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!!

[Photo credit: Wireimage; Source, Source]

How would you like to answer the knock on your door Halloween night to find Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and the kids standing outside in full costume trick or treating?! That’s exactly what some families in the Los Angeles-area experienced Saturday night as Brangelina and their brood got into the spirit of the holiday and dressed in colorful costumes as these photos … Brad’s hilarious costume includes beads in his beard and his bright orange outfit made him stand out during the dark night. In our exclusive photos Angelina sports grey hair with blood on the site of her face – sorry, nice try to scare us, but you still look gorgeous! Zahara is dressed in a Batman costume and carrying her candy in a plastic pumpkin. Maddox, who loves toy guns, is dressed in camouflage and Shiloh also appears to be sporting the military theme. Brad drove the family into a neighborhood near the Hollywood Hills where they trick or treated. They did not have security with them. Some people on the street recognized the Brangelina crew and stared but all was well as the Pitt-Jolie clan had a blast.

I’m pretty sure Zahara was dressed as Batgirl and I understand that Brad Pitt was dressed as DJ Lance from Yo Gabba Gabba. Ange clearly thought that pouring a bag of flour on her head was costume enough. Altho Brangelina didn’t really go all out for their costumes (well, ok, Brad did put a lot of effort into his look) it’s so cool that they went trick-or-treating with their kids just like many other normal parents. Cute!!

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This is the moment Brad Pitt was thrown off his custom motorbike seconds before confronting a paparazzo in downtown Los Angeles. Pitt was weaving through busy traffic when the eager photographer drove his Toyota Camry too close to the star. The actor lost his balance while swerving to avoid the car and clipped the wing mirror of a parked vehicle. Thankfully, the film star, who is used to daring stunts, was unharmed. One thing is certain, though – Brad ended up on the floor while his bike ended up on the back of a truck, too mangled to ride home. But onlookers said the Inglourious Basterds and Ocean’s Thirteen actor, who was wearing a gold crash helmet, simply picked himself up and pulled his damaged bike to the side of the road. He swapped insurance details with the driver whose car he clipped before trying to start his bike again – and discovering it was in no fit state for the journey back to the ranch he shares with Angelina Jolie and their six children. The 46-year-old had to wait in a building by the side of the road for his assistant to arrive with the pick-up truck.

Aww … it sucks that Brad’s bike was damaged but at least he wasn’t hurt. After the jump, check out photos of Brad’s spill …

HMMM … these pics sure don’t look like his bike was really damaged so badly … but I doubt Brad would have his new toy hauled away if he could just jump on it and take off. I really wish it weren’t legal for motorcyclists to weave thru traffic like this … I’m always nervous whenever a motorcycle speeds past me between lanes of traffic. Be more careful, Braddy … you’ve got way to many kids to take care of to be taking risks like this.

[Photo credit: Fame Pictures; Source]

Thus far, neither the magazine’s coverstory nor any of the photos from Brad’s photospread have made their way to the Internets but this coverphoto does give us something to talk about. I’m not sure how I feel about the angelic glow they’ve given him but I can tell you right now I don’t really care for the Photoshop facelift they gave him. I suppose the magazine was trying to make him appear younger by removing as many lines from his face as possible … it makes him look strange … alien. Because we are well aware of how gnarled he is in real life this retouched photo is a bit creepy. I’m curious to see what the rest of the magazine’s photos look like. What do y’all think of this coverphoto … do yo like?

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I understand that these photos were taken before the pics of Knox and Vivienne were but they are really cute nonetheless. It’s, like, a crime that Brangelina has so many adorable children! Shiloh in that hat … I’m dying. Zahara in those boots … DYING! Soooo cute! Ugh … they must really have the most perfect life. Couldn’t you just, well, die?

[Photo credit: X17]

Those eyes!! Those lips!!! There is *no* denying that Viv is Angelina’s daughter. She’s sooooo freakin’ cute!! Here is a photo of daddy Brad and Knox deciding which kind of ice cream they want to get:

OMG! They have the same profile, they are so cute. It’s clear that these babies are twins … they have the same chubby cheeks ;) As I said before, I’m so glad that Brangelina are finally bringin’ the twins out to say hello … we don’t get to see nearly enough of them.

