SoCal museums this November: Art + Nature, the Egyptian Book of the Dead and more
Laguna Art Museum gets back to nature, the Wende has czars in their eyes, and a book of old Egyptian spells sees the light of day at the Getty Villa
Tomb it may concern…
Welcome to November’s TV or Not TV roundup of new and noteworthy exhibitions and events at museums all around Southern California. I’m Matt Cooper, former listings coordinator for the LA Times’ Calendar section.
The galleries are now open…
New and upcoming …
The Getty Villa “The Egyptian Book of the Dead,” a selection of ancient Egyptian religious manuscripts from the Getty’s collection, never before on public display, will be on view Nov. 1 through Jan. 29. Also on view: “The Gold Emperor from Aventicum” and “The Horse and Rider from Albania,” through Jan. 29. Getty Villa, 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades. Closed Tuesdays. Free; advanced reservations required. (310) 440-7300. getty.edu
Laguna Art Museum “11th Annual Art + Nature,” the museum’s annual multidisciplinary exploration of the connections between the world of art and the natural world returns with a raft of indoor and outdoor exhibitions, artist talks and immersive events plus a free family-friendly festival. LAM, 307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach. Thursday, Nov. 2 through Sunday, Nov. 5. $9, $12; children 12 and younger are free. (949) 494-8971. Details at lagunaartmuseum.org
The Wende Museum “Darling Godsonny: Ivan the Terrible Advises the Infant Stalin,” a monumental, mixed-media work by Anne Bobroff-Hajal that satirizes the dark sides of Russian and Soviet history, will be view Nov. 11 through April 7. Also on view: “Visions of Transcendence: Creating Space in East and West” and “Ceija Stojka and Scenes of Roma Life,” Nov. 11 through April 7. The Wende, 10808 Culver Blvd., Culver City. Open Friday-Sunday. Free; reservations recommended for groups of six or more. (310) 216-1600. wendemuseum.org
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures “Shifting Perspectives: Vertical Cinema,” an exploration of the vertical film format includes contemporary works shot on smart devices as well as cinematic works dating back to the late 19th century is on view Nov. 12 through Aug. 4. Also on view: “John Waters: Pope of Trash,” through Aug. 4. Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, 6067 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Closed Tuesdays. $15-$25; ages 17 and younger, free. (323) 930-3000. academymuseum.org
The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA “Paul Pfeiffer: Prologue to the Story of the Birth of Freedom,” a decades-spanning survey of works by the multi-disciplinary artist, on view Nov. 12 through June 16; “MOCA Focus: Eddie Rodolfo Aparicio,” recent works by the L.A.-based artist, on view Nov. 12 through June 16. Geffen Contemporary, 152 N. Central Ave., Little Tokyo, downtown L.A. Free; special exhibitions $10, $18; advance online time-entry tickets required. (213) 626-6222. moca.org
Los Angeles County Museum of Art “Vincent Valdez and Ry Cooder: El Chavez Ravine,” painted on a 1950s ice cream truck, this work from San Antonio-born artist Valdez memorializing the Mexican-American community that was forcibly removed to make way for Dodger Stadium joins LACMA’s permanent collection courtesy of roots musician Ry Cooder and will be on view Nov. 12 through Aug. 11. Also on view: “Woven Histories: Textiles and Modern Abstraction”, through Jan. 21; “The World Made Wondrous: The Dutch Collector’s Cabinet and the Politics of Possession," through March 3; and “Painting in the River of Angels: Judy Baca and The Great Wall,” the veteran L.A.-based Chicana muralist and others work in-studio, through June 2nd. LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Closed Wednesdays. $10-$25; ages 2 and younger are free; L.A. County youth (17 and younger) and one guest, free; free after 3 p.m. weekdays for L.A. County residents with valid ID. (323) 857-6010. lacma.org
