This Weekend at LACMA: Museum Day (and Night), Indian Dance, Gary Simmons, and More

May 17, 2013

Whether you come to LACMA Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, there is plenty of special events happening to enhance your visit to our galleries. Tonight and every Friday night through the fall, we’ve got the best way to kick off a weekend with Jazz at LACMA. Enjoy drinks at Stark Bar or a picnic on the grass as guitarist Wolfgang Schalk leads his quartet in a free concert.

Want to have the perfect date? Start early with jazz and dinner at Ray’s, then head over to the Bing Theater at 7:30 for a double feature of Before Sunrise and Before Sunset, the romantic classics starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy and directed by Richard Linklater. (PS: the perks of being a Film Club member—you’d have gotten an invite to next week’s sold-out preview screening of Before Midnight.)

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Saturday is International Art Museum Day, and we’re celebrating by offering discounted general admission all day—just $10 admission (excluding Stanley Kubrick). Don’t forget: kids under 18 are always free, every day. There is a lot on view at the moment—from Ming Masterpieces to Hans Richter to Henri Matisse, and much more.

One exhibition to check out is Unveiling Femininity in Indian Painting and Photography on the top floor of the Ahmanson Building. The installation looks at the depiction of women in court paintings and photographs in India from the seventeenth to nineteenth centuries. Gain some added perspective on the show Saturday night, when the Shakti Dance Company performs Devadasi: The Eternal Dancer in the Bing Theater. The dance, choreographed by Viji Prakash, was inspired by a photograph in the exhibition, as detailed on Unframed earlier this week.

William Willoughby Hooper. Hindoo Dancing Girls, India, 1870, from the collection of Gloria Katz and Willard Huyck William Willoughby Hooper. Hindoo Dancing Girls, India, 1870, from the collection of Gloria Katz and Willard Huyck

Stay late on Saturday for International Museum Night. We'll be keeping Stanley Kubrick open late--only a few weeks left before it goes away forever!--plus exhibitions on Henri Matisse, Hokusai, and more. Music will be supplied by KCRW DJ Marion Hodges, and we're also offering talks on a variety of topics and special tasting stations created by Executive Chef Jason Fullilove, inspired by the art on view. More info and tickets.

2001: A Space Odyssey, set photo, directed by Stanley Kubrick, 1965-68 2001: A Space Odyssey, set photo, directed by Stanley Kubrick, 1965-68

On Sunday afternoon contemporary art fans will find much to enjoy, starting with a free screening of two episodes of the PBS series Art21. The first episode, “Place,” examines the work of Richard Serra, Sally Mann, Barry McGee, and more. The second episode, “Spirituality,” features James Turrell, among others. Turrell’s much-anticipated retrospective opens next week at LACMA. Advance tickets for the exhibition are on sale now.

James Turrell in front of Roden Crater Project at sunset, October 2001, photo © Florian Holzherr James Turrell in front of Roden Crater Project at sunset, October 2001, photo © Florian Holzherr

At 4pm artist Gary Simmons, whose work was recently on view at LACMA in Lost Line, will be at Art Catalogues in conversation with curator Franklin Sirmans. The two will discuss Simmons’ new book, Paradise, as well as other topics like music, pop culture, and more. Finally, the evening at LACMA concludes with a concert in the Bing Theater by the Crossroads Orchestra, performing works by Dvorakm, Mozart, and Bartok for our free Sundays Live concert series.

Scott Tennent