One of my close
friends, Jennifer, finally finished her finals last week! Woohoo~ She was only
back home for about a week before starting summer courses at UC Davis so we
jammed packed different places we’ve been wanting to go to in one day. With
clear skies and the bright sun out all day, we set out to venture into two of
our favorite cities in Southern California: Hollywood and Los Angeles.
I’ve been eyeing
the William Pope.L exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art (Giffen Contemporary
at MOCA) for a while now so we planned our first destination to be here. This
is the smallest of the three MOCA locations so some of the art can be limited
compared to some other museums around the block. But what really caught my eye
here was the 16 x 45 feet flag installation placed right in the center of the
warehouse. With large industrial fans rushing and blowing the flag on its left,
this Trinket installation is an
incessant force, symbolizing the need for the people to literally “feel their democracy.”
It’s an interesting message for sure.
We continued to
walk around and explore the grounds. This exhibition was smaller than most
seasonal exhibits I’ve visited at this location. There were only two other
rooms showcasing his art, but it didn’t stop us from capturing a few shots in
this room with sheer blank walls and soft light.
Once we looked
at everything, we set out to visit some other ol’ gem in the city: the Bates
Motel. An old motel painted completely white and also featured in the film Psycho back in the 60s, it’s a pretty
well known place for those who love flushed white images and somewhat eerie
settings. Surprisingly, it’s located in an unexpected block in Silver Lake.
I continued to
look at this strange building and admire the grounds. There is something
incredibly beautiful about the stillness and the remains left behind. To me,
time doesn’t necessarily stop in these sorts of places, it just moves at a
different pace.
It was around 6
PM by then, and we heard our bellies calling for some evening coffee (yes,
coffee in the evening is completely logical). Conveniently, we spotted a
Dinosaur Coffee right across the street. We ordered two lattes and found a spot
by the window.
It’s truly a
good feeling to be able to catch up with good company and visit places (old and
new) that never cease to blow your mind, stimulate wonder, and transcend the
present moment. From art revealing powerful political messages, eerie abandoned
wastelands, to good ol’ cuppa joe, it was definitely a day well spent.
Giffen Contemporary at MOCA
152 N. Central Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 626-6222
The Bates Motel
4301 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90029
Dinosaur Coffee
4334 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90029
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