Roaming through LACMA on Thursday

I returned to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art on Thursday to once again view the 50+ pieces of art donated to the museum on it's 50th birthday.  Here are a few additional works of art that I enjoyed:

"Russian II," 1914 by Emil Nolde, Denmark, 1867-1956, active in Germany, oil on canvas.  Promised gift of Terri and Michael Smooke.

"Dancer with Mecklace," 1910 by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Germany, 1880-1938, painted wood.

"Studio Hollywood Hills House," 1982 by David Hockney, England, born 1937, active United States, gouache on paper.  Promised Gift of David C. Bohnett.

"Interior with Three Hanging Lamps," 1991 by Roy Lichtenstein, U.S. 1923-1997, oil on canvas.  Promised gift of Jane and Marc Nathanson.

"Black Lion Wharf," 1859 from the "Thames Set," 1871 by James McNeill Whistler, U.S. 1834-1903, etching.  Gift of  Anita and Julius L. Zelman. 

"From Spaniard and Morisca Albino Girl," 1763 by Miguel Cabrera, Mexico, 1705-1768, oil on canvas.
This long lost painting was recently discovered rolled up under an old couch by a family in the bay area

"Serpent Headdress," possibly late 18th century from the Republic of Guinea, Baga peoples, wood with pigments.  Promised gift of Bobby Kotick.

"Laundromat," 1966-67 by George Segal, U.S., 1924-2000, plaster, plastic and metal.  Promised gift of Jane and Marc Nathanson.

"Janus Reliquary Guardian Figure," mid-19th century by Gabonese Republic or Republic of the Congo, Kota peoples Ndassa group, wood, copper, brass, iron, and cowrie shell.  Promised gift of Terry and Lionel Bell.

Other side.

"Untitled (Circus No. 8 Face 44.26), 2013, by Mark Grotjahn, U.S., born 1968, oil on cardboard mounted on linen.
Promised gift of Steven F. Roth.

 These next photos are from the exhibit of the works of Ed Moses, born 1926 in Long Beach,k CA.  The description posted states that it was through drawing that Moses reconciled his admiration for abstract art of the early twentieth century with an appreciation for pattern, and an almost compulsive need to make marks.  The exhibit is entitled:  "Ed Moses:  Drawings from the 1960's and 70's."  It comprises over eighty works with more than forty of which have been promised as gifts by Moses to LACMA.

"Glady McBean," 1953, crayon, graphite, collage, and casein on watercolor paper.

"Color Rose," 1967, graphite on paper.

"Avilda," 1963, graphite with paper engineering on board.

"Untitled (Navajo Pattern)" 1972, graphite crayon and masking tape on vellum

"Untitled (Diagonal Grid)," 1977/2013 acrylic and masking tape on board.

Other Artists works next to the exhibit:

"Untitled," 1974 by Tom Wudl, Bolivia, born 1948 active in the U.S., acrylic paint, acrylic gel, and gold leaf on hole-punched hand-laminated tissue paper and japan paper.

"Cadmium Study with White Space #3," 1973 by Jack Barth, U.S., born 1946, acrylic, pastel and graphite with reflective paint and gloss medium on paper.

"Woman in Fur," 1972 by David Hockney, crayon and graphite on paper.

"Portrait of Charles White," 1977 by Kent Twitchell, U.S., born 1942, graphite on paper with wooden box and key.

"Goddesses in Los Angeles," 1977-79 by Judith F. Baca, U.S., born 1946, ink on paper with collage.

"Seed of Love," 1969 by Charles White, U.S. 1918-1979, ink and graphite on paper.

"Injustice Case," 1970 by David Hammons, U.S. born 1943, body print and screenprint on paper.  The description states that to make the body prints he covered himself with a thin layer of margarine, pressed his body against the paper or other matrix, then sifted poweder pigment over the greasy imprint to reveal the image.

Muse/ique on a Monday Evening

On Monday, May 4th we enjoyed a night with "Rain Drops Falling on My Head," (no rain but chilly night at the Levitt Pavilion in Pasadena), "House is Not a Home," "Look of Love," "Close to You," "One Less Bell to Answer," and other Burt Bacharach favorite tunes.  This was produced by Rachael Worby, Artistic Director of Muse/ique.  Performers included Lemar Carter, Shelea Frazier, Deron Johnson, Clara Kim, Ian Martin, Gabby Moreno, Chris Pierce and Jo Whang.  Billy Childs came up from the audience to sing and play "What's It All About Alfie."

Here are a few photos of the great evening:

Roaming in L.A.

