[image credit: Brandon Shigeta on flickr]
I have been struggling a bit on how to recap the Tim Burton exhibit at LACMA. Before we visited the museum, I had read photography was not allowed, so we left the camera at home. I didn’t even have a photo of the amazing entrance. Luckily, I found some great photos on flickr by Brandon Shigeta (yay for Creative Commons licenses!). If you want to see more, hop on over to check out his photostream.
I think what struck me the most about the show was how dense it was — not only with people, but also with art. There are hundreds of sketches, drawings, and paintings in addition to some installation pieces, costumes, props and models from his films. However, I don’t think I was prepared for just how prolific an artist Tim Burton is as an individual. I think I was expecting to see more work done by his film teams, but there are lots and lots of scritchy-scratchy drawings and sketches and paintings by Tim Burton himself. The whole show was imagination caught fire.
One of my favorite pieces was an excerpt from a letter from Warner Bros. giving creative direction on the Family Dog. You could faintly see Tim’s doodles on the backside of the paper. The tone of the letter was so comical! As a former video game producer, I had to read and write a lot of creative feedback. I so identified with the poor person who had to type up the letter suggesting that the dog not be treated quite so violently in the show. On the flip side, I completely identify with Tim who used it as scrap paper.
There were a few storyboards from the late artist, Joe Ranft, and we paused there for a moment. (We watched the documentary Waking Sleeping Beauty recently, and if you want to know more about Joe Ranft or the world of animated films, I highly recommend it. You also see a very brief appearance of a young Tim Burton.)
The show is definitely worth seeing if you get a chance — a little creepy and weird in places, but amazing nonetheless. I think it’s always inspiring to see an artist who has so diligently worked at his craft and who stays so true to his voice. I left the show itching to draw, and I think it’s pretty special when an artist can have that impact on people.
More from me soon… hope your week is off to a good start!
Filed under Inspiration, Travels Near & Far.
Tagged with Inspiration, LACMA, Southern California favorite spots, Tim Burton exhibit.
The Huntington is one of the first gardens I ever visited, and it completely converted me. I remember paying my $20 admission and thinking there was no possible way that this would be worth it. In fact, I decided to start in the desert garden, figuring it would be the least interesting. About a hundred feet past the front entrance I realized just how wrong I was. (And that desert garden was like a Dr. Seuss wonderland!)
I’ve shared several of my other favorite gardens (Descanso and the L.A. Arboretum), but I always think of the Huntington as the grandfather of them all. It’s by far the most pristine, and the layout makes it feel grander and more expansive than the others.
I’ll be honest though — this one is my least favorite during the summer. There are a lot of open expanses in full sun and uphill climbs, so it can get pretty hot. However, on a spring or fall day (we enjoy it in the winter, too), there are few places quite so beautiful.
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
The Details:
- How big: 120 acres of gardens (grounds are actually 207)
- How long: 10:30am-4:30am during the summer, not open on Tuesdays
Why We Love It:
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Spectacular Japanese and Chinese Gardens – The themed gardens here really shine. Both the Japanese and Chinese gardens are not only beautiful – but large – with lots of details, bridges, and structures. There is everything from a tea pavilion to a bonsai display. I love the Japanese Garden at Descanso as well, but this is on a much grander scale. There are plenty of peaceful spots here including the bamboo forest.
Worth Noting:
- Free Day – Admission to The Huntington is free to all visitors on the first Thursday of every month with advance tickets.
- The Japanese Garden is closed for renovations (and will re-open Spring 2012). I have not confirmed this in person, but it looks like you can still see the bonsai trees and Zen garden during the closure.
There are a few more pictures in these posts here and here. If you venture out to the Huntington, I’d love to hear what you think!
Filed under Gardens & Special Places, Travels Near & Far.
Tagged with gardens, Southern California favorite spots.
The weather here has been quite beautiful, and I find myself thinking about gardens. Today, I thought I would share with you another local spot. It took me some time to warm up to the Gardens of the World in Thousand Oaks, CA. This is a SMALL garden, just 4 acres although it is very well taken care of and manicured. (By comparison, the L.A. Arboretum is 127 acres.) However, if you’re looking for a brief respite from a day of shopping or a really lovely place to picnic, Gardens of the World is a nice spot to relax.
We can easily tour the garden in 15-20 minutes, but there are plenty of benches and spots to linger. Here are all the details (and more images at the bottom of this post):
Gardens of the World
2001 Thousand Oaks Blvd,Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
The Details:
- How much: (as of 5/10/11) Free
- How long: Tues.-Sun. 9-5pm, Closed Monday and most holidays
Why We Enjoy It:
- Perfect Picnic: Picnics are allowed in designated areas including a nice area with benches and the Bandstand lawn where there is plenty of shade. On the day we went for a picnic, the crowd was mostly adults which made for a very relaxing day. The garden is just large enough to provide a nice stroll after you eat.
- Interesting Structures: Despite the garden’s small size, it features a pagoda, bandstand, fountains, replica of a California mission, and even a giant chess set so even visitors who are not interested in the plants will find something interesting to explore.
- Wide, Accessible Paths: This garden is very accessible with wide sidewalks and railings. While this might detract visually, it does make it easier for visitors with wheelchairs, small children, etc.
Looking for other gardens and Southern California spots? I’ve updated the Gardens page so you can now find all of those posts in one spot (at last!). I am always inspired when other people share their favorite spots so this has been something I’ve wanted to organize for a long time. More to come!
