At the Skirball JAN/FEB 2018
PRESIDENT’S GREETING Visitors to the Skirball have been greatly intrigued by the unique design of the exhibition Surface Tension by Ken GonzalesDay: Murals, Signs, and Mark-Making in LA, pictured on the cover of this issue. As you walk through the Museum, a map of Los Angeles appears beneath your feet. It beckons you to step inside the gallery and marvel at a wall-to-wall view of our city’s streets and neighborhoods: more than 140 photographs of murals, street art, and sign-painting from throughout this vast city. The stunning mosaic of images portrays our community in all its vitality and diversity. Now take a closer look at the cover photo. On the floor map you will see the words “You are here,” signifying the location of the Skirball, at the intersection of the 405 and 101 Freeways, bridging the two great population centers of City and Valley. This location is not a coincidence. The pioneering vision of the Skirball was to serve as a bridge. In a far-flung and balkanized city, we conceived of a cultural center where a sprawling community would find a place of meeting. Our city needs such bridges, and so do we. More than a location, the Skirball is an experience of community, where people are invited to encounter each other, to engage each other, to strengthen and be strengthened by our shared humanity. When you visit the Skirball, “You are here”—and you are the reason we are here. To welcome you is not only our privilege, but our purpose.
Uri D. Herscher
Founding President and CEO Skirball Cultural Center
OUR MISSION The Skirball Cultural Center is a place of meeting guided by the Jewish tradition of welcoming the stranger and inspired by the American democratic ideals of freedom and equality. We welcome people of all communities and generations to participate in cultural experiences that celebrate discovery and hope, foster human connections, and call upon us to help build a more just society.
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PLAN YOUR VISIT Skirball Cultural Center 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90049 (310) 440-4500 • skirball.org
FREE on-site parking Street parking strictly prohibited ADA accessible parking available
GALLERIES MUSEUM HOURS
Tuesday–Friday, 12:00–5:00 p.m. Saturday–Sunday, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Last entry to Noah’s Ark is at 4:00 p.m. Last entry to other Museum galleries is at 4:30 p.m.
Closed Mondays and holidays
MUSEUM ADMISSION All exhibitions are included with Museum admission. $12 General $9 Seniors, Full-Time Students, and Children over 12 $7 Children 2–12 FREE to Members and Children under 2 FREE to all on Thursdays
Museums Free-for-All! On Sunday, January 28, gain complimentary admission to the Skirball galleries as part of this joint effort by over thirty local museums to present art and culture to diverse communities for FREE. Visit socalmuseums.org for a list of participating institutions and scheduled dates for free admission. Note: Advance tickets to Noah’s Ark are highly recommended on weekends and during school breaks, including for Members. Tickets on FREE Thursdays and Sunday, January 28, are first-come, first-served only (no advance tickets), subject to availability.
SHOPPING AND DINING AUDREY’S MUSEUM STORE
Tuesday–Friday, 11:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Saturday–Sunday, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Closed Mondays and holidays (310) 440-4505 • skirball.org/shop Choose from an array of carefully selected merchandise. Proceeds help support the Skirball’s educational and cultural programming.
ZEIDLER’S CAFÉ
Tuesday–Saturday, 11:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Sundays, 11:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Closed Mondays and holidays (310) 440-4515 Enjoy fresh salads, gourmet pizza and sandwiches, and delicious entrées at Zeidler’s Café. Or pick up a grab-and-go meal from Zeidler’s Cart, open daily until 4:30 p.m.
TICKETING See p. 31 for ticketing methods and policies. JAN/FEB 2018
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EXHIBITIONS
Through February 25
ANOTHER PROMISED LAND Anita Brenner’s Mexico Final months! Step inside a recreation of Sanborns—the Mexico City restaurant frequented by journalist, art historian, and anthropologist Anita Brenner (1905–1974)—and be transported to 1920s Mexico. A Mexican-American Jewish trailblazer who chronicled the Mexican Renaissance, Brenner met many of her friends at this restaurant to exchange ideas about art and culture. Through more than 150 objects—including artworks by close friends Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, Edward Weston, Jean Charlot, and Frida Kahlo— Another Promised Land: Anita Brenner’s Mexico illuminates how these conversations and Brenner’s critical work played a vital role in introducing Mexican art and culture to US audiences. Another Promised Land: Anita Brenner’s Mexico is part of Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA, a far-reaching and ambitious exploration of Latin American and Latino art in dialogue with Los Angeles, taking place from September 2017 through January 2018 at more than seventy cultural institutions across Southern California. Pacific Standard Time is an initiative of the Getty. The presenting sponsor is Bank of America.