There is so much to enjoy in Los Angeles and surrounding areas.  Here are a few pictures of what I enjoyed during the past week:

Happy Poppies at Huntington Gardens in San Marino

Favorite painting:  "View on the Stour near Dedham," 1822 by John Constable, British, 1776-1837,  "I should paint my own place best," Constable told a friend of this painting of his native Suffolk, England.

From the social realism school of Courbet and Millet, Jules Adolphe Aime Louis Breton, French, 1827-1906, painted "The Last Gleanings," in 1895

Donald Crockett conducting the Xtet, a new music ensemble, in a concert at LACMA's Bing Theater.(Photo by Lawrence K. Ho, L.A. Times).

On Wednesday night I attended a concert "Celebrating Los Angeles" at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art that is part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the museum.  The performances were by Xtet, Angel City Corale, Members of Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and Martin Chalifour, concert master of the L.A. Phil.  The work celebrated composers who created their music in L.A. including Arnold Schoenberg, Igor Stravinsky, Morton Lauridsen, David Newman, Mitch Glickman and Steven Stucky.

On Saturday we enjoyed a walking tour of historic L. A. by a volunteer from the Los Angeles Conservancy.  This is a photo of the L.A. Subway building on Hill...yes there was a subway in L.A. in the early days.

The lobby of the subway building, now the entrance to loft apartments and a party scene. 

The Subway Building elevators

The Million Dollar Theater Building on Broadway and Third with its beautiful architecture.

A Close Up

Yes some wild dancing by the sculpted figures above the buffalo heads on the building.

Railing detail, inside walls and floor of the Bradbury Building at 04 Broadway built in 1893 by draftsman George Wyman from the original design by Sumner Hunt.  Below are more photos from the building.

A mural across the street from the Bradbury Building shows Anthony Quinn dancing on the same tiles inside the Bradbury.

Behind the building is a quiet courtyard with a tribute to Bridget "Biddy" Mason, Grandma as we was called.  She was born a slave in Georgia in 1818, and walked with her owner and others of his slaves to Los Angeles with their Mormon owners.  Since California was a free state, Bridget Mason and others were freed in San Bernardino.  Robert Smith, her owner, planned to move back to the slave state of Texas and take Mason with him, but she escaped with the help of friends and traveled to Los Angeles.  Mason worked in L.A. as a nurse and midwife, founding member of the First African Methodist Church, the city's first black church which was founded in her home at this site.  She is an honoree of the California Social Work Hall of Distinction for her service to individuals and the community.
Above is a photo of her and her signature X as she couldn't read or write.   She died in 1891 and buried in an unmarked grave in Boyle Heights.  Later a ceremony attended by the mayor of L.A. and members of the church she founded was held and the grave was marked with a tombstone.  

On Sunday, we roamed through beautiful gardens thanks to "Open Days."  Here are some of my photos of natures' paintings.

Working Through Tragedies last Tuesday

On April 28th, I attended a program sponsored by the California Endowment featuring Elizabeth Alexander, Yale professor, poet and writer.  The program was about writing to heal from trauma and tragedies.  Dr. Alexander was featured at President Obama's 2009 inauguration, reciting a poem she wrote for the occasion.  She has writing a book entitled "The Light of the World," a memoir about the sudden death of her husband two years ago.  She wrote the book about their love and 16 year relationship, his life, recipes, and their children as a part of her healing and working through her grief. She read from the book and discussed the healing process through writing by hand on paper which she described as more emotional, physical, with feelings coming out of your body.

The program also featured staff and youth from "Inside Out Writers."  This program was founded in 1996 to work with youth in juvenile halls in Los Angeles as well as with youth after their incarceration.  Three of the youth read about their lives, trauma, self hate, and hope.  They stated that writing is a life line, it takes courage to tell who you are.  The youth also express through art, dance, music, and poetry.  One stated that painting is a miracle.

Dr. Alexander stated that we grieve the loss of love and it is important to share, give to others and move the pain outwards.  "Extreme circumstances take us to the core of who we are...Writing stabilizes us when we are feeling upside down."

Other important messages from the evening include:

.  Vulnerability is a position of strength.
.  The grief process isn't easy and it shouldn't be.
.  When I have to get it out, that makes the pen move.
.  We all must bare witness to the art of baring witness to pain and trauma.
.  It is important to acknowledge that writing and expressing feelings is hard but is important...one needs to keep doing it.

I am now reading Elizabeth Alexander's book and feeling her love and her pain.  I recommend it because it is a beautifully account of pain and loss to which we can all relate.

One can learn more about the work in the juvenile halls through their web site:  insideoutwriters.org