Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/8037
16 LIVEMAGS.NET MARCH>>10 THE MARCH TODO LIST Long Beach Museum of Art: After Dark MARCH 11 WRITER>>JON KHOSHAFIAN D o you ever get together with family and play old home movies? You watch them and just relish in the nostalgia. You think of simpler times. You look at your current situation and just think back as to how you got from where you were at on the home movie to where you are now. The same goes for those markings on your wall where you measured your height as a kid, or are currently measuring your kids now. You look back and track how everyone shot up in height. It takes you back. You get a little choked up. These moments strike an emotional chord, whether good or bad, that no other activity can do. The Long Beach Museum of Art wants you to join them as they now look back at their childhood. LBMA wants to venture back to their beginning. It wants to hit an emotional chord not only for itself but for the attendees who will inevitably be taken back as LBMA revives its art from 60 years ago. Why 60 years ago? Because that is when LBMA was established. Starting from 1950, LBMA will present art from the '50s, '60s and '70s each with a different focus of the types of art that have made LBMA such a well-respected art museum. There will be four areas that LBMA will focus on as it takes patrons back in time. First, "Beginning Our Collection: Selection from 1950-1957" (exhibition running until April 11, 2010) will feature paintings, ceramics and photographs that were exhibited when LBMA first opened its doors. This collection will be the historical footprint that sets the mark to gauge what LBMA to compare what LBMA is now. Second, "Open Doors: Selections from Juried Exhibitions 1957-1966" (exhibition running until May 2, 2010) will feature some of the most prized artwork from juried exhibitions that focus on local artists who garnered national fame. Third, "track Record: Notable Works from 1948-1961" (exhibition running until April 18, 2010) will feature the donated works that were added to LBMA's permanent collection and will feature works from such esteemed artists as Karl Benjamin, June Wayne and John McLaughlin. Finally, "Sizable Selections 1960-1976" (exhibition running until June 6, 2010) will take over the entire first floor featuring the large-scale artwork of the '60s and '70. The exhibits featured above are the big-picture events that will be taking place at LBMA over the next few months to celebrate 60 years of incredible art at LBMA. But there will be one event that will be the kick-off to all these subsidiary events, and it will be the talk of the town. On March 11, 2010 LBMA will be kicking-off its look back with "The Early Years" event. All 4 exhibits will open that evening but on the evening of March 11 there will be wining and dining. As the opening reception comes to a close, the Museum will transform in LBMA "After Dark"—for a more mature audience. The classy reception begins right after the kick-off event and includes appetizers and a cash bar, as attendees loosen up and relax on the featured modern furniture. At 7pm "Familiar Trees" will serenade the crowd with their abstract instrumentals and female vocals. Attendees will also enjoy the music that compliments the nostalgic look back as "The Commotions" liven-up the night with their '50s dance music at 8pm. LBMA has always given so much to the community, but during "After Hours" there will even be a drawing to give away a new bicycle. In fact, LBMA is so big on environmentally-friendly alternative transportation that it is giving those attendees who drive their bikes to "After Hours" a voucher that will get them some free food and drinks. So take the trip of nostalgia this spring as LBMA goes back and celebrate 60 years of excellence. Either you will be reminded of something about yourself or treasure a time where life was a little bit simpler. Either way, you sure to have a memorable time.