Go See It–LACMA Visit

My family and I went to see the art work "Levitated Mass" on July 7, 2012. Or as well call it, "The Big Rock at LACMA." Nicknamed, "The Rock." Upon first approaching it my younger son said, "So what is the big deal with this rock, the Egyptians moved a lot of rocks, maybe even bigger than this one, without any trucks." He was not in LA during all the news coverage, so he really did wonder, what is the big deal?

He has a point.

As a family we approached the art piece as do many other people by walking down the ramp towards the rock. We stood under the rock for a few seconds. We looked up and noticed that it is bolted to metal strips on either side of the deep ramp. We began walking up the other side of the ramp. While moving away from the boulder we turn around a few times to look again. We took some pictures.

My Husband and Son.

The Bolts under the Rock.

Other Families.

It is funny. When we arrived, the rock did not feel or look that big to any of us, but as I view these pictures I realize that yes, the scale is rather large in comparison to the people in the photographs. The images are right out of my camera. No special lens. No Photoshop. As my older son mentioned while we ate lunch after viewing The Rock, "You know that rock was pretty amazing."

I opened the Los Angeles Times news paper today, Sunday, July 9, 2012 and Levitated Mass is on the front cover. I moved to The Guide, Museums section, and again The Rock is mentioned. This time by critic, Christopher Knight. Basically everyone saying, "Go See It." I would be remiss if I did not mention Michael Heizer, the artist who conceived of this project.

Is Michael Heizer a super hero? Didn't Superman move rocks to save the city from a dam bursting or a nuclear power plant from being demolished? Will Levitated Mass save LACMA from infrequent visitors? Is anything sensational any more?

Our family saw The Rock–um Levitated Mass–and we had a wonderful day. We also viewed Chris Burden's Urban Light. We took some requisite pictures.

We ate lunch off of a truck. We went to TINI–a wondrous store. We went to KR3W–a swell store. We also visited the Original Farmers Market to eat some ice cream. The Grove is nearby. What I am trying to tell you is, go ahead and see "Levitated Mass" because there is so much else to do in a 3-6 block radius. You have nothing to loose.

Did I mention the La Bea Tar Pits, The Craft and Folk Art Museum, and Galleries near LACMA called the Miracle Mile Art Walk? Obviously you could also view a temporary exhibit or a permanent installation at LACMA while you are there. The adventure took a whole day and there was something for everyone in our family.