Hammer Museum on July 24th

On Thursday, July 24th, I visited the Hammer Museum in Westwood to attend the second of my UCLA Extension class, "Rembrandt and His Prints" with Mary Beth Carosello.  The week before the class met in Westwood and we learned about the life and works of Rembrandt.  We met at the Hammer museum to view about a half a dozen original prints made by Rembrandt.  The prints were made by covering a sheet of metal with a fairly thin layer of wax.  Then the artist scrapes away the wax to create an image.  When the metal is inked, wiped and a paper is pressed upon it, only those areas with scraping show the ink image on the paper.  Rembrandt's prints were very detailed showing the life in Holland around 1600.  These prints are not on public display but are kept in the research center.

While visiting the museum I viewed the "Made in L.A." exhibit which occupied all the galleries featuring 35 Los Angeles artists with an emphasis on emerging and under-recognized artists.  The exhibit occupied the entire museum with paintings, installations, videos, sculpture, photography, and performances created specifically for the exhibition.

I had difficulty appreciating some of the creations.  Here are some photos of what I saw and found of interest to me:

"Brasillia, Cars, Pools & Other Modernities," 2009-13 Volkswagen Brasilia, pool-cleaning equipment, single-channel video, photographs, book, aluminum plaque, letter, photo transfers, and drawing by Clarissa Tossin.  "Influenced by her childhood in Brazil's capital, Brasilia, which was built as a modernist utopia, Clarissa Tossin centers her practice on investigating the promises, legacies, and failures of modernity, globalism, and utopian idealism."

Handspun and dyed Corriedale, Merino, and Ramney woods, baby camel down, yak down, Bombax silk, and cedar,  2012 by Channing Hansen

Handspun and dyed Bluefaced Leicester, Cheviot, Corriedale, Icelandic, Merino, Mohair, Romney, Teeswater, and Wensleydale wools, Teeswater locks, yak down, holographic polymers, silt noils, Tencel, and cedar by Channing Hansen 2014.
Mr. Hansen teaches chaos theory and science history at Los Angeles's alternative Mountain School of Art.  He says that "craft solves questions; art asks them."

"Ende (Like a New Beginning)," 2014 by Emily Mast

"Thank You," 2014 by Samara Golden.  "Using video, sound, inkjet prints, foam insulation, mirrors and anything else readily and cheaply available, the artist aims to represent her notion of a sixth dimension where time, emotion, and alternate realties are simultaneously visible."

"Untitled," 2014 by Caitlin Lonegan, oil, metallic oil, and iridescent oil paint on canvas

"Untitled," 2013 by Caitlin Lonegan

"Untitled," 2014 by Lecia Dole-Recio, acrylic, gouache, spray paint, glue, and paper.