The latest report of the mythical Los Angeles Contemporary Museum of Art is in the Downstage Center Substack.
Comments
Anonymous said…
Because the word "county" has such a hick or twangy sound about it, I think various people don't associate it with the word "museum" and perhaps "Los Angeles" too.
It's like the phrase "county sheriff" associated with a redneck cop enforcing the law in a small Southern town. So the name of the museum on Wilshire Blvd doesn't glide off the tongue as easily as "Metropolitan" or "Louvre" does.
A writer based on the East Coast a few years ago did a piece on Michael Govan and his work with Peter Zumthor. The article in one of its first paragraphs did make light of the word "county" in "Los Angeles County Museum...."
And considering the decades-long series of "oops" of LACMA, maybe "county" should be said with a Southern drawl. LOL. Even more so if the Museum of Fine Arts Houston is now the second largest art museum in the US. In turn, the reduced square footage (and so-so installation) of the Geffen sure doesn't help matters either.
Anonymous said…
Sometimes I wish they would eliminate the word County and make it the LA Museum of Art but I guess its acronym LAMA doesn’t have a good ring to it either
Anonymous said…
The size of museums is measured in objects (collection).
In terms of objects, both LACMA and the Getty are larger than the MFA Houston.
The rube trolls on behalf of the MFA/Houston every chance he gets. He must reside in some trailer park in Houston.
"...in some trailer park in Houston.": Yes, either there or on the periphery of Minneapolis.
Anonymous said…
> He must reside in > some trailer park in > Houston.
I'm actually a hick living in the rundown neighborhood several blocks south of the Lucas Museum, an area commonly referred to as "South Central LA."
Sooie, sooie.
It's admittedly depressing as hell, which is why the new Lucas Museum is a long overdue shot in the arm..
Not sure if Michael Govan and his staffers would be rated as more professional or sophisticated than George Lucas and his staffers are. But if they are, someone is putting a thumb on the scale.
In terms of LACMA's and Lucas's new buildings (and their technical, architectural aspects), the group in charge of the former sort of whiffed on their work while the latter group has done a better job.
Style and quality of artworks notwithstanding, more of the installation of the Geffen looks clumsy or even amateurish,. while the Lucas looks more sure-footed or competent..
However, the Lucas hasn't finished the entry gates on either side of their main plaza. They're supposed to be Art-deco-style gates with 2 statues each on the west and east. Nonetheless, the Lucas appears to be getting more positive press from more visitors than people who several months ago first checked out the Geffen.
So more rubes apparently work at LACMA than at the Lucas.
Meanwhile, I wouldn't describe museum goers like the following as necessarily serious connoisseur types. Or people who may talk out of both sides of their mouth. They're the ones who don't mind contemporary-art museum A or contemporary-art museum B and have little negative to say about what most of the art world has been quite easygoing about for decades.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dd-FxzCKhaG/
Veenacrownholm, Instagram: We went to a galaxy far, far away… aka Exposition Park! Just kidding we had a family fun day at the brand new @lucasmuseum of Narrative Art, and WOW.
Our faves: Norman Rockwell: A whole gallery anchored by Shuffleton’s Barbershop (1950), which Lucas saved from a museum sale for about $25 million, plus The Gossips (1948) and a bronze based on his Triple Self-Portrait. The detail in person is incredible.
Banksy: Two walls of stenciled murals on the 5th floor, made in collaboration with Lucas, including his iconic Girl with Balloon. You can still see paint on the floor from when he made them here!
The Cowardly Lion: An original 1939 Wizard of Oz costume made of real lion fur. Since Bert Lahr’s makeup was glued to his face, conservators recreated his features from a cast of his son’s face.
Star Wars: Original costumes, props and concept art from Lucas’s archive, including Leia and Darth Maul, plus the “Star Wars in Motion” vehicle exhibit.
Batman: An original film costume alongside comic and superhero art showing how heroes evolved from page to screen.
Pikachu: Pokémon illustrator Naoyo Kimura’s Pikachu painted as a Van Gogh self-portrait. A perfect mix of pop culture and fine art!
The views: The upper floors and rooftop look out over all of LA, from the downtown skyline to USC, Exposition Park and the hills beyond. Grab a bite at the rooftop Skywalker Grill and soak it all in!