Included with Museum admission | Tickets available at the door
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Lead support for Another Promised Land is provided through grants from the Getty Foundation
and Ellie and Mark Lainer Additional support is provided by:
Linda and Michael Keston Media sponsors:
TOURS
Tuesday–Sunday 1:00 p.m.
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EXHIBITIONS
Through February 25
SURFACE TENSION BY KEN GONZALES-DAY Murals, Signs, and Mark-Making in LA Final months! Immerse yourself in the mural landscape of LA. Featuring more than 140 photographs that capture murals, street art, graffiti, and sign painting, this exhibition conveys the complex experiences of LA’s diverse communities. Developed collaboratively by interdisciplinary artist Ken Gonzales-Day and Skirball curators, the project set the artist on a ten-month journey across the city—from East Los Angeles to Venice Beach, from Pacoima to Watts. See Gonzales-Day’s photographs, take home a map that pinpoints the location of each mural on view, and then document your own discoveries! Surface Tension by Ken Gonzales-Day: Murals, Signs, and Mark-Making in LA is part of Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA, a far-reaching and ambitious exploration of Latin American and Latino art in dialogue with Los Angeles, taking place from September 2017 through January 2018 at more than seventy cultural institutions across Southern California. Pacific Standard Time is an initiative of the Getty. The presenting sponsor is Bank of America.
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TOURS
Thursday–Sunday 12:30 p.m.
Generous support for Surface Tension by Ken Gonzales-Day and related educational programs is provided by:
The Angell Foundation Pasadena Art Alliance Photographic Arts Council • Los Angeles Sauvage Family Specialty Family Foundation
Media sponsors:
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RELATED PROGRAMS Thursday and Friday, January 11 and 12, 8:00 p.m.
TIJUANA Written and Performed by Lagartijas Tiradas al Sol’s Gabino Rodríguez
LA premiere! Don’t miss this mesmerizing, multimedia solo show that straddles the line between fiction and reality. In a social and artistic experiment by one of Mexico City’s leading theater companies, actor Gabino Rodríguez changes his name to Santiago Ramírez and moves to Tijuana to become a minimum-wage factory worker for six months, ultimately facing challenges he never could have imagined. Performed in Spanish with English supertitles. Presented as part of Pacific Standard Time Festival: Live Art LA/LA, organized by REDCAT with a major grant from the Getty Foundation.
Arrive early to view the exhibitions! The Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA exhibitions (see pp. 6–9) will be FREE to ticketholders and open from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Artwork by Pedro Pizarro Villalobos
$15 General | $12 Members | $10 Full-Time Students
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A dessert and drink tasting follows the program.
“Mexico’s vibrant culture and its many inf luences shine in the recipes from this new collection.”—Chef José Andrés
Thursday, January 18, 8:00 p.m.
MEXICAN TODAY—CHEF PATI JINICH In Conversation with Lara Rabinovitch
Celebrated chef Pati Jinich, star of the Emmy- and James Beard Award–nominated public television show Pati’s Mexican Table, talks with food writer Lara Rabinovitch about how her Mexican heritage—and her upbringing as the grandchild of Eastern European immigrants in Mexico City—has shaped her cuisine. Sample several delectable desserts from Jinich’s cookbooks Mexican Today: New and Rediscovered Recipes for Contemporary Kitchens and Pati’s Mexican Table: The Secrets of Real Mexican Home Cooking, and enjoy a fun mezcal cocktail concocted by Jinich and Wahaka Mezcal owner Raza Zaidi. Drinks provided by Wahaka Mezcal. A book signing also follows the program. Books available for purchase.
Arrive early to view the exhibitions! The Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA exhibitions (see pp. 6–9) will be FREE to ticketholders and open from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
$25 General | $15 Members
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EXHIBITIONS Ongoing
VISIONS AND VALUES Jewish Life from Antiquity to America Explore 4,000 years of Jewish experience through the permanent exhibition Visions and Values: Jewish Life from Antiquity to America, displaying objects from the Skirball’s renowned collection of Judaica. On the eve of Presidents’ Day, two newly reinstalled cases in the exhibition highlight American Jews’ notable engagements with Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Come learn the story of the Seixas family, whose members embraced the American Revolution and promoted the ideals of equal opportunity and religious freedom upon which Manfred Anson. Liberty Bell Hanukkah lamp, the US was built. Then delve into the history of General c. 1990. Brass. Skirball Cultural Center, museum purchase with funds provided by the Peachy and Ulysses S. Grant’s notorious Order No. 11, an antiMark Levy Project Americana Acquisition Fund, Semitic decree issued in the midst of the Civil War and SCC 27.193. swiftly revoked by President Lincoln. Notable objects on view include facsimiles of Moses Mendes Seixas’s correspondence with George Washington and Abraham Lincoln’s handwritten note regarding Grant’s order, Manfred Anson’s Liberty Bell Hanukkah lamp celebrating the contributions of Jews to the American Revolution, and a life mask of President Lincoln cast in 1861.
