Tuesday, July 28, 2009

The Frederick Weisman Museum: Los Angeles

[Photo: Sun-room of the Weisman house]

The Frederick Weisman museum in Los Angeles houses over 400 works of art, all by artists of the 20th century. However you will be surprised to know this museum isn't an ordinary museum in a building full of white walls- it is a house. A mansion in Hombly Hills to be exact. In fact it is the house Fred Weisman and his wife lived in. Even more interestingly is that they lived with these artworks exactly as they are shown today.

The house is open free to the public but only by appointment and guided tour. Inside the very 1980's mansion you will see art from the likes of Max Ernst, Andy Warhol (they have 10 Marilyn Monroe faces!!!), de Kooning, Rothko, Lichtenstein, Giacometti, Rauchenberg, Miro, Kandinsky etc etc. And don't be alarmed if you see oddly realistic sculptures of people throughout the tour. Possibly the weirdest encounter is the older lady in the foyer. If you didn't know any better, you'd think she was a straggler from the last tour. They are THAT realistic. Even weirder is that the Weismans collected so many of them and LIVED with them in their house that way.

[Photo: Andy Warhol's Marilyn Monroe]

This tour is a MUST see for any art lover. Instead of viewing art in the strict confines of a museum you get the chance to interact with artworks. And even more, you get to see how people lived with their art in such a personal way.

When you sign up to go on the tour they will fax you over pertinent information- such as the map and also a form you need to fill out and fax back. You are also not allowed to arrive any earlier than 5 minutes prior to your tour, since it is a house with limited parking.

Foundation Tour Hours
Days : Monday through Friday
Time : From 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM.

Advanced reservations are required.
Tel: (310) 277-5321
Fax: (310) 277-5075
Email: tours@weismanfoundation.org
Weismanfoundation.org

3 comments:

  1. never knew about this! so cool. glad you and b had fun ;)

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  2. Oh, that sounds like fun!! :)
    Be sure and enter my giveaway-- it's really easy to enter! And please do pop by & leave a comment.

    -Laila
    www.randomweavings.blogspot.com

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