Filed under Gardens & Special Places, Travels Near & Far.
Tagged with favorite places, gardens of the world, Southern California favorite spots, Thousand Oaks.
Now that we’re celebrating 2011, I wanted to share another one of my favorite local places – the L.A. Arboretum. I love going to a garden on January 1st – it is a wonderful feeling to start the year off someplace quiet, crisp, beautiful. I’m working on some site updates over here, and this one will be added to my “Garden” tab (so far I’ve shared my thoughts on Descanso Gardens).
I will admit that the first time we visited the arboretum, I was a little hesitant. I think it was the name “arboretum.” It just sounds kind of stuffy to me. However, this garden is almost the exact opposite — a wide open carpet of lawn and meandering paths and many, many peacocks. When we are looking for a long walk and more space, this is where we go.
L.A. Arboretum
301 North Baldwin Avenue
Arcadia, CA, 91007
The Details:
Why We Love It:
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Peacocks — The Arboretum may not be the only place to encounter peacocks. However, I don’ t think you’ll ever find quite so many in one place. 8? 10? 12? There are a lot. Perhaps the sheer number of peacocks explains why they seem so spectacular here – flying up into the trees, preening on a park bench, taking a nap in a flower bed. I never really noticed how they seem to change colors in the light. This is the only place where I’ve been able to get up close enough to see that subtle change from shimmery green to blue to gold. (I blab on some more about peacocks in this post.) Oh, and there are some geese and ducks, too.
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Wide Open Spaces – This garden has wide black-top paths and lots of grassy lawns which makes it popular with families. We always see a few children playing catch and running around (and sadly, sometimes bothering the birds). However, there is enough space here that it’s still easy to put some distance between you and the other visitors if you’re looking for a more peaceful visit.
Worth Noting:
- Family Events + Concerts – The garden has frequent concerts and events if that’s your thing. (We’ve had to turn around and leave after finding the parking lot packed full with families there for a concert, so it’s worth checking their schedule before you head over.
If you decide to visit, let me know what you think. We find it’s a nice addition to our revolving lists of day trips.
Anyone else getting out there and exploring in 2011? I’m already thinking about where we’ll go this weekend, and I would love to be inspired by your ideas.
http://www.arboretum.org/index.php
Filed under Gardens & Special Places, Travels Near & Far.
Tagged with Catawumpus, gardens, L.A. Arboretum, peacocks, places for kids, Southern California favorite spots.
One of my goals for this site is to include details about some of my favorite gardens. We are finally going to start filling out the Garden tab up top. I thought we would start with one of my local favorites: Descanso Gardens.
While I would encourage you to visit the official Descanso Gardens site when planning a visit to double check pricing, seasonal hours, and special events, I wanted to give you my take. So here we go. (All of the images are together at the bottom.)
Descanso Gardens
1418 Descanso Dr
La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011
Get Directions
Category:
Unverified listing
The Details:
- How long: Hours during the week vary. 9-5pm on weekends.
Why we love it:
While Descanso Gardens is technically larger than the Huntington, it has a more intimate feel. Even on crowded days, there are plenty of places in the Oak Forest and Camellia Forest where you can find yourself alone on a shady path surrounded by trees. On the whole, the garden does a nice job of creating a very natural, peaceful escape. Some of the highlights (for me) include:
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Oak forest — I love wandering through the oak forest which is usually very quiet. I take a picture of the same gnarled old oak tree every time I visit (even though I do get made fun of for doing this). I can’t help it. There is something completely magical about this spot.
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Rose garden – The rose garden features plenty of benches, arbors, and (of course) roses. Rose gardens are usually not my favorite, but the casual grass pathways make this spot feel less stuffy. We’ve taken some of my favorite photographs here.
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Full Moon Tea House and Koi pond – This blue roofed pagoda is a wonderful shady spot to take a break and watch the fish.
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Boddy House – The Boddy House is at the top of a steep slope, but we (usually) enjoy the climb. The actual house features antiques as well as history about the gardens. We usually only spend a few minutes inside, but it’s a a fun respite from the forest. They also feature artists openings here, and we purchased one of our favorite pieces on a trip to Descanso.
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Descanso Cafe & Gift Shop – We frequently stop for a bite to eat in their outdoor dining area. Their gift shop, while small, is one of my favorites. They have a great selection of garden themed gifts along with some beautiful housewares and jewelry. (Note to husband: I still want the white ceramic squirrel lamp. Hint-hint.)
Worth noting: We’ve never done these things, but I feel I should mention them in case you’d like to…
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Tram ride: There is a $4 tram ride running several times a day if you’re interested in a tour.
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Special events, Camellia Lounge: Descanso hosts many special events. During the summer, they host a cocktail and appetizer event at the Full Moon Tea House Tuesdays through Thursdays. While I haven’t been, it sounds really lovely especially considering the beautiful surroundings. (More information here.)
For the Kids:
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Child Sized Hedge Maze – I don’t want to oversell this. It’s small. Very small. But cute.
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Enchanted Railroad ($3, Check for hours.) – There is a small diesel train replica that takes guests on a short loop through the gardens. Very charming, even without kids.
The Pictures:
The photos of the roses, turtles, and Full Moon Tea House are courtesy of my husband. The others are mine. ;-)
Filed under Gardens & Special Places.
Tagged with Descanso gardens, gardens, Southern California favorite spots.