Included with Museum admission | Tickets available at the door
PRIVATE TOURS Sign up for a private, docent-led tour for groups of 10 or more. For scheduling and pricing, call (310) 440-4534 or visit skirball.org/private-tours.
TOURS
Thursday–Sunday 2:00 p.m.
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WORDS AND IDEAS Tuesdays, January 16 and February 20, 2:00 p.m.
JEWISH MEDITATION
Find your center and quiet your mind with meditation teacher Alison Laichter, who infuses meditation techniques with Jewish language, intentions, texts, and understanding.
FREE | Reservations recommended
Sunday, February 11, 2:00 p.m.
CELEBRATING JAMES BALDWIN Here and Now
The Skirball and Beyond Baroque—celebrating its fiftieth anniversary—present an afternoon focused on the life, contributions, and legacy of writer-activist James Baldwin. Acclaimed actor, producer, and activist Alfre Woodard hosts the program, which includes remarks by LA poet laureate Robin Coste Lewis and performances of Baldwin’s work by actor Jussie Smollet (Empire). Books featuring Baldwin’s work available for purchase. A coffee reception follows the program. James Baldwin
$15 General | $12 Members | $8 Full-Time Students
Thursday, February 22, 7:30 p.m.
PASSING THE TORCH—FROM SELMA TO TODAY Lessons from Leaders of the Civil Rights Movement
Join former UN Ambassador Andrew Young, Dr. Bernard Lafayette Jr., and Dr. Clarence B. Jones—three pivotal figures of the 1960s civil rights movement—and moderator Stosh Cotler, executive director of Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice, as they reflect on how the Selma to Montgomery march and other key actions led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Then consider what strategies can transform racist and unjust public policy today. Presented in collaboration with The Gateway Educational Foundation.
$12 General | $10 Members and Full-Time Students
Left to right: Andrew Young, Dr. Bernard Lafayette Jr., Dr. Clarence B. Jones, Stosh Cotler
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FOOD
Thursday, January 18, 8:00 p.m.
MEXICAN TODAY—CHEF PATI JINICH
Celebrated chef Pati Jinich talks with food writer Lara Rabinovitch about how her Mexican heritage inspires her cooking. See p. 11 for details.
Friday, February 9, 7:00 p.m.
OPEN SHABBAT
Unwind from the week at this communal meal. Open Shabbat reimagines the Jewish ritual of Shabbat as a meaningful life practice for all. In keeping with the literal translation of shabbat (“to rest”), take a breath and practice being fully present. Arrive at 7:00 p.m. to mix and mingle. This community-building dinner, with a farm-fresh vegetarian menu, begins promptly at 7:30 p.m. Designed and facilitated by meditation teacher, urban planner, and community organizer Alison Laichter. Enjoy live music after dinner! Open Shabbat ticketholders gain FREE admission to Book of J—Jeremiah Lockwood and Jewlia Eisenberg in Concert (see facing page). Ticket includes dinner and one glass of wine, plus concert admission. Additional wine available for purchase.
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MUSIC Friday, February 9, 9:00 p.m.
BOOK OF J Jeremiah Lockwood and Jewlia Eisenberg in Concert
Be there for a live performance of the debut album Book of J, featuring acoustic guitarist –singer Jeremiah Lockwood (Sway Machinery) and vocalist Jewlia Eisenberg (Charming Hostess). Their folk-revival vibe draws on Yiddish songs of ghosts and police violence, American spirituals, and piyutim (paraliturgical songs) with a queer bent. Expect old-time religion, radical politics, workers and bosses, diasporic languages, hard times resolved, and destiny fulfilled—plus lots of singing along!
$15 General | $10 Members | $8 Full-Time Students FREE to Open Shabbat ticketholders Advance tickets recommended
“ This af fecting West Coast duo … covers an expansive musical landscape.” —New Yorker
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FILM
Sunday, January 14, 3:00 p.m.
CHALLAH RISING IN THE DESERT The Jews of New Mexico
A Q&A with filmmaker Isaac Artenstein and sampling of green chile challah follow the screening.
