LACMA, Jazz and the Big Mix

The Friday before July 4th I decided to check out LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) to see one of their exhibitions I knew was ending soon. It was called Human Nature. I was also interested in other current exhibitions and checking out the free Jazz concerts they have on Fridays, as well. I was just feeling the need for a big creative "shot in the arm."

The first thing I saw was this amazing piece of art (below) by Jesus Rafael Soto. It was quite entertaining watching all of the kids (and adults) interacting with it. Isn't the little girl in the first photo beautiful?

All photos in this post were taken with my iPhone.

Can you believe I forgot my camera?

J
esus Rafael Soto, 1923-2005

Venezuela, active Caracas andParis

Penetrable, 1990

I did the sketch below in an exhibit called The Mourners. It is an exhibittion of 37 small alabaster sculptures that were originally sculpted for the tomb of John the Fearless, the second duke of Burgundy at the Chartreuse de Champmol in Dijon, France. The tomb is now housed at the Musee des Beaux-Arts de Dijon, but because of some restoration work the sculptures are currently traveling.

The funny thing is that a few months ago I wouldn't have known about any of that but it just so happens that we had studied about the Chartreuse de Champmol and the Duchys of Burgundy in my art history class that I had just taken in the spring! Love it when that happens!

Sketch done by me (on my new Ikat print dress!)

The contemporary art exhibit was called Human Nature after the piece below by Bruce Nauman.

Bruce Nauman

Human Nature/Life Death/

Knows Doesn't Know, 1983

The next piece is by one of my favorite artists Do-Ho Suh from South Korea. The piece is from a group of full-scale silk and nylon architectural models of his homes from his childhood in Korea and his apartment in New York. This is an exact replica of one of the gates to his parents' house in Seoul. He is amazing. Click on his name for his gallery link or just Google him and check out his work in Google Images. I love him. Total art crush!

Do-Ho Suh

Gate, 2005

Silk and stainless steel tube

Outside the BCAM Building at LACMA

There is a David Smith exhibition currently on view called Cubes and Anarchy. I love his work, as well. Definitely one of my favorite contemporary sculptors. I saw an exhibition of his work at The Metropolitan Museum of Art years ago on the rooftop garden, while having a glass of champagne with my friend Lynn, on a glorious, sunny day above Central Park. It was unforgettable!

David Smith

Cubi I, 1963

Burnished stainless-steel

Another exhibition (yes, there is lots going on there right now!) currently at the museum is Gifts of the Sultan. This beautiful piece is embroidered with silver and silver-gilt wire on black silk with red and green silk appliques. Gorgeous.

Sitara for the Door of the Ka'ba

Egypt, Cairo, dated AH 1266/1849-50

What you can't see in the photo below were the 1,500 people listening to jazz at the museum. (I asked a guy who worked there for an estimate.) You also can't see me having a glass of Italian red wine at the bar. ;)

There are no days in life so memorable

as those which vibrated to some stroke of imagination.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

As some of you may recall, I had a New Years resolution to make it to at least 1 museum a month. Well, it's July and I have made it to 4. (5 if you include the downtown library, which is really like a museum.) In any case, I have

a bit of catching up to do!

I also have some catching up to do with blogging. I need to do some visiting and I also want to share my amazing story of synchronicity from last weekend!!

Until then ... have a beautiful week!

Blessings and light!