their parents.

6/9/2011

Wow, the LACMA is definitely a full day activity! Go early but don't stay too late... quiet museums near closing hours is a fear of mine. Haha. I'm not a museum elitist or art history buff, so I won't pretend to be all intellectual but what I did like...

Upsides:
-Outdoor lampposts - considered art, and also perfect for taking pics!
-Broad Contemporary Art Museum - especially iconic Warhol pieces
-Some of the contemporary exhibits on Human Nature is innovative, while others are just plain weird and demented  

Downsides:
-Pricey admission tickets!
-Pricey parking of $10!
-Didn't like the Euro, Asian, South East Asian art and sculptures

Overall, good to go once and every once in awhile, or with out of towners, but definitely too pricey and too stressful a drive to go often!

4/23/2011

There comes a time in every man's life when he realizes that he is an uncultured boar of a human being and must take steps to remedy the situation as soon as practicable.  The last 36 years have been such a time for me.

I decided to get out to the LACMA and see what all the hullabaloo was about.  Being that I hadn't been there for about 28 years my first attempt was a fail as, apparently, the museum is closed on Wednesdays.  WTF?  Why are you closed in the middle of the week?  Why not Monday?  A lot going on on a Monday LACMA managers?  

Anyway, I left the first time and roamed the city like a refugee trying to figure out what the hidden gems in my fair city are.  My second time was a score.  I arrived there on Saturday afternoon, iPhone with headphones ready to go.  I was there for a solitary, cerebral, experience.  I was so excited to be embarking on this, my newly cultured life, that I even purchased a membership and got the "Tim Burton" Exhibit thingy.  So excited!!

I stepped in and was immediately deflated.  I had no idea where I was and where the art was.  But, undaunted, I carried on, sallied forth if you will, and found art.

Let me put aside the levity for a moment and describe what it's like to reconnect with Art after years of being away from it.  Sure, I've been to the Louvre in Paris, the London Museum, the Getty, and others around the world, but I always went in with a mental tick list, and I would tick off the experience, but for some reason the day I walked into the LACMA alone, I had different eyes or maybe an open heart.

Art is the soul of a civilization.  It speaks of their greatness and laments their weaknesses.  For me seeing the beauty and perspective created by human beings reminded me how beautiful life and living are.  

I spent the next five hours walking by myself, taking photographs of exhibits and visitors alike and I felt as though I was in a walking meditation.  There are moments when a person's chest cracks open, lets out the stale air, and welcomes in something lighter, something enlightened... for me this was such a moment.

I can't tell you to go here, but I can ask that you do yourself a favor and set aside the world for a moment and gaze upon all the beauty that people are capable of at least once in your life.  Whether it's the LACMA, Getty, Louvre, London Museum, or any place else, give your heart and mind that gift.

6/10/2012

I did not realize before I went how huge this place is: it's actually a complex of about six different buildings. Unless you focus your visit on one, you will need the whole day!

I am definitely not complaining. I loved the opportunity to see so many different styles of art all in one place. Their collection is breathtaking. I was stunned by the American collection, and it was so fantastic to see Hockney's (technically not an American, but no worries) gorgeous "Mulholland Drive."

Los Angelinos, I envy that you can go to this museum any time you'd like!

10/20/2012

LAMCA holds a really special place in my heart. When I was young, it was the first museum that really took my breath away, and since then, it has never failed to do so.

I love how expansive it is and how many hidden spots there are throughout the museum. From sitting on the benches in the Rodin sculpture garden, to walking through the rows of beautiful lights via Chris Burden's "Urban Light" piece, to sipping a coffee by the entrance and rotating outdoor works, everything about LACMA is simply beautiful.

I've made a lot of memories here and continue to do so. Every time is different but also comfortingly familiar, and when I finally leave LA, LACMA is the place I will miss most.

4/14/2013

This is a great place to learn something new and discover different art forms.  The atmosphere is great.  Nice place for a date or an outing with family.

12/10/2010

After 5pm LA county residents get free admission. Lucky for my friends I had to pay the normal $15 but it was well worth it.  I decided to come because I noticed on their site that they had on exhibit the surrealist artist Rene Magritte.. So, I phoned up some friends and we spent a lovely evening in the museum. Why is better to come in the evening? It's obviously less crowded! It was amazing.. We dined at the cafe here on the grounds which BTW offers carafe like bottles of wine and various beers. We ordered some rather tasty food and got a bottle of wine and enjoyed dinner on the patio! It was refreshing, the cool air a bottle of wine in a broken plastic cup was priceless.

Anyhoo, Yes I saw the Rene Magritte paintings. My fav. one which is "La trahison des images" translated meaning "The Treachery of Images".. If you are like myself and are a fan of the Bauhaus movement and the DADA movement then you should come soon. Not sure on how long the exhibit is on for but they had a section dedicated to the Bauhaus movement featuring Bauhaus masters like Paul Klee and Wassily Kandinsky. They also had DADA artist such as Marcel Duchamp and  Man Ray. Along with that they modern art exhibit had so many more greats in their collection. Like Georges Braque, Piet Mondrian, Fernand Legar, Yves Tanguy the list goes on..

We completed one of the buildings.. So much more here to see. So plan a full day...

7/31/2012

What the hell? Why are you debating on coming here? You know... Everyone and his or her mother, including you, needs a Facebook profile picture with the LACMA lampposts.