Discover the fascinating story of New Mexico’s distinctive Jewish community. In this documentary, the unique strands of a loaf of challah represent the five different waves of Jewish migration to New Mexico over the course of 400 years. Green chile challah bread, singularly New Mexican, is just one example of the community’s commitment to its Jewish roots, passed down through many generations. Challah Rising in the Desert is a poignant account of the Jewish experience intertwined with New Mexico’s unique history and landscape. (2017, 84 min. No MPAA rating.)
$12 General | $8 Full-Time Students | FREE to Members Sunday, January 21, 2:00 p.m.
JOHNNY PHYSICAL LIVES Illness, Loss, and the Power of Human Connection
This innovative, award-winning short documentary tells the moving story of two brothers making a rock & roll documentary as one goes through treatment for leukemia. Featuring both footage by and of documentary filmmaker Albert Maysles as well as animated sequences, the film explores the innovative ways of coping with illness and loss. (2015, 22 min. No MPAA rating.)
After the screening, writer-director Joshua Neuman, New York Times Well columnist Suleika Jaouad, and cofounder of The Dinner Party: Life After Loss Carla Fernandez will have a candid discussion about creativity and human connection during crisis.
FREE | Reservations recommended
A panel discussion follows the screening.
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CLASSES Tuesdays, January 16–March 6, 1:00–3:30 p.m.
YOUR STORY Memoir and Personal Essay
Focused on memoir and the personal essay, this class helps you develop tools to enhance your writing and make stories cohere. Tackle obstacles such as having no time to write, fear of what others will think, and confusion about structure, voice, and subject matter. In an informal, intimate setting, do writing exercises and receive class and instructor feedback through workshops and readings. Write just for yourself or with the goal of publication. Instructor: Amy Friedman 8 sessions
$200 General | $160 Members Tuesdays, January 16–February 20, 1:30–3:00 p.m.
HOW TO LOOK AT ARCHITECTURE From Basic Principles to Spaces for People
New! Expand your awareness about the spaces in which we live—streets, buildings, and open public spaces. Each session begins with a short film documentary produced by the instructor, followed by interactive class discussions about exploring architecture with a mission, conceiving open spaces for people, and rethinking the city. Instructor: Rick Meghiddo (architect-filmmaker; M Arch, UCLA; D Arch, University of Rome) 6 sessions
$120 General | $100 Members
Guggenheim Museum
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CLASSES Wednesdays, January 17– February 21, 1:00–3:00 p.m.
ROCK & ROLL’S TIN PAN ALLEY The Brill Building
If you have a favorite song from the late 1950s or the early 1960s, chances are it was written by a songwriter from the Brill Building—an office building, also dubbed a “magic place” and rock & roll’s “Tin Pan Alley,” that became synonymous with a transformative approach to pop music. Led by producing partners and songwriters Left to right: Brill Building regulars Don Kirshner, Carole King, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, Brill and Gerry Goffin, c. 1965 Building songwriters were primarily teenagers from New York: Carole King, Neil Sedaka, Paul Simon, and Neil Diamond, among others. View rare videos and hear personal stories from this songwriting powerhouse and gain insight into American pop culture of the period. Instructor: Steve Barri 6 sessions
$150 General | $120 Members Thursdays, January 18, February 8 and 22, March 8 and 22, April 5 and 19, May 3, 1:30–3:00 p.m.
GREAT DECISIONS A Current Events Discussion Group
Become an informed citizen! In this biweekly discussion group affiliated with the Foreign Policy Association (FPA)—a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring the American public to learn more about the world—participants have the opportunity to discuss and debate important international current events topics with the guidance of an experienced moderator and guest lecturers from area universities. For a deeper understanding of the issues, background information and news are provided in the FPA’s Great Decisions briefing book. Topics discussed this winter include: • The Waning of Pax Americana? • Russia’s Foreign Policy • China and America • Media and Foreign Policy • Turkey: A Partner in Crisis • US Global Engagement and the Military • South Africa’s Fragile Democracy • Global Health: Progress and Challenges Moderator: Adele Lander Burke 8 sessions. Required text: Great Decisions 2018. Please bring a check for $25 payable to the Skirball Cultural Center to the first class session.
$220 General | $170 Members 18
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A sculpture by Leonora Carrington in Campeche, Mexico
Wednesdays, January 24–February 28, 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
MAGIC REALISM Art and Mexico
Examine an artistic style where dreams and reality are indistinguishable, where the spiritual and the worldly collide. Through rich visual imagery and an analysis of symbolism and iconography, explore the impact Mexican culture had upon great talents—Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, David Alfaro Siqueiros, Frida Kahlo, Remedios Varo, and Leonora Carrington—and how magic realism, a distinctly literary language born from revolution, still urgently appeals today. Instructor: John Paul Thornton 6 sessions
$150 General | $120 Members Thursday, February 1, 12:00–3:30 p.m.
