Omni Hotel in Los Angeles

If you want to be near (virtually over) the art in the Los Angeles, California, stay in the beautiful comfort of the Omni Hotel.  A Nancy Rubin sculpture will be in your sight as you breakfast.  Your early morning swim is in the middle of town. And, evening cocktails are a celebration to my hometown with Angel's Flight in the background.  

The Broad

Holding one of the most prominent collections of postwar and contemporary art worldwide, I was privileged to attend the inaugural exhibit.  Edythe and Eli Broad focuses their collection on the art of their time.  It was especially meaningful to me as I was spending the weekend on the ChampsLA, bidding adieu to my hometown.  

Designed by architecture firm Diller Scofidio & Renfro in collaboration with Gensler the "veil" is designed to be porous and absorptive.  

 Koons' TULIPS and Wool's UNTITLED 

Woven from red liquor labels, El Anatsui's RED BLOCK was created in 2010.

Koon's BALLOON DOG

Lichtenstein's COUP DE CHAPEAU II 

An art curator describes Therrien's UNDER THE TABLE.  

Takashi Murakami's expansive new work marks a turning point for the artist.  

Julie Mehretu's INVISIBLE SUN 

Frank Gehry Exhibition at Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Pritzer-Prize-winning architect, Frank Gehry, is based in Los Angeles.  A revolutionary architect, he has embraced new technologies, methods and approaches to materials.  The exhibition includes models, sketches and photo murals and continues through March 20, 2016. www.lacma.org/

Walt Disney Concert Hall, project model, 1989 - 2003, Los Angeles, California 

Fondation Louis Vuitton, 2008 - 14, Paris, France

Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, final design development model, 1991 - 97, Bilbao, Spain 

Chiat/Day Building, final model, 1985 - 91, Venice, California

Gehry Residence, model, 1977 - 78, 1991 - 94,  Santa Monica, California 

Gehry Buildings Currently Being Designed or Constructed

8150 Sunset, model, 2015 - present, West Hollywood, California  

Jazz Bakery, exterior model, 2011 - present 

Jerusalem Museum of Tolerance, model, 2000 - 2003, unbuilt, Jerusalem, Israel 

Philadelphia Museum of Art, Renovation, Cross Section, 2006 - present, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Sketches of Frank Gehry

We were so hungry to know more about the architect and his work that we stopped to watch the film and took an offered docent tour.  The film was, "Sketches of Frank Gehry, 2006,"   a Sony Classic Film that was directed by Sidney Pollack.  

Gehry Partners: In the Studio Now

The most immediate part of the exhibition shows a mammoth photo mural and models depicting the diversity of Gehry's projects.  It is very like a modern-day renaissance studio with all that implies.  

A Memorable Day

It Warms My Heart

Having spent a major part of my life and resources trying to create interest in what artists do, it warms my heart to see so many families spilling over the grounds of a museum.  www.thegettymuseum.edu

Bernini Sculpture First Public View Since 1621

It was a privilege to see a sculpture when it went on public view for the first time since it was created by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1621.  The masterpiece was originally kept in the Villa Borghese in Rome and whereabouts have been unknown until 2014 when The Getty Museum acquired it.  www.getty.edu/museum

"BUST OF POPE PAUL V," Gian Lorenzo Bernini, marble, 1621

Photography Classes at Taliesin West

The photography classes at The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation at Taliesin West in Phoenix are sold out.  Following are some of my quick candid shots when visiting last Spring.  It is a visual gold mine!  https://www.facebook.com/fllwfoundation

W HOLLYWOOD Hotel

Being at the brand-new W HOLLYWOOD hotel for drinks and dinner before theater was like being in New York City. No, better! It is located across the street from the Pantages Theater and over a metro station. It was fabulous...the ambiance, the food, the celebrities (yes, I spotted a few), the adventurous taste, were all exciting. I even avoided a fist fight on the street...very exciting!