[Photo credit: X17]

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie stepped out for ice cream in Amman, Jordan – and brought along the littlest Jolie-Pitts, 14-month-old twins Knox and Vivienne. An eyewitness posted a photo on Twitter of the family at the Licky Licious ice cream shop. Pitt and Jolie have been in the Middle East to visit Iraqi refugees in Syria as part of Jolie’s work as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR.

Because the young twins are rarely seen in public there are rampant rumors that Brangelina are hiding them away from public sight because they are suffering from some birth defect or are hiding a special need. I don’t know for a fact that that is the case but I’m sure this photo will help fuel those rumors. Whatever the case may be, it’s really sweet to see Brangelina with the twins … they are so big already! I’m not sure if we’ll be seeing much of Knox and Vivienne out and about in the coming weeks/months but this little peek at them is a nice surprise.

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Brad and Mad have become quite the pair. If ever Brad brings one of his children with him on trips, it’s usually Maddox (sometimes with Pax, sometimes not). We usually see Angelina out with the girls … so it looks like the Brangelina Brood is a boy vs. girl situation. HMMM. We still hardly ever seen the twins — Vivienne Marcheline and Knox Léon — so it’s impossible to know if they are split up between the parents by gender as well. But … whatever the case may be when they are out and about individually, there is no doubt that they are one happy family when they are all together. It’s so cute … couldn’t you just puke on your shoes?

[Photo credit: Splash News]

Angelina Jolie is never anything but slim and toned. But she looked impossibly slender as she joined partner Brad Pitt on the red carpet for the premiere of his new film Inglourious Basterds last night. The 34-year-old actress wore an unforgiving leather mini dress, which clung to her fragile frame as she stood alongside tanned and healthy-looking Brad. Angelina also showed off new additions to her tattoo collection – swirls around the existing body art on her arms. Last night was Brad and Angelina’s first public appearance since they walked the red carpet at Cannes in May. The couple, whose relationship has been the subject of repeated rumours in recent months, made a show of togetherness as they embraced on the red carpet. But while Angelina was greeting everyone with a large Hollywood smile, Brad looked less comfortable. Of course, it may well have been the stress of weeks of heavy promotional duties for his new movie, which have seen him repeatedly away from his family. While Brad was promoting the film Angelina remained at home with Maddox, 8, Pax, 5, Zahara, 4, Shiloh, 3, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 1. But, ever the professional, Brad patiently signed autographs for the huge crowds of fans waiting for him and Angelina. He then led the mother of his six children through the crowd by her arm, his teeth set as he negotiated the busy red carpet.

As you may already be well aware, Inglourious Basterds is the American-Hunting-Nazi film that was directed by Quentin Tarantino and opens in theaters on August 21. Hollywood is really having a field day with all that WWII era Nazi films these days so hopefully this one will be the last … at least for a while. To be honest, my interest level in this film was much higher when it was first announced last October but it has since waned in the past few months. I think the trailers that feature Brad Pitt speaking in that horrid Southern drawl is what has been turning me off. David has mentioned that he is very much interested in seeing this film so we’ll prolly end up seeing it after all. I can’t remember the last Brad Pitt movie that I liked … mebbe this will be the one.

[Photo credit: Wireimage; Source]

On wanting what’s best for his children
“Would it bother me if a child of mine turns out to be gay? No, not one bit. Listen, I want my kids to live the lives they want to live. I want them to be fulfilled. I hope I teach my kids to be who they really are.”

Building his dream house
“This was my first architectural experience where I tried doing something myself. It is something I wanted to do for decades. This is like play to me. It’s the only thing that can take me away from any problems I may have. After a few years of work, it came out so nice. Now I’ve got so many damn kids, it’s the only place we could all fit in. We’re double-bunking rooms as it is.”

The full Parade interview can be read HERE starting Friday. Kudos to the Jolie-Pitts for holding off on tying the knot until the practice is legal for same-sex couples in this country. It takes a lot of determination to make a bold stance on marriage like this. Altho we have to wait a few more days to read the full text of this interview, we can check out some of the photos from Brad’s Parade photospread after the jump …

Nice photos but … meh, nothing all that new. While this coverstory for Brad is good promo for him, I think news of the breastfeeding statue inspired by his lady Angelina is the real story of the day.

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