JEWISH FLAVORS IN MEXICO
Dig into the exhibition Another Promised Land: Anita Brenner’s Mexico (see pp. 6–7) with a focus on Jewish food. Begin with a tour of the exhibition and then participate in a hands-on cooking workshop to make rugelach (Jewish pastries) with Latin American flavors, including Mexican chocolate, dulce de leche, and pineapple-coconut. Take home pastries to share with your family and friends! Instructor: Maite Gomez-Rejón (ArtBites) 1 session
$55 General | $45 Members
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CLASSES
SKIRBALL BOOK GROUPS Changing Views of the American Experience FEBRUARY: Burr by Gore Vidal—A fascinating novel about the man who killed Alexander Hamilton. MARCH: Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead—The Pulitzer Prize–winning novel depicting a young slave’s harrowing escape. APRIL: News of the World by Paulette Jiles—A post–Civil War historical novel about an elderly news reader who helps a ten-year-old orphan reunite with her family. MAY: Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann—A gripping, nonfiction murder mystery and captivating account of the emergence of the FBI. JUNE: A Map of Betrayal by Ha Jin—The story of a Chinese American professor coming to terms with the emotional impact of her deceased father’s career as a spy. Instructor: Janet Bain Fattal
Wednesdays, February 7–March 7, 1:00–3:30 p.m.
OPERA IN HD Playing in a Theater Near You
Technology has made it possible to transmit live performances of operas from around the world onto movie theater screens. This class will discuss five operas prior to their theatrical release in LA. Lively class sessions on the lives and times of the composers and an in-depth look at the operas, via video selections, will maximize your theatergoing experience. Operas to be discussed include Gaetano Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore (The Elixir of Love), Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Così fan tutte, Giuseppe Verdi’s Luisa Miller, and Jules Massenet’s Cendrillon (Cinderella). Instructor: Earl J. Schub 5 sessions
$125 General | $100 Members 20
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SCHEDULE GROUP ONE
GROUP FOUR
GROUP TWO
GROUP FIVE
GROUP THREE
5 sessions
Tuesdays, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. February 13, March 13, April 10, May 8, June 12
Tuesdays, 1:00–3:00 p.m. February 13, March 13, April 10, May 8, June 12
Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. February 14, March 14, April 11, May 9, June 13
Wednesdays, 1:00–3:00 p.m. February 14, March 14, April 11, May 9, June 13
Thursdays, 1:00–3:00 p.m. February 15, March 15, April 12, May 10, June 14
$150 General | $125 Members Advance registration required
La Bohème
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CLASSES OTIS AT THE SKIRBALL The following classes are offered in partnership with Otis College Extension and take place at the Skirball. Visit otis.edu/ce or call (310) 665-6850 to register and for class materials. Skirball Members receive certain discounts; please inquire when registering.
Mondays, February 5–April 23, 7:00–10:00 p.m. (No classes February 19 and March 19)
ILLUSTRATING CHILDREN’S BOOKS An Intermediate Course
Explore the steps involved in illustrating a children’s book. Through hands-on assignments, lectures, and critiques, examine the aesthetic and technical aspects, including text analysis, concept development, character studies, and storyboarding. Draw illustrations that harmonize with the text, produce a rough dummy, and create three pieces of full-color, resolved illustrations. Also learn how to submit artwork and/or book proposals to art directors and editors, how to market your work, and what you can expect in a publishing contract. Instructor: Deborah Nourse Lattimore 10 sessions. Otis registration XILU 6010. Additional Otis registration fees may apply.
$435 Noncredit | $475 Certificate credit | $1,370 College credit New time! Wednesdays, February 7–March 14, 4:00–7:00 p.m.
FORAYS INTO FICTION
Make forays into the world of fiction and create compelling stories. Examining the elements of micro fiction, the short story, novella, and novel, acquire skills to establish point of view, render complex characters, envision setting, write believable dialogue, and weave a plot that urges the reader to turn the page. This dynamic class focuses on finding your voice, stoking your imagination, and developing underlying themes. Instructor: Martha Fuller 6 sessions. Otis registration XWRT 6505. Additional Otis registration fees may apply.
$265 Noncredit
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Thursdays, February 8–May 3, 7:00–10:00 p.m. (No class March 22)
DRAWING AND COMPOSITION
This beginning course develops skills in the elements of drawing and composition. Through demonstration, class exercises, and critiques, students explore concepts including contour line, cross contour, modeling, uses of marks to show form and space, perspective, scale and measurement, and positive/negative space. Instructor: Julianna Ostrovsky 12 sessions. Otis registration XDWG 1001. Additional Otis registration fees may apply.
