Ars gratia artis!
posted May 1, 2014 3:52 PM   RSS | iCal | +googleCal

Sun June 1 at 10:00 AM, LACMA
5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, USA (Map & Directions)
After having so much fun at the recent Spaceship Endeavour! meetup, I thought I'd propose a similar venture to one of our grand LA art museums, choice and date TBD. UPDATE 5/4: It looks as if LACMA on June 1st will work out well for most.
UPDATE 5/27

At last! Next Sunday is the day.

Here's a map of the museum complex (and a printable PDF). Location 6, the "Grand Entrance" seems like a good central place to meet at 10 AM.

Tickets can be purchased online in advance or on the day at one of the ticket offices (marked "T" on the map).

The site is basically bordered by Wilshire, Fairfax, and 6th. Directions (scroll down). Paid parking lots are available in various locations around the area, but there is also underground parking accessible from the 6th Street side.

There's a LACMA app available for iOS and Android, but you can also just bookmark the museum's handy mobile website. Reportedly the museum has WiFi, so look for it once you're on site.

Let me know if you have any questions! Feel free to memail me for my cell number if you need to text me/us the day of, or just check out my user picture and look for a tall guy with long hair and Ray Bans. ;)

See you there!

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Original post

Venues

The two obvious choices are LACMA and the Getty Center.

The former has the advantage of being more centralized, the latter has free admission (versus $15). Both would have parking fees. Neither has the handy train access that Expo Park does, unfortunately, but bus routes are available next to both. (And perhaps carpooling would be an option for our low-car Mefites?)

While both places could provide multiple trips worth of entertainment and edification, LACMA also has its museum neighbors, and is within walking distance of the Farmer's Market if anybody wants to see/do other stuff after the meetup.

There are also group+guided tour packages available for 10+ adults (with advanced reservations): LACMA and Getty.

Dates/Times

Sunday seemed to work well last time, and looking into the near future we have:

May 18th
May 25th (Memorial Day weekend)
June 1st

I'm guessing the holiday weekend would mean heavier crowds.

Sundays, the museums are open:

LACMA: 10a-7p
Getty Center: 10:00a-5:30p

So...

What does everybody think? Any interest?
posted by Celsius1414 to Meetup (54 comments total)

I would like to attend May 18th or June 1st I think! :)
posted by Hermione Granger at 7:27 PM on May 1, 2014


I would be interested in LACMA June 1st
posted by amapolaroja at 9:23 PM on May 1, 2014


I'm open to making plans on any of those weekends. I just visited the Getty in April, so my preference would be LACMA. I am not opposed to the Getty again, though, if folks are interested. FYI, Getty parking is $15, so unless you carpool, it's the same cost either way.
posted by Alterscape at 7:46 AM on May 2, 2014


I'm definitely up for plans on June 1, a little less definitely the 25th, and almost definitely not the 18th. I'm also up for either the Getty or LACMA, but I agree that LACMA has better post-meet-up options. Also, anything in the mid-city area will have plenty of metro options :D
posted by Room 641-A at 8:05 AM on May 2, 2014


I would be interested in LACMA. The Getty has its perks but we've been meaning to get to LACMA for some time. May 18 would be optimal for me and June 1 is undoable (but I understand if it works better for most others).
posted by rednikki at 8:15 AM on May 2, 2014


I would be interested either way, for any of those dates. I feel basically the opposite of rednikki and Alterscape -- have been to LACMA recently but have been meaning to get to the Getty -- but I didn't at all get an exhaustive tour of LACMA when I was there, and I'm always up for looking at art with interesting folks.
posted by Sara C. at 8:56 AM on May 2, 2014


I'm up for either LACMA or the Getty. There's better food near the former, and better picnic possibilities at the latter.

As for possible dates, I already have plans on the 18th, but am down for the 25th or the 1st.

Yay, art!
posted by chicainthecity at 10:50 PM on May 2, 2014


My plans have changed, so you can put me down for either the 25th or the 1st.
posted by Room 641-A at 11:04 PM on May 3, 2014


Locked in June 1st at LACMA. I put it at 10 AM, when it opens. Let me know if that doesn't work for you guys.

