Get Your Culture On! Discover These Hidden Gems near The Pearl
With summer temperatures soaring, let’s face it, we all want to stay home at The Pearl, relaxing by the pool with a frosty libation or two. But sooner or later, even the most die-hard thermophobics yearn to venture out of their comfort zone. Time to take a culture break and get ye to a museum!
Here are some local treasures hiding in plain site
Marciano Art Foundation
4357 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Maurice and Paul Marciano, best known as founders of denim lifestyle brand GUESS?, opened their namesake museum in 2017 as an exhibition space to display their 1,500-piece collection of contemporary art. A mere five minutes away from The Pearl, the museum comprises more than 100,000 square feet of space housed in a lankmark building that was originally a Scottish Rite Masonic Temple designed by Millard Sheets in 1961. In addition to the various interior gallery spaces, the Marciano Art Foundation also features climate-controlled art storage, a bookstore, a café, an outdoor sculpture garden and on-site parking. Admission is free of charge, but we highly recommend making an advance reservation online, especially for weekend visits.
Hollyhock House in Barnsdall Park
Barnsdall Art Park
4800 Hollywood Boulevard,
Los Angeles, California 90027
Designed for American oil heiress Aline Barnsdall, Hollyhock House was Frank Lloyd Wright’s first Los Angeles project. Built between 1919 and 1921, the architectural masterpiece takes its name from the owner’s favorite flower. At her request, hollyhocks were incorporated into the decorative program of the house, and stylized representations of the flower are found on the roofline, walls, columns planters and furnishings. In 1927, Aline Barnsdall gave Hollyhock House and eleven surrounding acres to the City of Los Angeles for use as a public park. Today, surrounded by a modern theater and art galleries, Hollyhock House is the centerpiece of a flourishing arts complex. Hollyhock House Tours are Thurs – Sun 11:00 am – 4:00 pm.
Craft & Folk Art Museum
5814 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Situated on historic Museum Row, the Craft & Folk Art Museum (CAFAM) has made a unique contribution to Los Angeles culture since 1965. As the only museum in LA to exclusively show craft, folk art, and design, CAFAM gives an audience to diverse makers and artists whose work is often not represented in larger art institutions. But what makes this venerable institution extra special is that visitors can both see art and make it themselves. With a robust roster of workshops led by professional artists and instructors, the museum is a place where friends and families can enjoy the singular pleasure of crafting something by hand. General admission is $7, but if the price is cutting into your cocktail budget, Sunday is Pay What You Can.