$435 Noncredit | $475 Certificate Credit | $1370 College Credit Saturdays, February 10 and 17, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
SCREENPRINT WORKSHOP
This two-day workshop offers a quick method of printmaking to explore and create prints inspired by Mexican modernists in Another Promised Land: Anita Brenner’s Mexico. Using bold colors and stencil shapes, create screen-printed art using images from popular culture and methods of stylistic pattern making. The class begins with a walk through the exhibition, followed by a printing workshop. Materials are supplied to create prints, tees, or tote bags. Instructor: Kim Alexander 2 sessions. Otis registration XPRT 1526. Additional Otis registration fees may apply.
$129 Noncredit JAN/FEB 2018
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FAMILY PROGRAMS
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Ongoing
NOAH’S ARK AT THE SKIRBALL
TM
At the end of January, the Skirball celebrates the Jewish New Year of Trees, also known as Tu B’Shevat. Trees give us lots to be thankful for—including Noah’s All Ark at the Skirball™! While the whimsically crafted animals aboard the Ark are ages made from repurposed materials, the Ark itself is made of wood from Douglas fir trees. And the animal heads are hand-carved from sustainably harvested wood (that means we borrowed from forests but didn’t destroy them). When you visit Noah’s Ark this winter, take a moment to appreciate the awe-inspiring setting and the warmth and shelter provided to us by trees! All Noah’s Ark ticketholders are assigned an entry time permitting up to ninety minutes in the galleries. Advance tickets to Noah’s Ark are highly recommended on weekends and during school breaks, including for Members. Tickets on FREE Thursdays are first-come, first-served only (no advance tickets), subject to availability. Last entry at 4:00 p.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Minimum adult/child ratio: 1/4. Note: On January 28, limited one-hour tickets to Noah’s Ark will be available on a first-come, first-served basis only.
Included with Museum admission | Timed-entry tickets required
MORE ABOARD THE ARK Take part in communal activities aimed at improving our world or plan your visit around one of the following programs.
TODDLER TUESDAY SING-ALONG
On Tuesdays, at 1:00 p.m., join our educators for singing with your little one.
STORY TIME AT NOAH’S ARK
On Wednesdays, at 2:30 p.m., listen to flood stories from around the world.
THE WHOLE WORLD IS A NARROW BRIDGE
On Fridays, at 3:30 p.m., experience a movement and dance piece that expresses the power of human beings to weather life’s storms by supporting one another. Programs subject to change or cancellation.
All programs listed above are included with admission to Noah’s Ark JAN/FEB 2018
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FAMILY PROGRAMS ONGOING PROGRAMS Special winter schedule: Tuesday–Sunday through January 7 Regular schedule: Saturdays and Sundays
All ages
FAMILY ART STUDIO
Enjoy one-of-a-kind art projects themed around Skirball exhibitions. Projects reinforce the values of collaboration, community, and caring for the world around us and ignite the imaginations of family members of any age! January: Family Trees—Celebrate Tu B’Shevat, the Jewish New Year of Trees, by designing a mobile out of repurposed materials that honors your family’s roots. February: Giving Bowls—Inspired by the Purim holiday tradition of giving to those in need (mishloach manot in Hebrew), create a one-of-a-kind fruit bowl.
Saturdays and Sundays
DIG IT! ARCHAEOLOGY ADVENTURES
Calling all aspiring archaeologists! Sift through the sand to uncover ancient artifacts. Then examine your findings in an outdoor field laboratory and piece together the story of an ancient Iron Age town.
Sundays, 2:00–4:00 p.m.
HANDS ON HISTORY
Get a real feel for the ancient world! Be on the lookout for a portable cart near the main lobby, where visitors are invited to touch actual ancient artifacts. Unless otherwise noted, drop by anytime during Museum hours; last entry 4:30 p.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
All ongoing programs are included with Museum admission | No reservations
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SHOPPING AND DINING AUDREY’S MUSEUM STORE Hours: Tuesday–Friday, 11:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Visit skirball.org/shop to browse online!
FEATURED ITEM EMBRACE
Give the gift of love. Expressions of human relationships are the focus of artist Boris Kramer’s steel art sculptures.
Member price: $198.00 Non-Member price: $220.00
ZEIDLER’S CAFÉ Café hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 11:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.; Sundays, 11:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Cart hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 11:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Sundays, 11:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; and before all evening programs.