The museum itself is great and there are many smaller galleries to walk to around here, such as the Pavillion for Japanese Art. The La Brea Tarpits are just around the corner, too.

Friday night Jazz concerts are amazing (and FREE).

7/31/2011

I came here this weekend to check out the Tim Burton exhibit. My girlfriend is a huge fan of Burton and I wholly respect the man as well so I was excited to come here too.

The exhibit was awesome. To be able to view many of the shorts Burton had made, along with the HUGE amount of hand drawn sketches was just so, so cool. My absolute favorite piece was of one of the Ramones. Too awesome. All of that for $22? Including getting to check out the other exhibits on display too? A steal.

I have even more respect for Tim Burton now. Me and my girlfriend ended the evening by watching The Nightmare Before Christmas. It was a glorious day indeed.

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  I am among flakes.

  I am among flakes.

5/6/2012 Updated review

Spring Jazz series!!!

11/10/2012

LACMA is one of my favorite museums.  And let me tell you, it is so worth it to become a patron member.  You get special free classes throughout the year, a free art catalog (worth at least 65 dollars) and invitations to see the opening exhibits before the public does.  There are also music and parties throughout the year as well.

Tonight we went to one of the opening Caravaggio.  They had coffee and tea and also drinks available and amazing deserts.  From cheesecake to chocolate truffles and more.  Then we went to see the exhibit and it was wonderful.  We also were able to view the Ken Price sculpture exhibit in the next room.

What a fun evening.

The best investment we make each year is renewing our patron membership.  It gives us varied and interesting things to see and do throughout the year. (this is not an advertisement am being sincere)

2/22/2011

Really great art museum.

LACMA is spacious with several different multi level buildings holding many great pieces of art.  What I love about LACMA is the constant rotation of exhibits.  Coming up May 29th 2011 through October will be a major showing on Tim Burton including drawings, paintings, movie images, puppets, costumes and stuff from little known personal projects.

At LACMA you can see artifacts from 1800's Pacific Islands (including skull heads and whale tooth bones) to a nice collection of Picasso and Andy Warhol.  

Parking in the garage is $10 if you validate but there are a lot of metered street parking lots surrounding the block of the LACMA, especially on 6th street.  If you decide to pull into the parking garage be sure to bring your parking ticket inside with you to get validated at the ticket booth otherwise you will be charged $20 upon leaving the garage.

Currently the museum is going through some pretty big renovation projects so many of the exhibits are not available such as African, Chinese and Ancient Art.  I look forward to coming back later on to see these exhibits when they re-open.

Tips:  

--Building 7 has a large escalator that takes you up 3 stories.  Once up here be sure to get some fabulous pictures of the Hollywood hills.  

--On major holidays such as President's Day and Labor Day you can get in free to the LACMA.  Check the website for the specific holidays.  This is sponsored by Target and you still have to go to the ticket booth and get a ticket to take inside though it won't cost you the $15 which is nice.

6/5/2012

All Museums deserve 5 stars. Any establishment that has free admission and educates the public in the arts is my idea of 5 stars.

The exhibitions that come through (which are usually 20 bucks admission) are astonishing. Recently went to the Wonderland exhibition that showcased Frida Kahlo. I will admit I shed a tear when I saw the paintings. *sigh*

And of course don't forget to take your cliche picture by the street lamps. Cheeese.

8/28/2012 Updated review

Muse 'til Midnight 2012: Listen to Art -Sat. August 25. This was a worthy experiment in the use of wireless headsets to give the participants a variety of soundtracks to accompany their visual journey thru the exhibits. The opening band (Geographer) was not strong enough to occupy our full attention and thus there was a strong press towards getting into the galleries long before the appointed 10pm hour. But for the first 90 minutes, there were only cocktails, and the food went unnoticed far away in a corner.

This was a production value miscalculation, we wanted "in" to see the Art right away! Best of Show was the South Pacific exhibit in Ahmanson South... with the music of the water, and the aboriginal art wafting through the landscape, I was adrift for quite some time. Lady playing on the elevator was rather dissonant, as was another live group with strings, oddly disharmonious with the lovely Modern Art pieces quietly looking crisp and unconfusing. Once signal got clear, LOVED the gentle world beat

Unfortunately, when you went West, the signals all mixed up into bewildering static and by the end of the night only 20% of the audience were wearing their headsets. In all, we did have fun once we got to the dance floor at the end of the night. GreenDJ playing ReggaeFunk and BlueDJ playing HouseTechno, the crowd on the floor vibrated in syncopation with the wonderful mix of visual, rhythms, colors, and the art of people watching.

lacma.org/listentoart

6/30/2013

This is a fun stop in LA on a day off alone or with friends and family.

11/18/2012

Impressive museum.
You can easily spend a few day exploring and enjoying.
The actual Stanley Kubrick's exposition is wonderful.

6/29/2013

Great permanent collection. Great special exhibits. Update on 12/29/14: Parking under or around this museum area has been incredibly frustrating my last two visits. Give yourself time to park. It may take a while. And, it is pricey (12 to 20 bucks).

9/14/2012

$90 Annual Active membership works really good and worth!  Free admission for two adults and free special event (we got Tim Burton Ex for 2011) tickets.  

Parking costs $10 per visit, however you get free parking for first visit if you get a memebrship! (just one time)