Top Places to Celebrate LA Arts Month
There’s only one more week until the end of L.A. Arts month so I’ve offered my take on the best spots to enjoy art in . These are landmarks every Angeleno should know about. Think you can hit all of these six spots by next Sunday?
1. – County Museum of Art
This museum is located right next to the La Brea Tar Pits in the historic Miracle mile district. This museum houses a great variety of work from different parts of the world. For example, currently the museum is displaying Korean art galleries and Indian (South Asian) comic books. Visual art is not the only type of art LACMA presents. LACMA continuously displays films and talks from prestigious artists.
Location:
2. – Museum of Contemporary Art
MOCA currently has three different locations in , maybe because they couldn’t put all of the artwork into one building. The three MOCAs are:
-MOCA Grand Avenue
Situated in the busy downtown LA, you can go to other nearby hotspots like the Grand Avenue Market which has a huge selection of different types of cuisine: Mexican, Japanese, Chinese, and more. Location:
-The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA
This MOCA museum is not too far from the Grand Avenue MOCA, as both are in downtown L.A. The Geffen Contemporary, however, is in Little Tokyo where you can walk to get sushi afterwards. As you can tell by the name, The Geffen Contemporary houses contemporary artwork such as the current Mi Casa Es Tu Casa Project created by Israel Meza Moreno based in Mexico. This project is sure to be something you’ve never seen before, creating a wonderland of art with thought provoking messages. Location:
-MOCA Pacific Design Center
As mentioned in an earlier , this building will be the site of this year’s LA Arts Fair. Check out the article to learn more. This is where art and design intersect, each one complementing each other. Location:
3.
Like MOCA, the Getty also has multiple locations. The two Gettys are: The Getty Center and The Getty Villa. These museums are placed in the beautiful hills to complement the artwork, not only of the pieces but also of the architecture of the buildings that house the pieces. Outside artwork is also present at the two Gettys- including a labyrinth of bushes whose design can be deciphered from afar.
-The Getty Center
The Getty Center is in Santa Monica next to the University of California, (my alma mater). A tram takes you uphill to the main part of the museum where you can enjoy the ride up. Not only is admission free (although parking is not), amateur photographers and artists can use this location for their artwork. Location:
-The Getty Villa
This Getty location’s admission is quite different from the previous one. You must reserve tickets before attending but you will not regret doing so. This museum is set in the rolling hills of Malibu with the great Pacific ocean nearby. Location:
4.
The Huntington Collections is set like the backyard of a past millionaire. The art pieces and library is set in the “mansions” of the millionaire with acres and acres of gardens around it. Look out for a future feature on this historic but contemporary collection. Location:
5.
My fellow PlanetEye expert mentioned this new art event that takes place once a month. Please visit her and her choice picks for Orange County! Location: MANY
6.
Like the Getty Center, this museum is close to the University of California, . This is a more quaint museum than those previously mentioned. The Hammer Museum current exhibition is “The Bible Illuminated” created by comic artist R. Crumb who interprets the first book of the Old Testament. Location:
Looking at all these places of art in , I feel I have just touched the tip of the iceberg. There are so many other places in to celebrate L.A. arts month like on Melrose Avenue where the people walking around are the art. So if you’re ever in this month, be sure to check out some of the best of what the city has to offer.
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