SmellLA

Lazy Days in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is 25 miles from Long Beach, yet what should be a 30 minute drive is more like an hour sometimes more. Due to the traffic but what else is new about California? The good news is that the metro seems to be easier to navigate but can also take a longer time. The transportation issue is quite discouraging which is why it has taken me this long to even step foot in LA. But I wouldn't have been able to make it anywhere with out the help of my aunt and her Honda Civic. 

Source: http://cfa.lmu.edu/programs/mft.htm

My first stop was Loyola Marymount University, for it's graduate program in marital and family therapy with specialized training in art therapy. It is known for having one of the best grad school programs for art therapy. It was a really nice small affluent private school located up on a hill away from the LA city-buzz. It was missing the environmental and artsy awareness I am looking for in a school but it's an option for grad school.

 ...Why Art Therapy?

Art is one of my greatest passions, however the field of fine art is one of the most competitive dying fields with the ever present use of technology in our society. Everything is digital and to get by as an artist in this world is not one of the easiest occupations.

What intrigues me the most about art therapy is that it is, "... a form of psychotherapy that uses art media as its primary mode of communication." It lets patients speak through a whole other form of communication. It lets thoughts come out that sometimes cannot even be verbalized. "Through creating art and reflecting on the art products and processes, people can increase awareness of self and others cope with symptoms, stress and traumatic experiences; enhance cognitive abilities; and enjoy the life-affirming pleasures of making art."

 Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_therapy

 The idea behind art therapy and it's purpose to help people is what really attracts me to the occupation.  I've been volunteering at Long Beach Memorial Hospital at their Miller Children's Hospital and just viewing the children interacting with art can change their whole hospital experience.

 

Afterwards, my aunt and I stopped by UCLA just so I could get a look, then made our way towards little Tokyo to The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA.

Art In the Streets:

  the first major historical exhibition of graffiti and street art to be organized by an American museum

Graphical explanation of where Graffiti and Street Art originated

Once I found out that "Art in the Streets" was at the MOCA, I was dying to go.  Street art is the current genre of art, with the rise of Bansky, Shephard Fairy and other great artists such as Space Invader and ROA. I've been fascinated by the street art movement and following the artist's success closely through, www.woostercollective.com: a website dedicated to the collaboration of street art. The emergence of the documentary nominated for an academy award, "Exit Through the Gift Shop" made street art even more of a wide spread sensation.

Mural outside of the MOCA

The 'Art in the Streets' exhibit was banned at the Brooklyn Museum, due to it's controversial nature. 

"When a museum chooses to showcase street art, it is often seen as its endorsement, which invariably feeds the flame of the ongoing debate about the merits of illegal vandalism as valid and appreciated art." 

Source: http://m.ibtimes.com/art-in-the-street-brooklyn-museum-moca-graffiti-street-art-167781.html

Art in the Streets is the first major historical exhibition of graffiti and street art to be organized by an American museum. It explores the history of street art emerging in the the 1970's in New York, East Los Angeles, and the surf and skate culture in Venice beach and Santa Monica.  

[I find this to fancy my interest because I'm from the east coast (an NYC connection) yet I've been skating and surfing here in Cali where I have residing so close to and visited LA, Santa Monica and Venice Beach. I have really enjoyed seeing the street art emenating all over these cities, I especially loved the freedom and creativity of Venice beach. Is this telling me something? haha. All I know is that I am in love with the street art/skating/surfing culture here. Some people feel like they are born in the wrong body, but I feel like I've been born on the wrong coast] 

The exhibit was exceedingly broad encompassing music, dance film and fashion, almost a little bit overwhelming at times, I was wondering what some of the things they brought to together had to do with street art, some pieces pretty random with some sort of connection to street art. Yet different sections of the exhibit where displayed very comprehensively, orderly and pleasing to the eye. Other parts were extremely chaotic only feeding into the the complete and utter lack of limits/law the underground street art movement portrays.  

Banksy

Personally I disliked the way the Bansky and Shepherd Fairey exhibits were displayed. Along with some other parts of the exhibit, they seemed to disrupt the flow of the exhibit making them loose their initial purpose. Some were just  thrown in without explanation or how they  connected to the  exhibition as a whole. I was disappointed the Bansky and Fairey exhibit was way too clustered for me to enjoy.

Shepherd Fairey's Obey campaign

Fairey has such layered pieces of work I love being able to get inches way from it to see each an every piece of paper and layer of spray paint used in his elaborate collages. Yet a lot of his pieces at well as Bansky's were to high up for me to view and appreciate the way I enjoy an art exhibit. 

Overall the exhibit really brought to thought the idea of street art and what defines it. What makes some reckless scribble on a wall into a great master piece? Why are Banksy's pieces going for millions at auctions yet gang art is being fought against and painted over? Why is it that when one tag is found within the week many more are to follow? What connects people on this art wave? Is it just the act of rebellion or the real pleasure of spreading art outside of the walls that encompass it. Immersing society in it, stimulating our creative sides.