At L.A. Museums
Journeying Through L.A.’s Art Scene With Kids
Hank Parfrey poses in front of art at the Hauser & Wirth Gallery in the Arts District. PHOTO BY ISAAC PARFREY My 4-year-old, Hank, and I watched a local news story the other day about award-winning class paintings rendered by kindergarteners. “I guess that’s not bad for 5-year-olds,” I said. “Why is this on TV, Dada?” asked Hank. He loves to draw, and I proudly cherish all of his renderings...
Tween Time: Women with Vision
DIANE COOK AND LEN JENSHEL A double rainbow arcs above the jagged cliffs and dense vegetation of Kalalau, the largest valley on Na Pali. One of the most famous female photographers in the U.S. is Annie Leibovitz, and work from the beginning of her career is spotlighted in “Annie Leibovitz. The early years, 1970-1983” at Hauser & Wirth Los Angeles (hauserwirth.com) Feb. 14-April 14. The more than 5,000 photographs on...
7 Things You Should Do in February
ReversibleThe Very Hungry Caterpillar ShowThe Ugly Duckling We’ve got some great family performances, hands-on activities including black smithing and valentine making, plus celebrations of Scottish and African American cultures in February. Let’s start on stage. The 7 Fingers troupe juggles dance, music, acrobatics and other circus acts into “Réversible,” a stunning show where everyday life goes topsy-turvy. Catch it Feb. 1-2 at the Irvine Barclay theater. Or see 70 puppets...
Tween Time: This Exhibit Is Disgusting
If you enjoy a good gross-out, you should line up for The Disgusting Food Museum (disgustingfoodmuseum.com/losangeles), a new pop culture pop-up residing in the A+D Architecture and Design Museum (900 E. 4th St., L.A.) through Feb. 17. It is the brainchild of Dr. Samuel West, the man behind The Museum of Failure that was a big hit in early 2018. The 80 items that make up this international collection of...
Tween Time in LA: Termite Art,Kustom Kars & Outliers
During the 20th century, the distinction between “high art” (by trained artists) and “low art” (by untrained artists) has blurred, and the breaking down of these art walls is explored in three current local museum exhibits. The Petersen Automotive Museum (petersen.org) is presenting “Auto-Didactic: The Juxtapoz School” (pictured) through June. Inspired by the influential underground culture magazine “Juxtapoz,” the exhibit showcases the eclectic work of 50 artists who helped to...
Neighborhood Gallery Offers More than Art
Families in the Arlington Heights area of L.A. have a hidden gem in their neighborhood. The Underground Museum, an unassuming storefront art gallery, serves as a community center, farmers market, yoga and meditation studio and outdoor movie theater. Founded by the late painter and installation artist Noah Davis and his wife, Karon Davis, The Underground Museum opened its doors at 3508 W. Washington Blvd. in 2012 as an exhibition space...
Murals in Los Angeles: Taking Art to the Streets with Kids
L.A. is a heavyweight contender in the battle to be the city with the most splendid street art on Earth. Venice, the San Fernando Valley and the Downtown Arts District are teeming with work by some of the world’s most famous muralists, and our area boasts a torrent of Technicolor innovations from local talent. City officials imposed a mural ban in the 1990s, but it was lifted in 2013, and...
P-22 Makes His Debut at the Natural History Museum
To get into the Natural History Museum’s new installation about famed Griffith Park mountain lion P-22, you have to cross the freeway. OK, it’s not really a freeway, but the 10 lanes of scaled-down moving traffic projected onto the floor at the installation’s entrance make an impression. “The Story of P-22, L.A.’s Most Famous Feline,” opening June 21, is a love letter to the big cat famous for crossing both...
Learning About Rancho History – and Service Dogs!
If your family is headed to one of the monthly Creation Station art workshops or other family events at Rancho Los Cerritos (4600 Virginia Rd., Long Beach; www.rancholoscerritos.org), keep an eye out for Marcia Harris and her canine companion. A longtime volunteer at the rancho, Harris also raises service dogs. Harris began volunteering at the rancho, an historic adobe house and surrounding property dedicated to inspiring curiosity about the past,...
Car Museums Worth the Drive
I guess it’s only appropriate that here in the traffic capital of the world we have two excellent museums dedicated to the evolution of the car. The irony, of course, is that while the Petersen Automotive Museum is only about 11 miles from the Automobile Driving Museum, it could take you more than an hour to get from one to the other. On the bright side, you’ll have lots of...
Museum Tips For Special-Needs Families
Museums of all kinds can be great experiences for kids with special needs. A little planning and a few extra steps can make your visit great. by Julee Brooks For families of children with special needs, the thought of visiting a busy public space such as a museum might seem daunting. There are things, however, that families can do before, during and even after a visit to make it more...