Reeves and Fagan : thoughts on L.A.

L.A. is a city with no borders.

I had the strangest expectations, hopping from my little big city of Birmingham, AL to the sprawling and enticing West coast, preconceived notions were high.

Just yesterday I stumbled across this fitting excerpt that stuck.

"L.A. might be a byzantine petri dish, but at least the things in petri dishes move around and do weird and interesting things." - Moby, Los Angeles Architecture

spot on my friend.

I can get behind that. That is the part I fell in love with, the quirk.

Sure, there is a thick layer of atmospheric pollutant that swarms the entire city mid-day.

It takes fucking 2 hrs. to get anywhere. (this L.A. girl garnered millions of YOUTUBE views after posting celebrity impressions stuck in traffic).

You spend countless minutes circling the block trying to figure out the parking sign riddles.

Yet one of my absolute favorite L.A. quirks; the random yet surprisingly decadent food pairings and titles. From its namesake California roll, to the ramen burger, fresh organic/all natural 25$ squeezed kale juice green colada, the Korean short rib taco, and the plethora of hole-in-the-wall Chinese food & doughnut shop pairings (if you don't believe me, check out this slideshow).

The city has more than enough charm. From 360 city views at the Griffith Observatory to day long trips walking the galleries at LACMA, three inch brioche toast with avocado & shaved radish, and yard succulents comparable to Alabama hydrangeas I have merely breached the surface of L.A.

Here are a few highlights, more posts to come!

Pierre Huyghe retrospective at LACMA

photos above by: Drew Tewksbury

This was quite a fitting retrospective to be my first seen in the fantasy realm that is L.A.

An artist whose fiction gives rise to an alternate reality and shakes your sense of place, Hugye's 50 or so works in the show included living architectural critters building harmonic enclosed ecosystems, thought provoking film, sculptural works, performative pieces & objects. As LACMA director Michael Govan says, Huyghe is "one of the most significant artists working today anywhere. He takes on the big topics of our time, somewhere between media and our biological selves."- KCET

And then there is Human, the nebulous Ibizan hound with a fluorescent dipped right leg.

I never caught a glimpse of Human, even after constant gallery circling. My friends did, this is what I gather. Human was an integral star of the show, becoming the center of attention whenever she entered the room; her intentional yawns, lazy naps on the scattered fur coats or pensive prances made it seem she was fully aware of her striking presence.

It was a dream.

I spent two or so hours roaming, skipping, gazing, listening & crouching throughout the show.

Thanks Pierre, mind blown.

Our vivacious local tour guides, bantering in front of the Richard Serra "Band" piece.

Matt (right) is seemingly quiet yet will break it down, hands up/waist shaking dance at any moment. Quin glides with a beaming smile and energy that will melt your heart. I enjoyed galavanting through the city with these two.

Griffith Observatory