FREE L.A.: LACMA and the Autry

If you’ve got a Bank of America ATM, debit or credit card, flash it this weekend at either the L.A. County Museum of Art or the Autry National Center of the American West and score free admission.

It’s part of Bank of America’s Museums On Us monthly promotion.

Other area museums participating include Long Beach’s Museum of Latin American Art; the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana (Saturday only); the Laguna Art Museum in Laguna Beach; and the Riverside Art Museum in Riverside (Saturday only).

Museum of Neon Art Settles Into Its Temporary Digs

Long located in downtown on Olympic near FIDM, the Museum of Neon Art was forced to vacate its home a few years ago after rents rocketed sky high. MONA finally found temporary digs in the Historic Core, at 136 W. 4th St., earlier this year.

The problem with the new space: The front door is too small to haul in some of the museum’s impressive pieces. But at the same time, some pieces that have been in storage for years is finally being displayed.

We visited the museum on Saturday night to take one of the MONA’s famed double-decker bus nighttime neon tours, courtesy the museum’s Eric Evavold. More on that tomorrow. But first up, today, some shots from the new MONA space:

Larchmont Hardware recently went out of business — another victim of escalating rents; in this case, in pricey Larchmont. The MONA managed to save this piece.

Here’s how it once looked, before being removed.

Maria’s favorite, the flying woman.

Chris & Pitts’ BBQ!

The remaining letters (remarkably, all but the “K” survived) from the Miracle Mile’s “The Darkroom.” (Where El Toro Cantina and Busby’s are now located.) Urban anthropologist Eric Lynxwiler, who happened to be taking the tour as well (he frequents as an MC on the neon tour, but was taking the night off), housed the letters for a while during the MONA’s move, and filled us in on how the letters were saved.

Eric also posted the story on his Flickr account:

When the store changed tenants, the stainless-steel sign was tossed out and thought to be lost forever.

Decades later, the man who was hired to remove the sign from the facade came forward. He had recognized the sign’s importance and kept what he could salvage of it (minus the absent K) in the rafters of his sign studio and, just a few years ago, donated it to the Museum of Neon Art (MONA).

As a fan of Wilshire and neon, this piece was an incredible find and I was thrilled it went to MONA and back on public display. However, after just a few years back in the public eye, the museum lost its lease and shut its doors for a year. Although MONA has now reopened in a new-yet-temporary space, the sign had to go somewhere in the interim.

And, of course, I volunteered to store it and a few other museum signs in my loft in downtown LA. Yes, that’s right, I was storing The Darkroom sign in my loft for the past year and was giddy to share it with anyone who walked in my door. It fit perfectly right under my window.

And here’s how The Darkroom looked back in the day.

Another SoCal fave: Manny Moe and Jack, of Pep Boys fame.

“The Zodiac Room,” plus an old exit sign from the Grauman’s Chinese Theater.

A sight once seen all over SoCal: The Van de Kamp bakery.

Funland!

Lights Out on Fridays at the Getty

Fans of late-night museum visits: Sorry to say, the Getty is about to decrease its hours. Due to budget concerns, the museum will now only be open until 9 p.m. on Saturdays (rather than Fridays and Saturdays) — and until 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, and Sundays (down from 6 p.m.).

Parking fees have also been bumped up, to $10 per car (up from $8). The museum itself is still free.

Free L.A.: Kid Concerts at the Getty

Our friends Jeff and Jess (along with little Miles) tipped us off to the Getty’s Garden Concerts for Kids series — and we’re glad they did.

The Getty is already one of L.A.’s great bargains — $8 parking, but otherwise free admission. On Saturday afternoon, that included the free concert on the Getty garden.

Last Saturday and Sunday, The Jellydots got the tots moving.

Not a bad spot. Great view of the city, a nice breeze, and shade from the buildings. We could have sat there for hours. The Getty even provides sheets for people who didn’t bring their own blankets. Several families were picnicking — one even had a bottle of wine.

Next up: Guy Davis performs August 16–17, while Elizabeth Mitchell & Family are there August 23–24. The free concerts are at 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

More tips for families visiting the Getty can be found here.

