MOCA and Little Tokyo ~ Forget all your worries ... Forget all your Cares ...

Disney Hall on my way Downtown ...

I've been sick. Some weird bug has had me silenced with laryngitis since last week, and some crazy sinus thing ... or something. I had been trying all the natural remedies I could find, for all my various symptoms, and finally gave up and went to the urgent care on Sunday. I left with antibiotics, a steroid shot and some crazy little prescription "pearls" for my cough. 

I am not totally well but at least I can croak out a few sounds, here and there!

These photos were from an exceedingly hot time last month, where I just had to get out of my apartment. I took my little spritzer bottle, my fan from chinatown, and headed downtown, in search of art and air conditioning.

A little music ...

I was already in a strange mood and going to an art exhibition where the retrospective was planned before the artist took his own life, at the age of 57, didn't exactly perk up my mood. 

In a creative way it was very inspiring though, because he expressed himself in ways and means, no one would never think of. Or at least, I wouldn't have.

MIKE KELLEY

The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA

March 31-July 28, 2014

Much of the art was about memory, of childhood, and growing up.

While most of the areas the areas of the museum, photography was not aloud, there were two areas where you could take as many photos as you wanted. 

Director of MOCA Philippe Vergne

Below, his high school yearbook photo, alongside portraits of weird little handmade stuffed creatures (like mugshots) and yet, he is still the odd man out.

Ahh ... Youth!, 1991/2008
Eight Cibachrome photographs, printers proof

More Love Hours Than Can Ever Be Repaid, 1987

Handmade stuffed animals, afghans on canvas, and dried corn

The Artist talking about his work.

There was a series of mixed media collage pieces (loosely?) based off of some craft done in some area of Canada. I thought they were really beautiful. Especially, this one below.

below

Animal Self and Friend of the Animals, 1987

Two parts: glued felt

Below, this banner cracked me up. I especially liked the "etc" and the "no acting eperince required." Very funny, to me, remembering many an add in "Backstage West" back in the day, when I first started acting in L.A.

John Glenn Memorial Detroit River Reclamation Project, 2001 

(all the pieces of glass, ceramics etc. for the mosaic were taken from the Detroit River)

When I left the show, I really wanted a cocktail, but I'm not one to go sit at a bar alone. So, I headed across the street into one of the main little areas of little Tokyo. It was nice. Someone was playing some fun music, with Japanese instruments, but it sounded a little more like there was some caribbean mixed in? Anyway, a little live music usually can perk me up!

I went into some of the crazy little shops, with all sorts of weird nicknacks, and got my nephew some funny little bunny chopsticks. (I have no idea where they are now!)

There were loads of people out and about!

And then, having given up on the cocktail, I decided to have hot green tea and spicy salmon, at a very busy little sushi bar. To those of you who don't eat sushi, I know how weir it looks, but it was very fresh and very good! I promise!

It was good to get out, but sometimes it feels even better to be at home. Even without central air. 

Anyway, I'd like to go back and spend a little more time in Little Tokyo, and go to the Japanese American Museum, which somehow after all these years, I've never been! I'll let you know when that happens. ;)

When I get real bored, 

I like to drive downtown and get a great parking spot,

then sit in my car and count how many people

ask me if I'm leaving.

~Stephen Wright

(he cracks me up!)

Blessing and light!