When I was a teenager, I practically lived at LACMA. Their NexGenLA Program gives free museum access to minors throughout LA county, and I relished the freedom of taking the bus down Wilshire, wandering the museum for an hour or two. The way those old galleries smelled, aroma of wood polish and paint, the watery light seeping through the windows, is permanently seared into my brain.
I’m returning to my roots this weekend, as LACMA kicks off the opening of the brand new David Geffen wing with a special family friendly NexGenLA celebration. To get ready for the big day, I sat down with Naima Keith, the museum’s Vice President of Education and Public Programming, who told me all about her five favorite pieces in the LACMA collection to share with children.
Mariana Castillas Deball, Feathered Changes
“This piece is amazing because it’s the entire floor of the plaza level. Its undulating paths of concrete that mimic lines raked into the sand. Kids are going to instantly notice that they’re walking on an artwork that you experience with your whole body. They’ll also notice footprints of animals like coyotes, bears, raccoons, road runners, and all the different animals that have traversed the landscape of LACMA.”
“When yo get on the elevator and see this amazing ceramic wall piece, it instantly reminds you of a bouquet of flowers. It’s that very Matisse style of cutouts, but it’s bold, it’s colorful, it’s approachable.” Consider it inspiration for a more elevated approach to kindergarten construction paper craftwork.
“I really like Lauren Halsey’s work. What people might notice immediately is its size, but what’s so interesting about it is that it really draws from ancient Egyptian iconography and Afrofuturism. The imagery at the base of the work is from south central LA. I think what’s compelling for kids is thinking about their own neighborhoods, street signs they see every day, stores they see in their neighborhood. It’s really a great opportunity to talk to kids, especially older kids, about place, and deep history from an artist who grew up in LA, and then how she was able to connect her work to ancient Egyptian imagery because you have ancient Egyptian sculptures right behind it, so kids are able to instantly understand what she’s doing.”
Colima Dog, Precolumbian Ceramic
“This sculpture depicts a hairless dog, with slender legs and a smooth body. Kids love it and they recognize it immediately. When you read the label, it opens up a conversation about how people 2000 years ago might have liked their pets just as much as we do. And also that type of breed is actually around today, so you can pull up dogs that look similar on your phone. It’s interesting for kids to talk about how there are similarities to dogs that existed 2000 years ago, and talk about that historical trajectory. It’s just fun!”
Sara Rosalina, Threading the Infinite
“This is a textile work and it is huge. It takes up multiple walls of space, and is made of 12,000 warp threads and 12 colors of yarn. Kids get really excited about the scale, the shimmer. It really is an amazing work. Sarah is also from L.A. and she learned weaving from her grandmother and her mother. And so it’s really interesting to think about the influence of your parents and things you saw as a kid, how you could grow up to make work inspired by that. It’s also interesting to talk about weaving and imagination. You can step back and ask, ‘OK, what shapes do you see, what colors do you see? Could you imagine how many threads and how much yarn was used?’ It’s a really beautiful work that highlights an L.A. artist and her family.”
A little housekeeping: to reflect when most of y’all seem to prefer reading, we’ll be moving to a Thursday publishing schedule as of next week. And stay tuned this Friday for a bonus feature from LAPL librarian Meredith Sires!
What’s Happening This Weekend:
It’s Spring Fair fundraising season, and my inbox has been inundated with schools hosting fun events. Want yours included? Drop me a line!
Friday, 5/1
Baby’s First Festival at BeachLife
With sets on multiple stages starting as early as 2:20 on Friday, the BeachLife festival could be a fun way to introduce your little music lover to festival life. Take in a few bands, watch the sunset, and get home in time for bed.
Saturday, 5/2
Night at the Library
This one’s more for the parents, but as a lifelong library lover I can’t not mention the LAPL’s Night at the Library fundraiser. Celebrate the centennial by exploring the stacks after hours, and catching a live performance or two.
Live Synth in the Park
Watching live music during the day in a cool outdoor location is one of our family’s favorite weekend activities. We saw the artist Geller put on a truly life-changing live synth show under a bridge in Pasadena, and now they’re back with another improvised performance in Ascott Hills Park. Pack a picnic, sprawl out, and soak up the vibes.
Little Forragers Workshop at the Southern California Children’s Museum
Listen—your toddler is going to try to eat random plants off the street anyway, so I figure you might as well make sure they know what’s edible. Explore the world of foraging this weekend with our friends at the SoCal Children’s Museum, led by Erin Riley of Cabbage Hill Fertilizer.
Spring Fair at LA Family School
We have family at LA Family School so I was so excited to hear about their spring fair. The teacher staffed face painting booth is always a highlight, and there’s food, music, and plenty of carnival themed booths to explore.
Family Fest at Altadena Nursery School
It’s Family Fest at this sweet neighborhood coop, celebrating 75 years of child led, play based learning with food, drinks, music, crafts, and fun.
Sierra Madre Preschool
Sierra Madre Community Preschool is also celebrating spring with a carnival in the park, with pony rides, food trucks, and even a dunk tank.
Sheering Day
Feel the springtime mood with a sheep sheering day and fiber arts festival at Tanaka Farms, a sweet family-owned farm out in Irvine. Expect sheering and spinning demos, fiber arts showcases, and perhaps a chance to pet a sheep.
Sunday, 5/3
Family Fun Day at LACMA
LACMA’s NexGenLA program is one of the ultimate hidden gems of culture focused parenting, with fun events and free admission for the whole family. Celebrate the opening of the museum’s new wing with live music (including a set from our girl Novena Carmel!), art-inspired face painting, and family friendly tours.
LA Weavers at Crenshaw Dairy Mart
The folks at Crenshaw Dairy Mart are bringing back their popular palm weaving workshop series, led by artist Maria Maea. Participants will learn the history of LA’s iconic palm trees, and leave with a basket of their own, perfect for storing spring treasures.
Cinco de Mayo at Olvera Street
Celebrate everyone’s favorite Mexican-American holiday in the birthplace of Los Angeles. There will be historic pueblo tours, a living museum, and a happy hour at historic restaurant Las Anitas, which has been feeding Angelinos since 1947.
Our Neighborhood Market
Featuring free rescued food from my incredible mother’s nonprofit FoodCycle, this sustainability focused event also boasts free yoga, breathwork, smoothies, and a floral bouquet workshop, plus a clothes swap and marketplace of free sustainably sourced food and goods. Stop by, relax, and stock up for a busy week ahead.
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