A Celebration of Tiki in Glendale

Maria’s pal Jamile tipped us off to the opening night party for “In Search of Tiki,” the new exhibit that officially opens today at the Forest Lawn Museum in Glendale.

First, a quick note about the Forest Lawn Museum. It’s truly one of the best-kept secret attractions in Glendale. Get over the idea that it’s a museum within a cemetery — Glendale’s Forest Lawn is a beautiful, well-maintained site (with countless statues, monuments and chapels), even if you have no particular reason to visit. Perched high above the city, the museum boasts incredible views — and its entrance is always free. The permanent collection is interesting enough, but the museum’s rotating exhibitions are almost always unique and well-curated.

That brings us to “In Search of Tiki.” The exhibit offers a mix of history and kitsch, as the museum notes:

The Forest Lawn Museum in Glendale presents “In Search of Tiki,” featuring a fascinating contrast between the traditional Oceanic art made by the native peoples of the Pacific Islands and the entire gamut of second-generation Pan-Polynesian artifacts that embellished restaurants and bars after World War II. The exhibit will also include inventive interpretations by a new group of artists who are stretching the genre.

Embodying the Forest Lawn Museum’s goal to enrich, inspire, and educate the community, “In Search of Tiki” includes examples of traditional Oceanic Tikis, Tiki Americana, and the work of contemporary Tiki artists who are pushing the boundaries of Tiki Style, now an internationally and commercially recognized art movement. Serving as guest curators for “In Search of Tiki,” are authors Douglas Nason and Jeff Fox.

The opening party took place Thursday night. Among the notables in attendance: Big tiki fan and artist Shag (above, signing a book for someone).

Above, the famed Forest Lawn cross — visible for miles around — shines above the Tiki party. It’s not every day a rockin’ surf band performs at the cemetery.

Fans of fez enjoy the beverages and the pupus — pork ribs, Vietnamese rolls and chicken won tons — as the sun sets behind them.

The exhibit is definitely kid-friendly. We brought along the Kid Formerly Known as Blogger Toddler, who got a kick out of the tikis. Plus, above, an actual bird (well, this one was an “alternate”) from the Disneyland “Enchanted Tiki Room.”

Behold, the lights of Glendale.

“In Search of Tiki” continues through Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009. The Forest Lawn Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Forest Lawn-Glendale is located at 1712 S. Glendale Ave.

They Say The Neon Lights Are Bright on 4th Street

The Museum of Neon Art is celebrating their move to a new home with “Paused, Refreshed, Reopened!” — three new exhibits:

“Soda Pop Neon Signs: from the collection of Mario Pancino,” “POP: Group Exhibit of Neon Kinetic Art” and “Soda Neon Sign Series: Photographs by Tom Zimmerman.”

The exhibits remain on display from April 3 through June 29; opening reception takes place this Saturday, April 12, at 7 p.m. MONA members are free, while all others are $10.

The MONA’s new location is 4th Street between Spring & Main in Downtown. Museum is normally opened Thursdays through Saturdays from noon to 8 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.; admission is $7 adults, $5 seniors and students, $3 kids 6-12, free kids under 5.

Happy Flowers, Dual Buddhas and a Lonesome Cowboy

The Museum of Contemporary Art‘s Murakami exhibit has just under a month left; we finally checked it out on Saturday.

First off, don’t make the mistake we did: The exhibit is at the Geffen Contemporary — the building once known as the “Temporary Contemporary,” next to Little Tokyo. We went to the main MOCA building on Grand, before discovering (thanks to the person behind the ticket booth — who recognized the Franklin Avenue crew) that we were in the wrong spot.

A few blocks later, we were there. What an alive show. And I almost mean that literally — so much of what Takashi Murakami does features objects brought alive through big grins, sharp teeth, or huge eyes. It’s what a museum exhibit looks like after sniffing glue.

Some of Murakami’s work isn’t quite kid-friendly (read: “My Lonesome Cowboy”), but Blogger Toddler appreciated the bright colors and the anime- and manga-inspired works (well, except for the objects with sharp teeth). It’s also probably the first museum exhibit I’ve heard of with a Louis Vuitton store smack in the middle (selling Murakami-designed bags), or featured a music video from Kanye West (whose album features a cover designed by the artist).

