GETTING AN EYEFUL
Most mortals might still be recovering from the long holiday, but for local shutterbugs five more days of festivities are right around the corner. It’s the annual celebration of photography called photo la. The eye-popping bash is set to take place beginning Jan. 12 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.
Created by Stephen Coen, photo la takes you through the history of the photographic arts. From early 19th-century images of the Old West to today’s most contemporary creations, there’s something for every artistic taste.
When he was just starting out, legendary Malibu lensmaster Robert Weingarten had his colorful creations on display. Now, you can see his wondrous works at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.
The artistic extravaganza kicks off with a splashy opening night gala with proceeds benefiting the Wallis Annenberg Department of Photography at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Recording artist Moby will host the event with tunes being cranked out by KCRW Deejay Aaron Byrd.
It’s not only a great opportunity to appreciate photos on the wall, but to learn about them too.
Over the past 21 years, photo la has presented more than 150 lectures and collecting seminars and exhibited unforgettable images from more than 300 galleries, private dealers and publishers.
A gala on Jan. 12 opens photo la, which takes place from Jan. 13 to 16.
GOING MOD
If you haven’t stopped by the Getty Villa yet, be sure to check out the latest exhibit before it heads out of town and moves on to France. “Modern Antiquity: Picasso, de Chirico, Léger and Picabia in the Presence of the Antique” showcases important 20th-century masterpieces and juxtaposes them with ancient artifacts.
The Getty Villa with its treasure trove of antiquities is the perfect setting to show the impact that classical art has had on the modern world.
You’ll have a chance to take in breathtaking creations like Giorgio de Chirico’s enigmatic piazzas, Pablo Picasso’s postcubist women, Fernand Léger’s mechanized nudes and Francis Picabia’s “transparencies” like they’ve never been seen before.
The exhibit runs through Jan 16.
GOLDEN OLDIE
Local acting vet Gary Oldman has been one busy guy these days. His performance in the new release “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” has drawn rave reviews, with Rolling Stone’s Peter Travers calling the screen star “one of the best actors on the planet.”
Last week, the film had a special showing in Malibu, with Oldman making an appearance in person. It all wrapped with a retrospective at the Arc Light in Hollywood and a question and answer session featuring Oldman and KCRW’s movie critic Matt Holzman.
As for the golden statues and other awards they’ll be handing out soon, stay tuned.