 |
| Auguste Rodin, The Shade (modeled about 1880, enlarged about 1901, 1969 cast) and Marsyas [Torso of "The Falling Man"] (modeled 1880s, 1970 cast). LACMA, gifts of B. Gerald Cantor Art Foundation |
LACMA is reinstalling its Rodin sculpture garden north of Wilshire, outside the David Geffen Galleries. The works are posthumous bronze casts donated by financier B. Gerald Cantor
and wife Iris from 1973 to 1990.
 |
| L–R: Tony Smith's Smoke and Rodin's Jean de Fiennes, Monument to Balzac, Orpheus, and The Prodigal Son |
Comments
People managing the museum who should be skilled when it comes to so-called aesthetics but who themselves may not be as professional (or sophisticated) as they should be, however, goes back decades. Not helped by the museum's budget (eg, historically modest endowment fund) and late start (ie, 1965).
I recall their original campus, including grounds and galleries, looking makeshift. Things like empty planters or work material stacked against outside walls, exhibit spaces set up in a funky way. Or just the opposite of what a top-notch museum (certainly physically) should be all about.
And after looking at Peter Zumthor's concrete-wall galleries in Europe, I wouldn't have immediately said, "that's what I want!"
William Pereira in 1965 was described as a compromise (Mies van der Rohe was the first choice), while Peter Zumthor in the 2020s is a choice of Michael Govan.
Oh, well, history may not repeat itself but it often rhymes.
However, 2026 will be better than 1965 in one major way: Exhibit areas won't be chopped up and spread between 4 different floors and 2 different buildings. Although the Geffen split from the Resnick is similar to the Ahmanson split from the Hammer. So the era of Zumthor will be still somewhat similar to the era of Pereira too.
“Too many jacarandas or succulents – looks so busy and sloppy against the concrete.”
And that is why more concrete around. I wish there are more green space around it specially near the area between the Japanese pavilion and David Geffen Galleries.
Then the David Geffen Galleries are straddling that street?
So there are still 3 (or more?) buildings that one has to visit to see the entire collection? Luckily, the weather is clement year-round.
To see the whole museum you would visit the Broad Contemporary Art Museum and the Resnick Pavilion (now); plus the Geffen Galleries (opening Apr. 19 for members, May 4 otherwise); and the Japanese Pavilion (reopening date to be announced). All except the Geffen Galleries are completely north of Wilshire.
[That's a lot of drama.]