This museum is so full of life and creativity. Every room sparked my imagination and brought my inner child right back out. Only about 1,200 pieces are on display, so it’s too much for one day. We’re officially becoming members! Such an LA gem.
Comments
It's like the phrase "county sheriff" associated with a redneck cop enforcing the law in a small Southern town. So the name of the museum on Wilshire Blvd doesn't glide off the tongue as easily as "Metropolitan" or "Louvre" does.
A writer based on the East Coast a few years ago did a piece on Michael Govan and his work with Peter Zumthor. The article in one of its first paragraphs did make light of the word "county" in "Los Angeles County Museum...."
And considering the decades-long series of "oops" of LACMA, maybe "county" should be said with a Southern drawl. LOL. Even more so if the Museum of Fine Arts Houston is now the second largest art museum in the US. In turn, the reduced square footage (and so-so installation) of the Geffen sure doesn't help matters either.
In terms of objects, both LACMA and the Getty are larger than the MFA Houston.
The rube trolls on behalf of the MFA/Houston every chance he gets. He must reside in some trailer park in Houston.
Yes, either there or on the periphery of Minneapolis.
> some trailer park in
> Houston.
I'm actually a hick living in the rundown neighborhood several blocks south of the Lucas Museum, an area commonly referred to as "South Central LA."
Sooie, sooie.
It's admittedly depressing as hell, which is why the new Lucas Museum is a long overdue shot in the arm..
Not sure if Michael Govan and his staffers would be rated as more professional or sophisticated than George Lucas and his staffers are. But if they are, someone is putting a thumb on the scale.
In terms of LACMA's and Lucas's new buildings (and their technical, architectural aspects), the group in charge of the former sort of whiffed on their work while the latter group has done a better job.
Style and quality of artworks notwithstanding, more of the installation of the Geffen looks clumsy or even amateurish,. while the Lucas looks more sure-footed or competent..
However, the Lucas hasn't finished the entry gates on either side of their main plaza. They're supposed to be Art-deco-style gates with 2 statues each on the west and east. Nonetheless, the Lucas appears to be getting more positive press from more visitors than people who several months ago first checked out the Geffen.
So more rubes apparently work at LACMA than at the Lucas.
Meanwhile, I wouldn't describe museum goers like the following as necessarily serious connoisseur types. Or people who may talk out of both sides of their mouth. They're the ones who don't mind contemporary-art museum A or contemporary-art museum B and have little negative to say about what most of the art world has been quite easygoing about for decades.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dd-FxzCKhaG/
Veenacrownholm, Instagram:
We went to a galaxy far, far away… aka Exposition Park! Just kidding we had a family fun day at the brand new @lucasmuseum of Narrative Art, and WOW.
Our faves:
Norman Rockwell: A whole gallery anchored by Shuffleton’s Barbershop (1950), which Lucas saved from a museum sale for about $25 million, plus The Gossips (1948) and a bronze based on his Triple Self-Portrait. The detail in person is incredible.
Banksy: Two walls of stenciled murals on the 5th floor, made in collaboration with Lucas, including his iconic Girl with Balloon. You can still see paint on the floor from when he made them here!
The Cowardly Lion: An original 1939 Wizard of Oz costume made of real lion fur. Since Bert Lahr’s makeup was glued to his face, conservators recreated his features from a cast of his son’s face.
Star Wars: Original costumes, props and concept art from Lucas’s archive, including Leia and Darth Maul, plus the “Star Wars in Motion” vehicle exhibit.
Batman: An original film costume alongside comic and superhero art showing how heroes evolved from page to screen.
Pikachu: Pokémon illustrator Naoyo Kimura’s Pikachu painted as a Van Gogh self-portrait. A perfect mix of pop culture and fine art!
The views: The upper floors and rooftop look out over all of LA, from the downtown skyline to USC, Exposition Park and the hills beyond. Grab a bite at the rooftop Skywalker Grill and soak it all in!
This museum is so full of life and creativity. Every room sparked my imagination and brought my inner child right back out. Only about 1,200 pieces are on display, so it’s too much for one day. We’re officially becoming members! Such an LA gem.