There has never been more worldwide attention on the creative culture of Los Angeles. People from all over the world came to LA for the opening of the Broad Contemporary Art Museum (BCAM) and the recent celebration of the 30th anniversary of MOCA, and are already planning for Pacific Standard Time in 2011. We are living in the city everyone is watching and visiting.
Spring, like art, is full of surprises. From fruit trees to desert festivals to cover artist Mark Bradford's community advocacy, art grows in unexpected places. ForYourArt is pleased to announce its new publication, ForYourArt, which you can download here. Thanks to Ovation for its support. You can be a patron by knowing what's going on and telling your friends.
Each Week, ForYourArt highlights select cultural offerings throughout the week ahead to help you Plan ForYourArt.
THURSDAY, APRIL 22
Lifestyle Nation: The Iconic Images of John Van Hamersveld
The Art Institute of California - L.A. (Santa Monica)
5-9pm
An artist's reception, with beverages and hors d'oeuvres, for an exhibition celebrating the iconic surf, skateboard and Southern California lifestyle images from the past 50 years of John Van Hamersveld's illustrious career. Including a Q&A with the artist, and a silent auction of eco-art to benefit the Surfrider Foundation West LA/Malibu Chapter. RSVP: 888.646.4610
FRIDAY, APRIL 23
Welcome To LA/Nashville - Songwriter Richard Baskin In Person
American Cinematheque (Santa Monica)
7:30pm
Composer Richard Baskin leads a discussion and screening of Nashville and Welcome to LA, two mid-70s films whose scores he composed, cementing them as modern classics. Produced by Robert Altman, Welcome to LA (1976) uses the city as a backdrop to explore love and loneliness, while Nashville (1975) chronicles a loosely linked series of sagas following numerous colorful characters in Nashville on the occasion of a political convention and music festival. All ticket-holders will receive an advance free copy of Richard Baskin's new music CD DANGEROUS LOVE. Click here for tickets.
Titans of Graphic Novel: Harvey Pekar and Alison Bechdel
Royce Hall (UCLA)
8pm
A conversation with Harvey Pekar and Alison Bechdel, two award-winning graphic novelists, who focus on the graphic novel as a powerful confessional and creative medium. Ticket prices vary.
SATURDAY, APRIL 24
Los Angeles Times Festival of Books
UCLA (Westwood)
10am-6pm
The annual Los Angeles Times Festivals of Books, which runs through Sunday, April 25, features panel discussions on selected authors and literary genres, book signings, special activities including bookbinding, circus performers and giant crossword puzzles. Over 400 authors will be present. Tickets $1 and can be purchased online.
Liz Larner / Catherine Opie
Regen Projects (West Hollywood)
6-8pm
The opening reception for two exhibitions by artists Liz Larner and Catherine Opie. Larner will present new sculptural works composed of the ubiquitous forms of smiles, hearts and flowers, evoking notions of kitsch and emotion and abstracting them from their original context to create new meanings. Opie will present a suite of new photographs that further her investigation into landscape, using the ocean as a backdrop to explore visual representations of boundaries and limitlessness. Exhibitions on view until May 22.
SUNDAY, APRIL 25
Llyn Foulke's Machine Performance
(630 Moulton Ave) Downtown
3pm
Artist Llyn Foulkes performs using his Machine, composed of bass, xylophone, car horn and cowbell and various other objects that act as impromptu instruments, at his Brewery Studio.