Arts & Life

I was excited to see the Stanley Kubrick retrospective not only because I like his films, but because I knew examining his work from an art perspective would be really interesting. The composition in his films is so strong, I think many frames from his films could be an exhibit all on their own. That’s why the beginning was especially interesting. It showed Kubrick’s background as a photographer working for Look magazine. Composing images must have been an innate gift for Kubrick. Even as a teen, his photos were really strong. The intro also displayed cameras Kubrick preferred, both as a photographer and filmmaker.

One of the standouts was the 2001: A Space Odyssey segment. Just saying attendees get to see what went into making Kubrick’s greatest visionary achievement is an understatement. Looking at the set blueprints, custom-made futuristic props, set models and costume designs–we see how Kubrick and his team created an entirely new futuristic world.

All of which took its toll on the director.

Another highlight for me was seeing production elements from The Shining. This film still scares me and I have to admit I was a little unnerved just being around the costumes, designs and models. The exhibit really does capture the unsettling mood of the film.

Here are a few more shots from the exhibit, but I don’t want to give too much away. There is plenty more to see and you should definitely check it out!

This costume needs no explanation, the image has become iconic.

A bit about the presence of red in Kubrick’s films.

A model of the war room from Dr. Strangelove.

Find out more on LACMA’s website.

This week, a friend of mine invited me to go with her on a neon lights bus tour of Los Angeles. While Los Angeles isn’t the first place that pops in my head when I think of neon lights, the tour turned out to be very interesting. Even though I’ve lived here for 12 years, I learned so much about LA I never knew before. The tour starts in Downtown (Chinatown to be specific) and goes to West Hollywood. It was a real eye-opener–I passed by so many neon signs for years without noticing the artistry behind it.

Aside from learning about neon art, a big draw to this tour is its guide, urban anthropologist Eric Lynxwiler. In addition to his wit, what’s great about Lynxwiler is his vast knowledge of Los Angeles. He discussed the history behind LA landmarks and architecture. I love vintage anything and old Hollywood, so his stories really appealed to me. Another bonus is the free booze served on board! If you live in Los Angeles or are visiting, definitely check out this unique tour, it’s the best bus tour you’ll ever go on!