FEATURED ITEM CAPPUCCINO
As the weather cools this winter, enjoy a savory lunch at Zeidler’s Café, and then warm up with a hot cup of cappuccino and a selection of chewy cookies, made in house!
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MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMS Monday, January 8, 10:00 a.m.
DOCENTS AND MEMBERS-ONLY SCREENING–ABOVE THE DROWNING SEA On the eve of World War II, tens of thousands of Jewish refugees were trapped in Nazi-controlled Vienna. This thrilling documentary—narrated by Julianna Margulies— tells the epic story of their escape to Shanghai. Directed and produced by Emmy winner Rene Balcer (Law & Order). (2017, 88 min. No MPAA rating.) Limited to two reservations per Membership
FREE and open to Docents and Members only | Reservations required Thursday, January 18, 6:00 p.m. and Wednesday, February 21, 3:00 p.m.
MEMBERS-ONLY TOUR—PACIFIC STANDARD TIME: LA/LA AT THE SKIRBALL Curator-led tour! During the final weeks of the PST: LA/LA exhibitions (see pp. 6–9), benefit from curator Laura Mart’s expert knowledge on one of these insightful tours. Limited to two reservations per Membership
FREE and open to Members only | Reservations required
PROMOTION FREE TO MEMBERS
Don’t miss the film Challah Rising in the Desert, screening January 14 (see p. 16)! Not a Member yet? Join today to see this film for FREE!
MEMBER STORY “We could not be happier that our wedding was at the Skirball, as it offers a perfect mix of the contemporary and traditional. The stone architecture juxtaposed with the lilies in the pond create a space that is both grand and intimate. At every turn, our guests were delighted by the surroundings, crying as I walked along the balcony and down the stairs and laughing as we all danced the night away in the Ahmanson Ballroom. My husband and I believe that there is no better place to celebrate the best night of our lives than the Skirball. And to top it all off—our parents have a Lifecycle Membership to enjoy all year!” —Rebecca Stein, daughter of Lifecycle Members Norma and Arthur Stein Share your story! Tell us what you love most about being a Skirball Member. E-mail us at membership@skirball.org or post to our Facebook page!
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You belong at the Skirball! Join, renew, or upgrade your membership today and participate in the Skirball’s warm and inclusive community.
MEMBERSHIP LEVELS AND BENEFITS
HO U 100 SEHO %t L ax-d D $6 edu 5 ctib FAM le I $5 LY $1 10 is n ot t ax-d edu FAM ctib I le $20 LY PL U is n S ot t —Be ax-d st V edu alue ctib ! $1 75 le
JOIN THE SKIRBALL
FREE adult admission to Museum exhibitions, Noah’s Ark, family festivals, and Family Amphitheater Performances
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10% discount at Audrey’s Museum Store
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Discounted tickets to many public programs
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Discounted rates on adult education classes for Members
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FREE tickets to Members-only tours and select films and events
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Home delivery of At the Skirball program guide and Oasis magazine, plus monthly Members-only e-news
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FREE children’s admission to Noah’s Ark, family festivals, Family Amphitheater Performances, Family Art Studio, Dig It!, and Museum exhibitions with adult Member chaperone Reciprocal benefits at more than 1,000 museums nationwide
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Z-Bucks—$10 voucher for Zeidler’s Café
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FREE Museum and Noah’s Ark admission for a nanny or caregiver
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Also inquire about our upper-level LIFECYCLE and CURATOR’S CIRCLE Skirball Memberships, which offer eligibility to rent Skirball facilities for private events, among other premium benefits. Share culture and education! Give the gift of a Skirball Membership to someone you love. For more information, visit skirball.org/join or call (310) 440-4589.
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GET INVOLVED
DONATE
Every donation to the Skirball Cultural Center helps to support our vital school and community education programs, outstanding exhibitions, and lively public programs. The Skirball welcomes donations of cash, securities, and gift annuities. To donate online or for more information about supporting the Skirball, visit skirball.org or call (310) 440-4579.
VOLUNTEER
Volunteer at the Skirball! Create connections, serve your community, and support an institution that provides educational programs for Los Angeles and beyond. Teen volunteers are welcome! For more information about volunteering, call (310) 440-4640.
PLAN AN EVENT
The Skirball is an award-winning place of celebration! For information about hosting your personal or corporate event at the Skirball, visit skirball.org (click on “Plan an Event”) or call (310) 440-4529. Your event at the Skirball helps support an institution devoted to enriching the community.
