A heat wave is upon us. One solution? Slip into an air-conditioned museum for a few hours this weekend. Our round-up of the shows around town is designed to help match your mood to a soothingly cool exhibit,
History with Lots of Gold – The King Tut exhibit at The California Museum of Science is a hit, and deservedly so. You may have seen a King Tut show in the past, but not like this one, which is brimming with sumptuous objects that have never been out of Egypt. Feast your senses and be transported back to a mythical time. The mystery of Tut’s death no longer drives the emotions of this ever-popular boy king, but the glory of the Pharaoh’s set-up for the afterlife still enthralls.
Timed entry tickets needed. Summer hours for KING TUT: TREASURES OF THE GOLDEN PHARAOH have been extended Saturdays through Wednesdays. First admission 9AM, last admission 7:30PM. Best times to visit are afternoons and early evenings. Morning time slots are likely to sell out.
Bonus: Be sure to see an IMAX movie while you’re on site – The Mysteries of Egypt tells the story of Howard Carter’s discovery of Tut’s tomb.
Jim Henson and his iconic creation Kermit the Frog, in front of a mural by Coulter Watt.
Photo by John E. Barrett. Kermit the Frog © Disney/Muppets.
Grandparents are in Town and We Need Something to Do Together – The Jim Henson Exhibition: Imagination Unleashed at the Skirball Cultural Center is fun for everyone, combining objects that tell the story of an influential career and fun opportunities for kids to interact with puppets. It’s a trip down memory lane that’s a pleasure for all ages. Not to mention, a reminder that values such as diversity and empathy start with kids. As this genius well knew: read our full review here.
Bonus Stop: Two paintings by Kehinde Wiley, the artist who painted Obama’s official portrait, are on view at the museum, and are luminously beautiful.
Credit Clifford Coffin/Vogue, via Condé Nast
For the Fashion-Obsessed – Icons of Style: A Century of Fashion Photography, 1911-2011 at The Getty Center offers a chance to take the tram and spend some worthy time at one of LA’s most popular tourist destination. Take a mini-vacation to enjoy a show has been heralded by The New York Times as an important examination of how photographers used fashion assignments to advance their art. A crowd pleaser with historical significance.
Bonus stop: Check out another photo show by LA Teens called LA#UNSHUTTERED
Quick and Quirky – The Annenberg Space for Photography wins when it comes to a speedy jolt of culture. The Century City gallery’s latest show, Not an Ostrich: And Other Images from America’s Library, offers an eclectic selection of images that have been officially archived for posterity by the US Government. It’s a spongey category but the 20 minute film that accompanies the show (showing on a loop in the center of the space) offers invaluable insight into the work of photographers and archivists who are deciding what is historically relevant. In the age of the iPhone, this makes for a pretty interesting conversation — does what the government is doing actually matter? And how do we all archive our own copious collections?
The best thing about the show is an installation of StoryCorps in the back of the gallery. StoryCorps is an organization whose mission is to preserve and share stories to strengthen and build connections between people. Visitors will be invited to step inside a gleaming silver Airstream trailer to interview a friend, family member, or record their own thoughts. Every story told will be submitted for inclusion in the audio archives of the Library of Congress as an invaluable resource for future generations.
Bonus: Pick up the Family Guide, which will keep the kids busy.
Curious about DTLA – Hauser + Wirth has several new shows on view this summer, and the gallery is the keystone starting point for an exploration of DTLA’s Arts District. Check out work by Mary Heilmann, Larry Bell, Don McCullin and more; grab a delicious meal at Manuela (above), and explore the garden and shops. Then, foray around the neighborhood and explore other galleries, shops and eateries.
Bonus: Salt and Straw is open on the same block and their ice-cream flavors are crazy unusual (and delicious).
If You Love Keith Haring…. BEYOND THE STREETS is a street art survey in Chinatown, occupying a vast warehouse and providing visitors with an immersion into the history of street artists. It’s been such a smash that it’s staying in town through August 26, 2018. Here’s our story 8 Things You Need to Know about Beyond the Streets.
Bonus: Our article lists several documentaries about street art to get you up to speed on this vibrant art form.