I was told that photography wasn’t allowed, since the MOCA doesn’t own these works… so here are some shots others have taken of Murakami works:

(Flickr pic by Arte.)

(Flickr pic by K-Ideas.)

(Flickr pic by Slates 81.)

(Flickr pic by Knautia.)

(Flickr pic by Stufingerhut.)

The Murakami exhibit continues until Feb. 11 at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA; 152 N. Central, Downtown.

Happy Flowers, Dual Buddhas and a Lonesome Cowboy

The Museum of Contemporary Art‘s Murakami exhibit has just under a month left; we finally checked it out on Saturday.

First off, don’t make the mistake we did: The exhibit is at the Geffen Contemporary — the building once known as the “Temporary Contemporary,” next to Little Tokyo. We went to the main MOCA building on Grand, before discovering (thanks to the person behind the ticket booth — who recognized the Franklin Avenue crew) that we were in the wrong spot.

A few blocks later, we were there. What an alive show. And I almost mean that literally — so much of what Takashi Murakami does features objects brought alive through big grins, sharp teeth, or huge eyes. It’s what a museum exhibit looks like after sniffing glue.

Some of Murakami’s work isn’t quite kid-friendly (read: “My Lonesome Cowboy”), but Blogger Toddler appreciated the bright colors and the anime- and manga-inspired works (well, except for the objects with sharp teeth). It’s also probably the first museum exhibit I’ve heard of with a Louis Vuitton store smack in the middle (selling Murakami-designed bags), or featured a music video from Kanye West (whose album features a cover designed by the artist).

I was told that photography wasn’t allowed, since the MOCA doesn’t own these works… so here are some shots others have taken of Murakami works:

(Flickr pic by Arte.)

(Flickr pic by K-Ideas.)

(Flickr pic by Slates 81.)

(Flickr pic by Knautia.)

(Flickr pic by Stufingerhut.)

The Murakami exhibit continues until Feb. 11 at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA; 152 N. Central, Downtown.

Good Griefing It At The "Peanuts" Museum

Charlie Brown welcomes you.

Growing up, I went through my obsessive “Peanuts” phase, collecting the comic strips, stuffed animals, TV specials, etc. Charles Schulz even inspired me to dream of a comic strip career — too bad I couldn’t draw. And let’s face it, as a 10 year old, I just wasn’t very funny. (Some would argue that hasn’t changed. Bastards.)

That’s why last month, as we spent a few days up in Santa Rosa, I made sure we stopped by the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center.

You’ve probably read in recent reviews for the new biography Schulz and Peanuts, which depicts Schulz as a rather bitter figure. I’ve always figured that Schulz had a glass-half-empty view toward life — just read the strip! — so that doesn’t really bother me. And indeed, a visit to the museum (built next to the studio where he worked, and the ice rink he erected in the 1970s) shows that Schulz was mostly set in his ways: He ate lunch at the rink snack bar every day, and watched the ice skaters in the afternoon in between drawing that day’s strip.

The museum itself is well-done, offering a history of “Peanuts” (a name Schulz always hated — but his syndicate forced on him) as well as a rotating gallery of strips themed to different topics and events. There are exhibits for kids (including an art room, where young ones can design their own comics), a screening room where “Peanuts” specials are shown, a garden shaped like Snoopy’s head, and more.

The visit was well worth the trip. I was amazed at Blogger Toddler, who somehow had figured out already who Charlie Brown and Snoopy were, and who was excited to go see “Snoopy’s house.” If a 2 1/2-year-old pretty much discovers Charlie Brown and Snoopy just by being alive, then “Peanuts” is truly universal.

Charlie Brown and Snoopy at the entrance

Museum exhibit

Comic strips, even at the bathroom urinal!

Comic strips, turned into a larger Charlie Brown and Lucy mural

Parade of 95 Snoopy “Joe Cools” — which will be auctioned for charity after being displayed at the museum. (These initially sat in front of businesses this summer around Santa Rosa.)