Rene Magritte: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

"Rene Magritte" was San Francisco Museum of Modern Art's exclusive exhibit held in 2018.
Works from the later half of the Belgian artist's career were the exhibit's focus.  It is always a privilege to see art that has never before been in the pubic eye, and there were more than twenty in this show.  This exhibit marked an exhibition history milestone for the artist.  
As always, it was witty, ironic and evocative while being immensely impressive.  

Le fils de l'homme (The Son of Man) 1964, oil on canvas 

 La carriere de granite (The Granite Quarry) 1964, gouache on paper 

 I couldn't resist buying a derby in the gift store and wearing it all over San Francisco.  

 La grande famille (The Great Family) 1963, oil on canvas 

 Le liberator (The Liberator) 1947, oil on canvas

Les vacances de Hegel (Hegel's Vacation) 1958, oil on canvas

Le tombeau des lutteurs (The Tomb of Wrestlers) 1960, oil on cavas 

Ai Weiwei at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art

Bronze sculptures,entitled CIRCLE OF ANIMALS/ZODIAC HEADS, created in 2010, by Chinese born artist, Ai Weiwei on display at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum in Eugene, Oregon.

This challenging work is re-shaped in each new setting as it tours the world.  

Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles

In the early years of MOCA, only fifteen docents were invited and I was privileged to be one of them.  During my farewell visit to the museum, it seemed fitting that the exhibition was entitled "The Art of Our Time."

The works shown here are in part of those gathered loosely around the historical art movements, abstract expressionism, pop art and conceptual art.    

McCollum, 60 PLASTER SURROGATES (NO. 3), 1982-90

Basquiat, UNTITLED, 1981

Rothko

Rauschenberg, PAINTING WITH GREY WING, 1959

Krasner, PRIMEVAL RESURGENCE, 1961

Gorky, BETHROTHEL I, 1947

Johns, MAP, 1962

l to r: Rauschenberg, Giacometti, Krasner, Giacometti, Chamberain

Takashi Murakami at The Broad

Being affected by the Tohoku earthquake and pursuant nuclear disaster, the artist's exhibited work marked a turning point.  

The resultant expansive new work held great interest to those attending the opening of The Broad, Los Angeles' newest addition to the art scene on Grand Avenue. 

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 

Otium

A truly special dining experience on Bunker Hill in downtown Los Angeles .  It was served family style, and we were nearly stabbing each other with our forks to savor the next bite. 

Every year I performed at an orphanage on Bunker Hill when I was a child.  In the 40's it was a dangerous place.  Now, it is my favorite place to be with arts all around.  

Artful Dioramas in Los Angeles

Every school child in Los Angeles, including me, was taken to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County to see the artful dioramas of large North American mammals.  They are still there and do not disappoint. http://www.nhm.org/site/

Feeling nostalgic, I couldn't resist taking time to visit the hall again, including:  bison, grizzly bears, seals, etc.  

Warhol in Malibu

Are we all getting our "15 minutes of fame"?  Artist, Andy Warhol, predicted that before the Internet made it a guarantee. 

 This exhibition at The Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art at Pepperdine University in Malibu features over 80 works from his silkscreen portfolios.  It opened on January 16 and continues through April 3, 2016.  

Controversial photographer, Robert Mappelthorpe, captured Andy Warhol in black and white in 1986.