OCMA “Start, Start Again,” pairing two works from OCMA’s permanent collection — “100 Drawings,” Richard Jackson’s 1978 series of works on paper, and Charles Long’s 2001 participatory installation “100 lbs. of Clay” — are on display Nov. 15 through Feb. 11. Also on view: “Alice Neel: Feels Like Home,” now through Jan. 7. Orange County Museum of Art, 3333 Avenue of the Arts, Costa Mesa. Closed Mondays. Free; no reservations required. (714) 780-2130. ocma.art
The Broad “Desire, Knowledge, and Hope (with Smog),” Los Angeles-based artists including John Baldessari and Lari Pittman are featured in this exhibition drawn from the Broad’s collections and on view Nov. 18 through April 7. The Broad Museum, 221 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. Open Wednesday-Sunday. General admission: free; special exhibitions, extra; advance timed-entry tickets required; no on-site standby line. (213) 232-6200. thebroad.org
Continuing…
The Autry “Sherman Indian School: 100+ Years of Education and Resilience,” through May 2024, Autry Museum of the American West, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Griffith Park, L.A. Closed Mondays. $8-$16; members and children 2 and younger, free. (323) 667-2000. theautry.org
Bowers Museum “The Power of Photography,” through May 2024. Bowers Museum, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana. Closed Mondays. $15, $18; children younger than 12, free; advance purchase recommended. (714) 567-3600. bowers.org
Forest Lawn Museum “Reina de Los Angeles,” the Virgin of Guadalupe and local Mexican culture are celebrated in photographs, through Feb. 11. Also on view: “Shaping Gravity,” non-figurative works by contemporary artists, through March 10. Forest Lawn Museum, 1712 S. Glendale Ave., Glendale. Open Tuesdays-Sundays. Free. forestlawn.com
The Fowler “Janyak: Armenian Art of Knots and Loops,” through Feb. 2024; “Creating in Community: Fowler at 60” and “The House Was Too Small: Yoruba Sacred Arts from Africa and Beyond,” through June 2. UCLA Fowler Museum, 308 Charles E. Young Drive North, Westwood. Closed Mondays-Tuesdays. Free. (310) 825-4361. fowler.ucla.edu
The Getty “William Blake: Visionary,” works by the Romantic era poet, painter and printmaker, through Jan. 14; the photographic exhibits “Arthur Tress: Rambles, Dreams, and Shadows” and “Sheila Metzner: From Life,” through Feb. 18; “Graphic Design in the Middle Ages,” through Jan. 28; “Porcelain from Versailles: Vases for a King & Queen,” through March 3; Mercedes Dorame: Woshaa’axre Yaang’aro (Looking Back)" through July 28; and “Untold Stories of a Monumental Pastel,” through Oct. 20, 2024. The Getty Center, N. Sepulveda Blvd. & Getty Center Drive, L.A. Closed Mondays. Free; advance reservations required. (310) 440-7300. getty.edu
The Grammy Museum “Hip-Hop America: The Mixtape Exhibit,” through Sept. 4. Grammy Museum, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., downtown L.A. Closed Tuesdays. $12-$18; ages 4 and younger, free. (213) 765-6800. grammymuseum.org
The Hammer “Made in L.A. 2023: Acts of Living,” the sixth iteration of the Hammer’s biennial exhibition, through Dec. 31. UCLA Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. Closed Mondays. Free. (323) 443-7000. hammer.ucla.edu
Holocaust Museum LA The photographic exhibit “Sweet Home Sweet: A Story of Survival, Memory and Returns,” through Dec. 31. Holocaust Museum LA, 100 The Grove Drive, L.A. Open daily. $10, $15; free for students, teachers, ages 17 and younger teachers, and free for all on Sundays. holocaustmuseumla.org
The Huntington “Printed in 1085: The Chinese Buddhist Canon from the Song Dynasty,” through Dec. 4; “In Our Time: Prints by R.B. Kitaj,” through March 4; “Paintings in Print: Studying Art in China,” through May 27. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino. Closed Tuesdays. $13-$29; children younger than 4, free; reservations required Friday-Sunday, holidays and peak seasons; no walk-ins; limited daily capacity; reservations recommended for weekdays. (626) 405-2100. huntington.org
Japanese American National Museum “Glenn Kaino: Aki’s Market,” through Jan. 28. JANM, 100 N. Central Ave., Little Tokyo, downtown L.A. Closed Mondays. $9, $16; ages 5 and younger; advance timed-entry tickets reservations, walk-ups available. (213) 625-0414. janm.org
