Reason #2 Why I Miss Working at the Armory

Well, it's at least in the top five.

I often claim I'm not the strongest in visual arts comprehension; I'm more of a performance and literary arts sort of gal. But I suppose one does develop an eye for things over time. The short time I spent working at the Armory, particularly in the Gallery Department helped me become better versed with it, and helped me discover new and awesome artists out there. Like a former co-worker once told me, everyone has a different aesthetic, and when people get together, it's inevitable that someone learns about something new. I definitely got that, even so much that I considered, and quite possibly am still considering pursuing a career in curating, even though my most recent career move has me off that trail (for now).

Und dann, one BIG thing I miss working at the Armory is the fact that it's much more difficult to know about the upcoming and current awesome exhibitions around town. They say LA has no culture, but really, we've got a lot of it that's oftentimes diluted by the glitz and glamour of Hollywood.

Here are some of the shows that I know about that's getting me REALLY excited:

KARA WALKER AT THE HAMMER

I am SUPER excited about this one. The first time I heard Kara Walker's name was in preparation for the Armory's (very impressive, and I'm not saying that because I was a lot involved with it) installment for the citywide Skin festival. At the start, I associated her work with headache, as we were to loan an entire set of 26 of a series of hers from the Broad Foundation, and they required SO MUCH paperwork, including my having to update the building's facility report, which was the bane of my existence for nearly a month. It was a big task trying to get all the pertinent information which involved talking through a lot of red tape, borrowing equipment from other museums in order to measure light, in candlelights of various rooms that's not even near where the pieces were going, security questions, a list of major exhibitions, partners, etc. etc. die. die.

When they finally came, I realized it was worth every bit of headache. Although the series didn't fully show her amazing range, it was a stunning set of work that was very small but very very memorable. I often dreamed of spending my lunch break just to go in the room where they were and just take in each piece for their powerful little selves.

I should kick myself for not taking advantage of the book that was lying on my desk that had the art of Kara Walker and her sisters, who are all established artists in their own rights. That's another thing about what I miss about being there: there were SO MANY volumes of exhibition books I didn't bother opening. I want to scold myself thinking about it.

This show at the Hammer is a touring exhibition, and has a much broader range of what she can do, and lucky for us, it's the only West Coast stop of this tour. I NEED TO GO.

BONUS ART (AS IF I can actually make it there by Sunday): Recent Acquisitions from the Grunwald Center for the Graphic Arts
Closing on the 9th, they're showing off what the UCLA Center has recently acquired. Catherine Opie! I kinda worked with her in the darkrooms of UCLA! Edvard Munch! A few Barry McGees! Must-see! Must-See! I'm going to do some pre-empt crying because it will take every fiber in my being at full throttle to get me to Westwood by Sunday after working an entire evening at my first show for my new job. Will I make it? Probably not. Will I still wish and hope and think I will at least try? At least in my mind. How awesome would it be if I surprise myself and actually make it out there by weekend's end? VERY, but not as awesome as the show itself, no doubt. OR MAYBE IT WOULD...

On that UCLA note, there's:

MAKE ART/STOP AIDS at the Fowler Museum at UCLA (interesting, they changed the name back?)

Another kick myself in the ass for not better taking advantage of this place when my building shared a much-forgotten path. The Fowler's exhibitions really embody why I joined WAC in the first place, focusing on "non-Western" art. They've had shows featuring the art and artifacts of Vodou, Lucumi and other Afro-Caribbean syncratic religions, as well as a show about advertising and HUGE billboards (aptly curated in Westwood, a place notorious for that stuff).

