Celebs Celebrate The 30th Anniversary Of The Museum Of Contemporary Art In LA
Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Gwen Stefani, Gavin Rossdale and others were on hand at the Museum of Contemporary Art here in LA last night to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the museum. The famous folk showed up to see a new exhibit honoring the MOCA’s 30 year existence and were seen meandering around the premises … behold:
L.A.’s art world was rocked less than a year ago when the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) was on the brink of financial ruin, facing the sale of some its masterpieces. It is a completely different picture today. The Museum of Contemporary Art previewed its new exhibit, “Collection: MOCA’s First Thirty Years.” A big exhibit celebrating big news: MOCA is out of the red. And on Sunday it will open a major exhibition of its collection, more than 500 pieces of art by 200 artists. Philanthropist and arts patron Eli Broad kicked in $30 million. The museum raised another $30 million to get out of the red. They brought in former UCLA chancellor Charles Young to run things. “No 30-year journey is without bumps,” said Broad. “Many of you, I’m sure, recall a year ago, MOCA had a financial crisis.” MOCA began in 1979 by acquiring one major collection, then adding to it. “This is a world-class institution, among the best anywhere in the world,” said L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. As big as this exhibit is, this is just a tenth of MOCA’s collection, which is showing its earlier pieces on South Grand Avenue, and work from 1980 to the present at its Geffen Contemporary space nearby. A shuttle takes visitors between the two. Even with two spaces, how did MOCA’s chief curator choose what to exhibit to celebrate its 30 years? “Quality; the unique vision of the institution; and to tell the history of post-war art from the standpoint of Los Angeles today,” said MOCA Chief Curator Paul Schimmel. The celebration continues with a gala Saturday night. A thousand arts patrons from around the world will be entertained by headliner Lady Gaga, backed by the Bolshoi Ballet. MOCA is not the only L.A. museum displaying contemporary art. Broad has his name on one at the L.A. County Museum. So where does his heart lie now? “It lies in Los Angeles; to make Los Angeles the contemporary art capital of the world,” said Broad. The exhibit will be on display through May.
Celebs aren’t the only ones able to celebrate MOCA’s 30th anniversary, LAist reports that admission to the museum will be FREE to the public all week long:
MOCA–the Museum of Contemporary Art–opened 30 years ago in Los Angeles. To celebrate the anniversary, the museum opens its largest installation tomorrow, featuring more than 500 works from more than 200 artists from its own permanent collection … The new exhibition features a comprehensive look at contemporary art history from the past 70 years, including pop art, abstract expressionism and photography. Highlighted artists and works include: Jackson Pollock’s Number 1, 1949 (1949); Willem de Kooning’s Two Women with Still Life (1952); Alberto Giacometti’s Tall Figure II and Tall Figure III (1960); Roy Lichtenstein’s Man with Folded Arms (1962); Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Six Crimee (1982) and Edward Ruscha’s Chocolate Room (1970-2004).
Amazing!! If you have not been to the MOCA and you live in the area, you must check out this exhibit. I’m hoping David and I can take advantage of this FREE offer sometime this week … the MOCA is a great museum. Congratulations on 30 years!!
Tags: Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Gavin Rossdale, Gwen Stefani, James Franco, Rose McGowan, Shirley Manson
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November 15th, 2009 at 5:58 pm
Om3! What happened to Rose Mcgowan’s body! Looks like she needs something to eat…
November 15th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Rose McGowan has been on Nip/Tuck this season and I kept wondering what happened to her face! She looks horrible! I’m really bummed I won’t be able to head up to LA for this..My son is obsessed with museums and it’s so handy when they’re free!
November 15th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
james franco…yum :)
November 15th, 2009 at 10:33 pm
good lord please fetch rose and angelina some burgers or they will disapear
rosdale and franco hotttttttttttttttttt brad needs to shave quick lol
November 15th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
My best friend organized the event…all that hard work seriously…she rocked it!!! I’m so proud! Everyone in LA must go to the MOCA it really is something to see. Btw, Pharell and A-track performed as well. They were brills. And a ton other celebs were there as well.
November 16th, 2009 at 7:34 am
Lady Gaga performed an art piece with Francesco Vezzoli and the Bolshoi Ballet. From the Wall Street Journal: ” At the gala, Gaga sat at a rotating pink piano designed by artist Damien Hirst, alongside dancers from Russia’s Bolshoi Ballet, wearing an outfit designed by Frank Gehry, Muccia Prada and Baz Luhrmann. The whole spectacle was part of a performance art piece by Italian artist Francesco Vezzoli, known for merging the celebrity and art worlds.”
November 16th, 2009 at 9:51 am
James Franco’s hair looks retarded. And I had no idea that was Rose McGowan, I thought it was Leann Rymes! Yikes girl please eat something!
November 16th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
@DJWhoop: Let’s refrain from using the insult retarded, please. We’re all adults here.
November 17th, 2009 at 6:00 am
read some of the other posts – we are not all adults.
get over yourself