Extra Credit Event 1: Architecture + Design Museum

This week I headed over the Architecture + Design Museum across from LACMA. I've been intrigued by this museum for years, primarily because I love its minimalist, design-focused logo, so I was thrilled for the opportunity to encourage myself to visit. I went with my friend Rebecca and received a student discount ($5, sweet!), which not-so-secretly thrilled me.

The current exhibit on display is called S M L XL LA and the museum functions by asking a diverse group of artists to create specific work based on the theme. I was a little disappointed that there wasn't a permanent collection of the history of LA's architectural wonders, which are numerous, but the museum is quite small so I suppose it would be impossible in this current location. 

One of the very first pieces we saw reminded me a lot of our week in BioArt. It's a sculptural wall piece by Alison Petty Ragguette made of rubber and porcelain, inspired by biological cross sections as examined under a microscope. It's meant to interact with the incoming light and was simultaneously quite beautiful and slightly disturbing.  

My other favorite pieces were a reconstruction of the central subject in Wes Anderson's 'Grand Budapest Hotel,' made entirely from Legos and constructed by a group of eight artists. It was incredibly impressive and was the piece most similar to what my imagination had predicted I'd be viewing at the A + D Museum. I also enjoyed the below piece on the right, which explored different ways of dividing space using stretchy pieces of material that were reminiscent of seat belts. I could imagine a version of these dividers being utilized in a hip loft space.

 

There was also a 3D Printer exhibit that was typically manned by an artist-in-residence, but she happened to be off for the afternoon. The public is invited to interact with what she and the printer create by drawing pictures that she can then translate to the printer to be made into real-life objects. I tried my hand at a few designs for her to discover upon her return, but I don't think they were very successful!

   It seems to me that this museum's strength lies in its collaboration with local artists. After investigating further, I found they do building projects in conjunction with local children, as well as co-hosting many events at homes and buildings throughout the city, with a focus on different leaders in the worlds of art and design.  I wish they had a larger space to host a permanent collection, but in the meantime, I've added myself to their mailing list in order to attend some of their architectural events around town.