Can't wait! Should be a lot of fun.
posted by Celsius1414 at 11:54 AM on May 4, 2014


Sounds good. There is a nonzero chance that work travel may crop up, but there's always a nonzero chance of that, so I'm marking myself as 'in.'
posted by Alterscape at 2:00 PM on May 4, 2014


i'm a maybe for now...
posted by calgirl at 11:04 PM on May 4, 2014


Woo-hoo!
posted by Room 641-A at 11:37 AM on May 5, 2014


I'll try to make it.
posted by culfinglin at 11:53 AM on May 5, 2014


Ceci n'est pas une RSVP.
posted by carsonb at 10:46 AM on May 6, 2014


I just realized that I might have a HUGE unmissable evening thing that night. I may still be able to make LACMA during the day (and please, come one, come all to my evening plans at ioWest in Hollywood!), but maybe I can't and am I setting myself up for failure here I don't know...

So the upshot is that I'm switching my RSVP status but it's nothing personal I swear.
posted by Sara C. at 11:24 AM on May 6, 2014


Are you performing there?
posted by Celsius1414 at 4:00 PM on May 6, 2014


No, but good friends are and I'm guessing I'll be helping in some capacity.
posted by Sara C. at 4:38 PM on May 6, 2014


I am going to put in a plug for my husband's friend's pizza place that is nearby for lunch. KCRW discount :-) Apollonia's Pizza
posted by amapolaroja at 8:38 PM on May 18, 2014 [1 favorite]


Confirmed for first meetup! yay!
posted by idealist at 11:20 AM on May 22, 2014 [1 favorite]


Since I'm coming from a ways away, I might be a little late. Is there any of the absotively confirmed who would mind passing me their cell number in Mefi Mail so I can catch up if I'm late? Mine in reply, of course, and I promise to only monetize it if they pay me a lot of money (and I'll share 30%).
posted by Deoridhe at 11:29 PM on May 23, 2014


Check your MeMail!
posted by Room 641-A at 11:42 PM on May 23, 2014


You are awesomesauce.
posted by Deoridhe at 12:51 PM on May 24, 2014


I've never done any of this before! Gonna check with my people and make sure I'm not forgetting anything.
posted by itesser at 3:12 PM on May 25, 2014


Yay, finally!! I really want to check out Metropolis II. There's going to be so much to see so if no one else is interested I can stay afterwards. Here's a short video about the piece.
posted by Room 641-A at 11:24 AM on May 27, 2014


Oops, also, if anyone is interested in this installation we could make a reservation at the ticket office. It's limited to groups of eight but we could split up if need be.
posted by Room 641-A at 11:27 AM on May 27, 2014


Very much want to see see both if we can manage it.
posted by Celsius1414 at 4:30 PM on May 27, 2014


A family thing came up in Santa Barbara this day, so I (very likely) won't be there. But I've seen LACMA from every angle pretty much, so I'll keep my ear to the ground for the Getty (or Getty Villa!) version of this meetup.
posted by carsonb at 5:04 PM on May 27, 2014


I'm interested in seeing both the Turrell and Metropolis, for what its worth.
posted by Alterscape at 7:52 AM on May 28, 2014


I'm in.
posted by huskerdont at 10:58 PM on May 29, 2014


Moderate chance of coming on the closer to noon side with my adorable daughters. We're planning on going to the free concert on the lawn this evening, which might mean their interest would be piqued to visit the museum, or that they'll not want to go back to the same general location twice in 24 hours. I was there for the Kubrick exhibit last summer, but missed the Turrell... The permanent collection is a sampler platter of recognizable pieces you may never have seen up close.
posted by mzurer at 10:19 AM on May 31, 2014 [1 favorite]


Hi all -- LACMA employee here. I urge everyone who's interested in the Turrell to reserve a spot to see it when you arrive -- it's really great. I also want to pitch paying the extra $5 to view the Calder exhibition, if it's something you think might interest you. (I swear I'm not trying to upsell; I just think it's a wonderful show, and the people I know who've seen it all really enjoyed it.)

FWIW, my own favorites of the permanent collection that I always encourage people to check out, if they want recommendations, are the modern galleries (Ahmanson Building, plaza level), the South & Southeast Asian and Islamic galleries (Ahmanson, 4th floor) and the Korean galleries (Hammer Building, plaza level).

For future visits, let me pitch the Expressionism show that opens next week through September.

