Murakami and Me I feel fortunate to live in a city with such a multitude of diverse and eclectic "art" venues. I enclose the word in quotes because what does that word mean? I was asking myself that very question while wandering and wondering through the Murakami exhibit at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA last Friday.
My Webster's New World Dictionary defines art as primarily the "human ability to make things; creativity of man as distinguished from the world of nature." The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy notes, "Whether art can be defined has also been a matter of controversy."
This is not an exhibit I would have chosen to go to on my own. It was GZ's idea and I went along. Sometimes I'm in situations where I am completely surprised at my reaction to artwork I did not expect to like. And vice versa. But in both cases there is an emotion invoked. Some feeling of, oh wow, this is tremendous. Or a visceral disgust. Either way, it affects me on some deep level.
The Murakami exhibit had neither effect. I am left feeling ambivalent. I admit, attempting to find a parking space downtown on a weekday was a mistake. A lot of my energy was used up driving around for an hour. The parking lot across the street, where I usually park, and was clearly signed as MOCA parking, was being used for restaurant parking only. We ended up at Union Station and walked back. I enjoyed the walk, but all that searching while behind the wheel was still whirling around in my head when we arrived at the museum. As driving in traffic is one of my top ten hatreds in life, perhaps it clouded my perception.
To start with, I am really not into cartoon "art." It doesn't appeal to me. I watched several of the videos on the MOCA website before and after viewing the exhibit in the hope I might glean some insight. But I have the same emotional response to and interest in this as I have towards "Hello Kitty." The rack I would pass by in a souvenir store.
As an illustrator, I think Murakami is fabulous. He certainly has a great imagination. And kudos to him for making his ideas into a multi-million dollar world-wide business. As if to emphasize that, our last stop in the exhibit was the Louis Vuitton gallery filled with the signature handbags. Evidently, Murakami teamed up with LV, embellishing the bags with vibrantly-colored motifs. Business seemed to be good. A mother with her own LV original was buying a Murakami bag for her ten-year-old daughter who was visibly excited. Another customer was a twenty-something, thin, artsy-looking girl. Okay, so I don't get this either. My favorite handbag I bought at the JC Penney outlet store for less than $10. And I get a lot of compliments on it. These LV-Murakami bags are in the hundreds (I saw one on ebay for over $600.)
Nevertherless, as an appreciator of art and all its weird and curious paths, I'm glad I saw the exhibit, if only to confirm that this kind of thing is not my cup of tea.

(Photo copyright Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles)

Los Angeles Conservancy City Hall Tour

BG and I ventured downtown on December 1 to take part in the Los Angeles Conservancy City Hall tour. I was a docent with the LAC for 16 years but unfortunately had to bow out a couple of years ago as it was just one more thing I couldn't fit into my schedule. But I miss giving those tours and recently have wondered if it would be possible to start leading them again. With that in mind, I decided to be a tourist on some of the tours I used to lead just to see if the excitement was still there.

So on a crisp Saturday morning we showed up on the steps of City Hall. I chose this tour as the building is one of my favorites, full of marble, tile and painted ceilings. Completed in 1928, this was the tallest building in Los Angeles until the late 1950s when a 150 foot height limit was lifted.

After the 1994 Northridge quake, the entire building was renovated and placed on stabilizers. I actually remember being in the building right after the quake. I paid a visit to the bathroom on one of the lower floors. The whole room seemed to be at an angle, there was a huge crack in the wall and the light was going on and off. I got out of there as fast as my bodily needs would let me! Soon after that the building was closed for earthquake repairs which took several years.

This was my first trip back since then. What is most noticeable is that the decorative plaster ceilings have been cleaned and repainted with the original colors. I last saw them when they were just beginning to be restored. What a difference now. The most spectacular part of the building is the rotunda with its gorgeous marble columns. This area is used often in movies to substitute for places such as the Vatican or the Capitol Building in DC. I always recognize it when I see it in a film posing as something else and have a little chuckle!

Enough said. The only way you can truly appreciate the building is it to see it for yourself. The Los Angeles Conservancy tour runs the first Saturday of every month at 11:00am. Treat yourself. Make a reservation. (A good place to park is in the Geffen Contemporary MOCA lot south of City Hall, splat in the middle of Little Tokyo where you can have lunch after the tour.)

So am I ending my hiatus as a walking tour docent? Not quite. Even though I admit I was itching to take the tour over from the docent, I need to focus all my energy on finishing school, then I'll decide.

From the Los Angeles Conservancy website:
City Hall First Saturday, 11 a.m.
This 1-3/4 hour tour explores the wonderful architecture and fascinating history of this beloved, and now fully restored landmark. Included on the tour are some of the building's important public spaces including the magnificent rotunda, City Council chambers, and Public Works session room. Request reservation.

(All photos copyright roslyn m wilkins)