Made in L.A. Opening Weekend Bonanza

Photo by Alan Stuart.

Opening weekend began with a Hammer members’ party at the Museum on Friday night, with a total of 2,700 people passing through the museum doors. Excitement was in the air as people strolled through the galleries, did a little shimmy and shake on the dance floor, and gabbed with friends until midnight.

Photo by Stefanie Keenan.

Photo by Stefanie Keenan.

The next day LAXART had its public opening in true Slanguage style, with a potluck in the back parking lot.

Photo by Stefanie Keenan.

In the main gallery at LAXART, Slanguage has a survey show installed, while the other gallery functions as a community space where workshops, public programs, and other special events will take place during the run of the show.

Representatives of the Slanguage team, with co-founders Karla Diaz (3rd from right) and Mario Ybarra Jr. (2nd from right). Photo by Stefanie Keenan.

As if that wasn’t enough, there was another public opening at the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery at Barnsdall Art Park on Sunday afternoon. The attendance here peaked at 3,500, the high for the weekend.

Nery Gabriel Lemus’s installation at the LAMAG entrance. Photo by Stefanie Keenan.

During the course of the opening, the carpet of colored sawdust was destroyed, which was part of Lemus’s performance. Lemus is drawing on a Venezuelan tradition held annually during Easter celebrations.

One of several of Zac Monday’s characters wandering the galleries during the LAMAG opening. Photo by Miriam Newcomer.

I have to admit, I have always been afraid of costume characters, thus I was avoiding Zac Monday’s crocheted wonders. Yet, I was inspired by the young children who were uninhibited by their approach.

Photo by Miriam Newcomer.

–Amanda Law, New Media Associate

Filed under: Events