| Opening a New Artistic Lens on Los Angeles |
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 LOS ANGELES The true measure of a cultural attraction is usually found not in the grandeur of the building itself, the names on the building, or the reputation of whatever illustrious architects designed it, but in the quality of the artists whose works are presented within.
Yes, the 10,000-square-foot (929-quare-meter) facility conceived by DMJM Design, well respected for a wide range of public and private buildings and its commitment to sustainable “green” design, is an eye-catching, appropriately light-filled contemporary space, with curving walls and an iris-shaped ceiling inspired by the form and function of cameras themselves. The Annenberg Foundation, established in 1989 by the late publisher Walter Annenberg and committed to education and the arts among other worthy pursuits, certainly bestows on the museum an impressive aura in its own right.
The debut exhibition, “L8S ANG3LES: 11 L.A. Photographers,” open until July, more than begins to fulfill the museum’s physical and conceptual promise. It features works by locals who define the broad scope of the photographic art, from architecture master Julius Shulman (who also shot a series of official images of the museum itself) to celebrity photographers like Greg Gorman and Douglas Kirkland, top newspaper photojournalists who work for the Los Angeles Times to conceptual artist John Baldessari.
Future shows scheduled include “Pictures of the Year International” (mid-July to late October), winners of a prestigious annual photojournalism contest; and “Walter Iooss and Neil Leifer” (early November through March 2010), featuring works by two preeminent sports photographers. Increasing the range of the Annenberg’s offerings is a digital gallery where a vast library of images are continually projected. Still other parts of the building devote themselves to public lectures, workshops, and an impressive bookshop/giftshop.
It all adds up to an institution that stands to make a substantial impact on Los Angeles. Says Wallis Annenberg, Walter’s daughter and the Vice President and Trustee of the Annenberg Foundation, “We see the creation of the Annenberg Space for Photography as a service to the community where visitors can see the world through a different lens and leave feeling motivated to make positive change.”
By that standard, the Annenberg Space for Photography, which opened in the Century City area of Los Angeles on March 27 as the latest major museum in a city still basking in the glory of The Getty Center’s debut almost 12 years ago, is already a resounding success. Bookmark us: 
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