Hope everyone enjoys their visit!
posted by scody at 12:38 PM on May 31, 2014 [3 favorites]


Count me in for the Turrell and Calder too.

And thanks, Scody, for the insider's tips!
posted by chicainthecity at 1:53 PM on May 31, 2014


I thought the Turrell exhibit left a while ago! (Or this one is different?) Either way-- I'm excited!
posted by itesser at 8:02 PM on May 31, 2014


Thanks, Scody!

I'm up for Calder, too, and looking forward to tomorrow!
posted by Room 641-A at 8:12 PM on May 31, 2014


itesser, you're right -- the retrospective exhibition closed in April. But Breathing Light is now part of the permanent collection.
posted by scody at 8:12 PM on May 31, 2014


Ah, thanks!

Is anyone willing to be my meetup buddy and me-mail me a phone number I can contact if I miss the kick-off? Tonight's party may go late. *wince*
posted by itesser at 9:25 PM on May 31, 2014


itesser, you have my digits in your memail. Have a fun party!
posted by idealist at 12:33 AM on June 1, 2014


On my way!
posted by Room 641-A at 9:00 AM on June 1, 2014


Just realized I may be a few minutes late -- gotta stop and get gas! But I'm inbound.
posted by Alterscape at 9:21 AM on June 1, 2014


I'm here. Look for the cowboy hat.
posted by Room 641-A at 9:33 AM on June 1, 2014


As we're still having breakfast over here, I don't think we'll see you guys! We're still thinking of coming up after lunch if any of the marathon museum goers are still around...
posted by mzurer at 9:57 AM on June 1, 2014


Coming up from OC and getting a bit of a late start, so I'll probably arrive around 11 or so. What's the best way to find you when I get there?
posted by platinum at 9:57 AM on June 1, 2014


Our first group of 8 is here and we are heading into the Calder exhibit. I think we'll head back to the center pavilion after.
posted by Celsius1414 at 10:11 AM on June 1, 2014


You know what the secret to attending a meetup is?







TIMING!

My kids are in fact excited, so we'll be up there in about a half hour. If anyone is still there I expect we're going to do a quick pass through the modern painting and sculpture and then head to the building with the Serra sculptures and Metropolis 2. Look for a balding tall guy with two small human girls and a Bob stroller.
posted by mzurer at 12:03 PM on June 1, 2014


We are meeting at the Metropolis exhibit at about 12:30ish, if you can meet us there. Perfect for the kids too! :)
posted by Celsius1414 at 12:14 PM on June 1, 2014


Nice to meet you all and thanks for a great day!
posted by platinum at 3:40 PM on June 1, 2014


Awesome meetup. Thanks Celsius for organizing, and everyone else for coming along! It was great to meet you, Betweenthebars, Idealist and Itesser. Also great to see everyone else again! Looking forward to the next LA shindig.
posted by Alterscape at 4:34 PM on June 1, 2014


That was so much fun! Great meeting all the new folks and seeing the old ones again. I loved all the great discussions, too. My mind is still blown by Breathing Light :-)

Also, my legs are killing me!

I'll gather all the info for Watts Towers and post that soon.
posted by Room 641-A at 5:11 PM on June 1, 2014 [1 favorite]


Bit of a drive-by for me - Nice to see the assembled and then run into platinum and mr. platinum as well!
posted by mzurer at 5:14 PM on June 1, 2014


Thanks again to everybody for coming out. I had a great time. My legs hurt too, and as someone mentioned earlier, my brain is full. ;D Looking forward to next time!
posted by Celsius1414 at 6:15 PM on June 1, 2014


Oh, and thanks, C1414, for setting it up :D
posted by Room 641-A at 6:29 PM on June 1, 2014


Sorry we sort of missed you mzurer and platinum families (and then I managed to miss you in my followup -- yay!)

Also: I mostly use favorites as bookmarks, so in lieu of a fave: thanks for the Watts Tower idea and setup, Room 641-A!
posted by Alterscape at 6:57 PM on June 1, 2014


My brain is full, my feet hurt, but I had oh so much fun. ^.^
posted by Deoridhe at 7:00 PM on June 1, 2014


So much fun we shook the earth!
posted by Room 641-A at 7:55 PM on June 1, 2014



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