LA Plaza de Cultural y Artes ”Recetario para la memoria (Memory Recipe Book),” through Nov. 19; “18th & Grand: The Olympic Auditorium,” through May 12. LA Plaza de Cultural y Artes, 501 N. Main St., downtown L.A. Closed Mondays-Tuesdays. Free. (213) 542-6200. lapca.org
Los Angeles LGBT Center “ONE Magazine at Seventy,” through Nov. 5. Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Advocate & Gochis Galleries, 1125 N. McCadden Place, L.A. Noon to 5 p.m. Fridays-Sundays Free. one.usc.edu
MOCA “Mapping an Art World: Los Angeles in the 1970s-80s,” through March 10; “Long Story Short,” artworks from the 1940s to the present, through May 5. Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), 250 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. Closed Mondays. Free; special exhibitions $10, $18; advance online time-entry tickets required. (213) 626-6222. moca.org
Museum of Latin American Art “Alexandre Arrechea: Intersected Horizons” and “Paola Vega: The Mystery of Painting,” now on view. MoLAA, 628 Alamitos Ave., Long Beach. Closed Mondays-Tuesdays. $10, $15; younger than 12, free. (562) 437-1689. molaa.org
The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County “Becoming Los Angeles,” the history of the city is explored in artifacts, documents, etc. in this ongoing exhibit NHMLAC, 900 Exposition Blvd., Exposition Park, L.A. Closed the first Tuesday each month. $8-$17; ages 2 and younger are free; Advanced, online tickets are highly recommended. nhm.org
Norton Simon Museum “Benevolent Beings: Buddhas and Bodhisattvas from South and Southeast Asia,” through Feb. 19. Norton Simon, 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. Closed Tuesdays-Wednesdays. $15, $20; member, students, active-duty military and ages 18 and younger are free. (626) 449-6840. nortonsimon.org
Petersen Automotive Museum “Inside Tesla: Supercharging the Electric Revolution,” through April 2024; ongoing: “Cars of Film and Television,” “Arsham Auto Motive,” “Splendor & Speed.” The Petersen, 6060 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Open daily. $10.95-$19.95; active-duty military and children under 4, free; advance purchase required. (323) 930-2277. petersen.org
Santa Barbara Museum of Art “Flowers on a River: The Art of Chinese Flower-and-Bird Painting, 1368–1911, Masterworks from Tianjin Museum and Changzhou Museum,” through Jan. 14. Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1130 State St., Santa Barbara. Open Tuesdays-Sundays. $6, $10; active-duty military and their families, and ages five and younger are free; advanced timed-entry tickets recommended. sbma.net
The Skirball “Reclaimed: A Family Painting,” through March 3. Also on view: “This Light of Ours: Activist Photographers of the Civil Rights Movement,” through Feb. 25; Yinka Shonibare’s immersive installation “The American Library,” through Sept. 1. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., L.A. Closed Monday. $7-$12; 2 and under, free; free on Thursdays. (310) 440-4500. skirball.org
USC Fisher Museum “Narcisa Hirsch: In Relation,” recently digitized works by the Argentinian filmmaker, and “Kara Walker: Cut to the Quick,” through Dec. 9. USC Fisher Museum of Art, 823 W. Exposition Blvd., L.A. Closed Sundays-Mondays. Free. (213) 740-4561. fisher.usc.edu
USC Pacific Asia Museum, “Imprinting in Time — Chinese Printmaking at the Beginning of a New Era,” through Nov. 12; “The Painted Poetry of Agnes Lee,” through Jan. 28. 46 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena. Closed Mondays-Tuesdays. $7, $10; free for ages 17 and younger, and second Sunday of the month; Thursdays, pay what you wish; advance tickets recommended. (626) 787-2680. pacificasiamuseum.usc.edu
Vincent Price Art Museum “Teddy Sandoval and the Butch Gardens School of Art,” through Feb. 3; the immersive installation “Yoshie Sakai: Grandma Entertainment Franchise,” through Feb. 3. VPAM, East Los Angeles College, 1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez, Monterey Park. Open Wednesdays-Saturdays. Free. (323) 265-8841. vincentpriceartmuseum.org