Art Talk

Have you ever traveled to Seattle in the month of April, when all the trees sport the freshest shades of green and each blade of grass salutes the spring?  I went there twice, and -- as luck would ha…

In a very peculiar coincidence, for two days in a row I found, on the front page of American papers, articles dealing with Russian history and culture.  It is no surprise that today's newspapers paid…

Following closely the developments of the Los Angeles cultural scene for a almost twenty years, I'm glad to report that artwise, favorable weather conditions prevail in the City of Angels.  The Mayor…

Have you ever tried to imagine the persona of the artist behind the work?  Their look, their age.  What kind of personality do they have: outgoing or shy, maybe?  I have to admit that most of the tim…

Going to a museum to see a permanent collection or temporary exhibition I expect to see good as well as great artworks inevitably mixed with decidedly lesser ones which are needed to complete the sto…

It took me no time at all to fall in love with Los Angeles -- just a few intakes of the balmy air upon emerging from the plane shortly after midnight.  Until then, I didn't believe in love at first s…

The enthusiastic response to last week's program about the daring art installation "Stations of the Cross" at San Gabriel's Church of Our Saviour made me think about how much of contemporary art is e…

A couple of weeks ago a friend of mine called to let me know about a rather unusual exhibition I shouldn't miss.  It is a little bit off the beaten path, she warned, but you're an adventurous man, ar…

Like a monster out of a low-budget Japanese horror movie, it's huge and more than a bit scary.  Its translucent tentacles are a hundred feet long, and it feels as if they're still growing, ready to e…

It takes chutzpah to roll into LA just a few days before the Oscars and still hope to get some attention for a project not connected to Hollywood -- at least not directly.  To win this game, ambition…

If you've ever been invited to an elegant dinner where every bite is a delight and each new course makes you hungry all over again, then you want to treat yourself to what amounts to a sumptuous feas…

One cannot blame British artists for their cutthroat politics in fighting for a place in the sun.  To be noticed by the public and written about by art critics, these chaps would go to remarkable len…

The end of the year has its own inevitable rhythm; the busy holiday season is punctuated with shopping, partying, and obligations to have a good time. And still, many of us can't wait for the quiet w…

One of the most intriguing art events of this season took place last Sunday at the LACMA auditorium. A single famous artwork was discussed in depth and interpreted in provocative ways during a day-lo…

Last week was good for gallery hopping, with a number of interesting new shows popping up all over town.  Given the art world propensity for the discovery and promotion of fresh young talent, it was …

At the turn of the 20th century, collecting contemporary art used to be serious business for a relatively small group of people.  It was an exclusive gentlemen's club with only a few ladies, such as …

With 2006 coming to a close, it's tempting to look back at the year's most memorable encounters with art.  In April, a large crowd of journalists gathered inside a plastic tent in the courtyard of th…

One of the best kept secrets of American cultural life, the ascendance of Los Angeles to the enviable position of one of the most important art cities in the world, is not a secret any longer. The re…

In a surprise, but nevertheless highly anticipated announcement, the Getty Trust revealed its choice for the new president to replace Barry Munitz who hastily resigned or--to put it more precisely--w…

My first trip to Mexico City was an eye opener. I knew that it was huge but still I was overwhelmed by its scale, its crowds, and its traffic. However, it was impossible not to be seduced by the oper…