| LACMA |
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| Written by Wendy Innes |
| Thursday, 24 September 2009 00:00 |
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The LOS ANGELES County Museum of Art is full of permanent cultures that can captivate and intrigue all museum patrons. It is akin to the West Coast version of Washington’s fabled Smithsonian Institution. There are collections from every area of the world, and in some cases split up into eras in the same place. Here are a few of the many things you will see on a trip to LACMA.
The casual art aficionado is probably not even aware that Germany had an Expressionist period, but that’s one of the many treats you will find in the galleries. Works from Erich Heckel, Franz Marc, and Ernst Ludwig Kirchner grace the walls. German Expressionism thrived through the works of these men from 1905 until 1925, which is surprising given the state of affairs in central Europe in the late teens and early twenties. If you wish to travel back in time to a quaint, yet slightly more violent age, perhaps visit the collection of European Sculpture. Many pieces date to the 15th century and highlight the advent of the Catholic Church’s dominance of Europe in that era. One piece that is given special attention is Virgin, from The Annunciation, a terra cotta sculpture dating around 1465. Mostly likely an altarpiece, the medium was very popular in central Italy, where the della Robbia family studio became the sought after brand. All of the pieces in the collection come from Europe, but primarily Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and Switzerland.  In the African Art exhibit, one of the most amazing sections is their extensive collection of beadwork. The pieces seem to be mostly sub-Saharan in this gallery, but the hand craving is intricate and pronounced. Another amazing piece is a door adornment from the Benin Kingdom. Dating to the 17th century, this gift to the museum shows what appears to be a soldier craved into the bronze, denoting that it was probably on a regal door. The LA County Museum of Art has one of the most extensive costume collections west of the Mississippi River. Since The Costume Council, a department of the museums in LA, moved to the LA County Museum of Art in 1965, the collection has grown to over 25,000 objects, and more comes in all the time. One of the oldest pieces to grace the collection is a piece of Peruvian textile that dates to 200 BCE. Unlike other parts of the museum, the Costume Collection contains artifacts from all over the world. There are English men’s gauntlets from the Middle Ages, Robes from Japan, Chinese hoods, and Iranian fabric. Arguably the most beautiful piece is a woman’s dress from 18th century England. For the amateur Archeologist, or the Indiana Jones fan, there is the Egyptian Art section. The collection has material from 4000 BC to the 600’s. There are many artifacts that show how mummification and burial took place. The coffins on display tell the tale of how Egyptian princes and kings were treated. More than any other exhibit, the art portrayed in the Egyptian collection shows the history of a people. There were dynastic pieces, icons and idols of the gods that sat in normal homes, and even art from the Coptic Christian era. They say you can learn about a society through its art. The Egyptians proves this to be the case. In addition to all of these wonderful permanent collections, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art has exhibitions that rotate in and out of the program. One of the greatest of these is bringing art to children in the area.  LACMA is partnered with a group called Art Programs with the Community. Together, they recently commissioned a British artist named Marysa Dowling to come in and work with the children in the community to inspire a love for art in the next generation. The project is called Journeys and running until April of 2010. Kids in several schools throughout the area participated in workshops and discussions in their neighborhoods and at school. As a gift to them for being part of the program, their works are on display alongside Dowling’s at the museum. To further venture and bolster a love for art among children, there is an art making section near the exhibit. The key to any good museum is education. In a day and age when art program are being cut and limited for various reasons, it is incumbent that museums, along with the parents who bring them there, pick up the slack. Another rotating exhibit is called “From the Spoon to the City": Objects by Architects from LACMA's Collection. This collection is based on LACMA’s design collection and runs until January 2010. Architects and artist such as Rudolf Schindler and Frank Lloyd Wright will be highlighted. According to a statement, “The exhibition will be organized into four chronological groups, based on particularly fertile moments in design history and featuring works by Frank Lloyd Wright, Marcel Breuer, Rudolph Schindler, Richard Neutra, Charles and Ray Eames, Alvin Lustig, Greta Magnusson Grossman, Frank Gehry, Ettore Sottsass, Michael Graves, Greg Lynn, Elena Manferdini, and Johanna Grawunder.” For the design aficionado who recognizes that architectural work is as artistic as other mediums, this would be a good way to combine the two. Finally, as if these highlights alone weren’t enough, the LA County Museum of Art has plenty of other ways to get involved. First there is an ongoing lecture series discussing everything from the exhibits they have to how to improve yourself as an artist. Recent talks have included Pompeii, Japanese Video and Art in the 1960s and 70s, and various conversations with artists. Because LACMA recognizes that not all art is visual, there is an entire Department of Music Programs designed to accentuate the art going spirit. Fridays feature Jazz while Sundays bring out those with a classical ear. Additionally, the Music Department highlights some exhibits by playing music from the area while patrons peruse the artifacts. For example, a recent Pompeii exhibit feature works by Italian musicians. For a great day out, or years of study, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art provides a setting worth seeing. Bookmark us: 
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