I've recently spent some time looking back at my old emails from when I trained for the New Orleans Marathon, when I invested my time and body to run and raise money in the efforts to better those who live with AIDS and possibly one day, find a cure. This exhibition is a touring show as well, with its debut at the Fowler, features work of artists from around the world responding to the AIDS epidemic that plagues us. Although my involvement towards helping find a cure hasn't been as active as I wish it was as of late, I still feel very strongly for the cause, and reading those weekly emails my Program Rep (who is now now dear friend from my process), makes me realized how much I miss that time of my life when I was doing something that benefits myself (mostly from feeling that I was doing something worthwhile with my life at a time when I really didn't feel I was doing anything of that sort), at the same time, benefited others.

Just when I started thinking I miss Westwood again, the deal is sealed the trifecta is completed with:

THE GOAT'S DANCE: PHOTOGRAPHS BY GRACIELA ITURBIDE

If I haven't mentioned it enough times, I'll mention it again: I'm more than certain I was Latina in a previous life, because I always feel so strongly when it comes to things and people of that persuasion (that sounds so fetishist, but I can't otherwise aptly describe it). Manuel Alvarez Bravo is one of my all-time favorite photographers. This show of 30 years of Graciela's work based mainly highlighting the culture, people, and aesthetic in Mexico as well as studies of Mexican-Americans. It's hard not to think of Alvarez Bravo when thinking of her show, as he was a pioneer not only of his style by also of his subject matter, and perhaps Graciela's work may not be around had it not been for him. All the same, they're great images in their own right, and the photographic curators at The Getty never fail in putting together amazing shows.

BONUS EXHIBITS AT THE GETTY: In the very immediate future (next week and the week after) are two exciting shows: California Video satarting March 15 and Ten Years in Focus: The Artist and the Camera starting March 25. To think I applied for a position that would involve me in the preparation of the former show makes me kind of sad, but it doesn't diminish my excitement for it. The show features 40 years of video art made by the locals, including work from Bill Viola, Allan Kaprow, Brian Bress, Nancy Buchanan, amongst many others. The latter show features photographic pieces The Trust has acquired in the past 10 years. I still can't wrap my mind around the fact that there is a trust created from the interest from a man's savings that can fund an entire, AMAZING institution and center that is responsible for an inconceivable collection of art. I don't care J. Paul's personal aesthetic isn't too similar to mine (I do fancy the ancient Roman and Greek stuff, though), but I just wet myself thinking what The Trust has amassed since (all stolen Italian art drama aside). I'm sure it's amazing stuff, and I want to see it.

As if this post can get any longer, there are other places I must go to, and SOON:

The Garden of Flowing Fragrance at the Huntington

Iiiiiiit's OPEN! And dammed it be all if I don't fully utilize my Huntington membership and check this sucker out! My roommate just got an amazing tattoo done from artwork inspired by this garden from my membership's newsletter, I MUST check this place out! As beautiful as the Japanese Garden is, I have to say, they really pulled out all the stops with this place. I remember when the area the garden is now was a ghastly plot of dirt, and now they've transformed it into a place that holds so much beauty.

This place, I'm afraid to say, warrants perhaps a work ditch day just to take in its beauty minus the weekend crowd. I may do it before my membership expires next month (though there is talks my roommate wants to renew, as I named her the co-member on my memberhsip). I may also have to employ the motivation of others to drag my butt away from Animal Crossing and out to this place (as well as all the other amazing aforementioned shows).

Last but not least and I'm hungry and tired of finding links and images to go with this entry, is BCAM at LACMA. Maybe because a part of me thinks that The Broad Foundation owes me more awesome for putting me through so much in order to acquire the Kara Walkers (WITNESS: post = Full Circle.), I really want to see this new place the Foundation has made to help show off more of LACMA's contemporary collection. As an ever-persistent problem with museums and galleries, there never is enough space to adequately show the collections they have. It's a shame to have so much amazing work stored away when others can get so much from viewing it. I'm happy this place is now around to help remedy this problem, and I'd love to see what they've got.

So, yes. There's a lot out there to see, and crazy long this entry is, it's not even scratching the surface of what amazing stuff is out there in LA.

Now it's all a matter of seizing the opportunities presented here and going to these wonderful sights in person.