Frida Kahlo, Barbie and freeways - where else but at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Los Angeles County Museum of Art
In Wonderland: The Surrealist Adventures
of Women Artists in Mexico and the United States

Once again, I have to say, I thank my lucky stars that I live in a city where I have access to so many art museums. There are many facets to my life and I probably have too many interests. But if I had to pick one, and only one topic around which the rest of my life had to revolve, it would be art. Making it, viewing it, talking about it, writing about it…

Los Angeles County Museum of Art
In Wonderland: The Surrealist Adventures
of Women Artists in Mexico and the United States

If the big one strikes and I am not at home at the time, and I have to be locked in a building for five days, assuming I have some snacks and water and am unharmed (with access to a toilet, of course) please let me be in an art museum! 

Los Angeles County Museum of Art
In Wonderland: The Surrealist Adventures
of Women Artists in Mexico and the United States

Today a group of my friends and I ventured into the Disneyland of art that is the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). I am always puzzled why art-loving tourists to our fair city always choose to visit the Getty Center. Now, I love the Getty as much as, or even more than, the average person. It’s one of my favorite places in LA. But when I want to see some serious art, I prefer LACMA.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art
In Wonderland: The Surrealist Adventures
of Women Artists in Mexico and the United States

The Getty Center is architecturally significant, no doubt about it… and who doesn’t adore all that fabulous travertine. But to me, LACMA is more representative of what the City of Angels is all about: a hodge podge of architectural styles and cultures.  

Several years ago there was a proposal to knock down this hodge podge and start over with a brand new, more homogenous campus. I was aghast, yes, aghast—and I do not use that word lightly. I enjoy the diverse designs of the buildings. In some weird way they all seem to go together like, dare I say it, a Braque collage… yes, that is what I see when I look at the LACMA complex.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art
In Wonderland: The Surrealist Adventures
of Women Artists in Mexico and the United States
Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera

So, back to today’s adventure. We visited three amazing and surprising exhibits. First was In Wonderland: The Surrealist Adventures of Women Artists in Mexico and the United States, work mostly from 1931 to 1968. I was aware of Leonora Carrington and Frida Kahlo, but there were also stunning images from some less familiar artists such as Lee Miller, Dorothea Tanning and Remedios Varo, just to name a few.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art
In Wonderland: The Surrealist Adventures
of Women Artists in Mexico and the United States

As with any exhibit, there were some pieces I did not connect with. But I would say that a good 40% of the work reached out to me on an emotional level, and that says a lot, as I am not easily impressed (or at least, I like to think that).

When I returned home I realized I wanted to study the artists and their work more in depth so I ordered the catalog online. I can’t wait to have it in my hands.

One of my friends noted that the art and science of art exhibition display is much more sophisticated than it was decades ago. The way art is displayed is almost as important as the work itself. My friend mentioned how well the exhibit flowed so there was no question that we would miss anything. And I found the way the installation was designed to be elegant but unobtrusive. Kudos to whoever created it.


Los Angeles County Museum of Art
California Design, 1930–1965: “Living in a Modern Way”
Studebaker Avanti

I have previously writtenabout the Resnick Pavilion. It is the latest addition to LACMA’s ever-expanding campus and a brilliant space for showing art. The other half of the Pavilion houses the California Design, 1930–1965: "Living in a Modern Way" California Design, 1930–1965: “Living in a Modern Way” exhibit. California Design, 1930–1965: "Living in a Modern Way" California Design, 1930–1965: "Living in a Modern Way"  This is LACMA’s contribution to Pacific Standard Time, a collaboration of over sixty institutions across Southern California presenting the history of the LA art scene.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art
California Design, 1930–1965: “Living in a Modern Way”

If I was forced to pick my favorite part of California Design, it would have to be the reconstruction of the living room from the Eames house. How cool is this. As the Eames House (designed by Charles and Ray Eames in the late 1940s) is being restored, the living area has been removed and reinstalled at LACMA to the exact proportions of the original. The room contains all of the real Eames House objects, including furniture, lighting, floor coverings, bookshelves and their contents.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art
California Design, 1930–1965: “Living in a Modern Way”

But, of course, as we are all still young girls at heart, we enjoyed Barbie, Ken and the Barbie house. Yes, I had a Barbie doll, probably later than most American kids as we did not have her in England at that time. But my excuse for falling in love with her is that I sewed all her clothes by hand, so she was another creative outlet for me.   

Los Angeles County Museum of Art
California Design, 1930–1965: “Living in a Modern Way”
Silverstream motor home

Before leaving, we decided to run into the Broad Contemporary Art Museum just to see what was going on. The security guard said if you are looking for Metropolis II, it’s around the corner. Okay, whatever. Oh my, so happy we did not miss it.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Metropolis II

Chris Burden, who is responsible for all the lampposts at the entrance to the museum on Wilshire Blvd, put together this incredible miniature city structure of buildings (don’t miss the Eiffel Tower), roadways and train tracks, including a six-lane freeway filled with cars speeding along at the equivalent, scale-wise, of 240 mph. We were fortunate to catch the installation when it was activated. You need to check the schedule on the LACMA website to see when it is going at full throttle. 

Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Metropolis II

By then our brains were on fire and in dire need of nourishment. So we retired to our favorite aprés LACMA restaurant, MarieCallender’s Grill on Wilshire Blvd. to discuss everything we had just seen. Now, how did Martin Clunes work his way into that conversation?

(Photos copyright roslyn m wilkins)