Credits: COVER: Surface Tension by Ken Gonzales-Day installation view by Stella Kalinina 2–3 Uri D. Herscher © 2013 Loretta Ayeroff; Tijuana production still courtesy of Lagartijas Tiradas al Sol; Robin Coste Lewis by Amanda Schwengel; Alfre Woodard courtesy of the speaker; Jussie Smollet © Fox Network, courtesy of Fox Network/Photofest; Students by Mercie Ghimire 4–5 Museum visitors by Las Fotos Project; Family Art Studio by Mercie Ghimire; Surface Tension by Ken GonzalesDay installation view by Mercie Ghimire 6–7 Another Promised Land: Anita Brenner’s Mexico installation view by Robert Wedemeyer 8–9 Surface Tension by Ken Gonzales-Day installation view by Robert Wedemeyer 10–11 Pati Jinich by Michael Ventura; Piggy cookies by Penny De los Santos 12–13 James Baldwin courtesy of Photofest 14–15 Open Shabbat by Larry Sandez 16–17 Student by Timothy Norris; Guggenheim Museum by Rick Meghiddo 18–19 Don Kirshner, Carole King, and Gerry Goffin, c. 1965, courtesy of Photofest; Leonora Carrington sculpture © Barna Tanko/Shutterstock; Rugelach © AnjelikaGr/Shutterstock 20–21 La Bohème courtesy of Photofest 22–23 Students by Mercie Ghimire 24–25 Noah’s Ark by Steve Cohn; Zebra by Grant Mudford 26–27 Dig It! by Mercie Ghimire; Cappuccino by Rebecca Sapp Photography 28–29 Member Story by Henry Chen, Aevitas Weddings 30–31 Get Involved by Mercie Ghimire BACK COVER: Marble tres leches cake by Beth Herzhaft © 2018 Skirball Cultural Center
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TICKETING METHODS Except where noted throughout this publication, tickets to all exhibitions except Noah’s Ark at the Skirball are available at the door on the day of visit only. Advance tickets to Noah’s Ark and most public programs, as well as registration for classes, are available by the following methods: ON SITE—Purchase advance tickets to Noah’s Ark and other programs and register for classes in person at the Skirball admissions desk: Tuesday–Friday, 12:00–4:30 p.m., and Saturday–Sunday, 10:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. No service charges apply. For evening programs, tickets are available at Will Call one hour before the program’s start time, subject to availability. ONLINE—Order tickets or register for classes online at skirball.org. Online service charges no longer apply! Note: If you are using Internet Explorer, please ensure that you are in Compatibility Mode. PHONE—Charge by phone by calling (877) SCC-4TIX or (310) 440-4500 (press 2) Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Service charges may apply. MEMBERS-ONLY TIP—When you are ready to place tickets into your cart for an online purchase or reservation, click on the sign-in link at the top of the page and enter the e-mail address and password associated with your membership account. If you do not recall your password, click on the “Forgot your password?” link to create a new one. If you are a new Member without an online account, create one now by clicking the “Create an Account” link and following the prompts. To confirm which e-mail address is associated with your membership or if you recently joined on site, contact membership@skirball.org and a Skirball representative will get back to you. In order to apply Member discounts, don’t forget to sign in before placing your order!
POLICIES Except for adult education classes (see next paragraph): All sales are final • No refunds or exchanges Adult education class fees must be paid prior to the first session, and are fully refundable if you cancel your registration at least twenty-four hours prior to the first session. Adult education classes may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment. Call (310) 440-4651 for updates. Member discounted rates for adult education classes are limited to two Members per membership. No late seating for performances, readings, lectures, or film screenings. Please arrive in time to claim your tickets and take your seats before the program begins. After the published start time, unclaimed seats may be sold. All unclaimed reserved tickets for FREE programs may be released fifteen minutes before the event’s scheduled start time and made available to other patrons. Arrive early to prevent the loss of your reservation. To ensure a safe and pleasant visitor experience, all Noah’s Ark ticketholders are assigned an entry time permitting up to ninety minutes in the galleries. The minimum adult/child ratio for Noah’s Ark ticketholders is 1/4. This policy will be enforced at the admissions desk when you claim your timed-entry tickets. There is no need to reserve advance Noah’s Ark tickets for children under 2. Toddler tickets will be distributed at the admissions desk when you claim the rest of your party’s advance tickets. Tickets to Noah’s Ark on FREE Thursdays are first-come, first-served only (no advance tickets), subject to availability.
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SKIRBALL.ORG
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2701 N SEPULVEDA BLVD LOS ANGELES CA 90049-6833
Hear celebrated chef Pati Jinich discuss Mexican cuisine and sample some of her delectable recipes (see p. 11).
NON PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID LOS ANGELES, CA PERMIT NO.1494