Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Where Gumbo was #85)

In addition its contributions to the performing arts Los Angeles is also home to the largest art museum in the Western United States – The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). Located on Wilshire Blvd just east of Fairfax Ave. LACMA is home to art works that span the globe and date from ancient times to a 4 story collection of contemporary art.

LACMA opened in 1961 in Exhibition Park near the USC campus, but moved in 1965 to its current home. Originally 3 buildings, the LACMA campus now contain 7 buildings and 2 large outdoor spaces bursting with art. The picture above is the canopy covering the LA Times Central Court, which sits between the 3 main buildings on the campus and houses a cafÉ with outdoor seating and a ticket booth for entry and events.

Among the collections at the museum are a wonderful Modern Art collection with about 15 Picassos, several Modigliani’s and other Impressionist and Expressionist artists. There is also an extensive Asian art collection with a whole building dedicated to the art of Japan.

 LACMA also hosts many special exhibits. While I was there 3 special shows were present – A large collection of Samurai Armor and Weaponry; An exhibit of works by the Hudson River School and an exhibit on German Cinema of the 1920’s.

LACMA also is home to two of my favorite outdoor and interactive pieces of art – Urban Lights:

And Levitating Mass:

Sharing a park with LACMA is the PAGE Museum and the LA Brea Tar Pits. Famous for trapping hundreds of prehistoric mammals, The La Brea Tar Pits are an area where underground asphalt has pushed its way up to the surface. The biggest pit:

Is actually filled with water, but you can see the methane bubbling (and sometimes gushing) to the surface.

There are also working excavation pits where you can observe paleontologists uncovering bones.

Note it you visit – unlike most museums LACMA is OPEN ON MONDAY and CLOSED ON WEDNESDAY. The Page Museum is open 361 days a year.