At L.A. Museums
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...
Bob Baker Marionette Theater’s Curtain Closes – But Not Forever
The countdown is well underway to Nov. 23, which this year is Black Friday – and the final day for the beloved Bob Baker Marionette Theater at 1345 West 1st St., its home for 55 years. In true Bob Baker spirit, however, the final days will be fun. Once the “Hallowe’en Spooktacular” ends its run on Nov. 4, the theater will present “The Best of Bob Baker – Farewell Show,”...
Our Top 7 Events for November
The holidays are fast approaching. Despite their onrush, let’s give November its due with our favorite November events for families. The month kicks off with Day of the Dead celebrations across the Southland, and you can join the 24th Street Theatre Nov. 2 for a night of merriment and remembrance – and music, food, face-painting and crafts - at its annual Dia de los Muertos block party. Real life heroes...
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...
King Tut vs. Genghis Khan at L.A. Museums
Two historical figures of mythic proportions are visiting Southern California, and you can visit them at L.A. museums. Find out what’s up with King Tut at the California Science Center (www.californiasciencecenter.org) when the “KING TUT: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh” exhibit opens March 24. This massive new exhibit, which runs through Jan. 6, presents 150 real artifacts from King Tut’s tomb. This represents the largest assembly ever on public display...
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...