Hammer Blog

Moving to Los Angeles was a love-at-first-sight kind of situation. I chose L.A. decisively, with no hesitation—a strong impulse carried me here. For me the city still exudes of so much complexity and possibility. There is not a consensus reality in Los Angeles, but a wildness and openness. This massive city has space for any kind of life you might imagine wanting to make. There’s a tenderness I have for Los Angeles— just seeing the word “L-O-S-A-N-G-E-L-E-S” written out or hearing the name spoken aloud has a special magic for me, a kind of promise. There is a fantasy of California that is still very much alive in me.

Kids giving tours? Elementary aged children talking about paintings from the 19th century? It happened here at the Hammer. And we have videos to prove it! We recently uploaded videos of our youngest, most adorable tour guides on our new Hammer Kids YouTube playlist. From Moreau to Daumier to Rubens, our petite tour guides are featured sharing a wide range of observations about paintings in the Armand Hammer Collection.

My path to art and to L.A. was the result of cosmic funneling and not necessarily a choice on my part. I came to L.A. all the way from Orange County to attend UCLA in 1991 and have stayed ever since. Getting into UCLA was a lucky fluke or certainly the work of the 3rd Communal Entity (3CE).

We here at the Museum are all excited about the recent opening of Made in L.A. 2014! In thinking about the important through line of artist communities that permeates Made in L.A., I dug through the collection and unearthed Wallace Berman’s Semina to give us a glimpse into the history of Los Angeles as a mecca for artists who work fluidly with media and find inspiration in their associations with other artists. Seeing the evolution of these proclivities as they manifest in Made in L.A. 2014 is truly fascinating!

This July, the Hammer and public radio station KCRW present four nights of free live music in the courtyard. This year, the series spotlights some of L.A.’s most enduring club nights and residencies, showcasing the city’s vibrant and diverse music scenes.