If you’re looking for a place to relax and escape from the stress of academic life, this article is the perfect guide for you. Here are five locations to take yourself on an artistic date! Let’s embrace theater, fine arts and crafting. Take a deep breath – and enjoy.
Geffen Playhouse
Walk toward Westwood Village from the iconic Bruin Bear Statue, and right next to Ralphs you’ll find Geffen Playhouse — one of the first 12 structures built in Westwood. Here, you can experience some of the highest quality theater productions. Currently, “Noises Off,” directed by Anna D. Shapiro, is running until March 9, and “Furlough’s Paradise,” directed by Tinashe Kajese-Bolden, will begin its run on April 16.
(Tip: If you know a student from the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, they may be able to get you free tickets and bring you to the previews! It’s a great opportunity to meet the directors, actors and designers in person and ask about their artistic journeys.)
Hammer Museum
If you have time for a longer walk and want to explore more, head further into Westwood Village to visit the Hammer Museum. Affiliated with UCLA, the Hammer Museum is known for its artist-centric, diverse exhibitions. If you go before May 4, you can immerse yourself in video, installation, performance and sculpture at the exhibition, “Alice Coltrane, Monument Eternal,” which captures the legendary life of jazz musician Alice Coltrane.
Things to know before you go:
- Free mobile guide on Bloomberg Connects: Listen to exclusive audio from artists and curators, and watch video profiles of exhibited artworks.
- The Hammer Museum requires visitors to check items larger than 12 inches long, six inches wide and 12 inches high (including purses, bags and backpacks) at the welcome desk.
- Pens and markers are not permitted in the galleries. Pencils are available at the welcome desk.
Nimoy Theater
Just a two-minute walk from the Hammer Museum is Nimoy Theater! If you’re craving an intimate space to watch a small-scale live performance, Nimoy Theater has you covered. Here, you can enjoy poetry readings, theatrical performances from educational institutions and works in progress by UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television Master of Fine Arts directing students. Award-winning poet and playwright, Inua Ellams, will be holding a staged reading of his poetry collection, “Search Party.” He embraces audience interaction and open dialogues, hoping to return to the origins of storytelling through poetry.
(P.S. If you’re hungry after the show, 99 Ranch Market is just a three-minute walk away. After 8 p.m., you can grab delicious pastries with a “buy one, get one free” discount!)
SPLATTERZ!
Not a fan of live performances? Want to get creative? Right next to the famous Happy Panda Kitchen Chinese Hot Pot in Westwood Village is SPLATTERZ! Here, you can unleash your inner artist and paint pottery with your friends, your partner or just yourself. Customize your own breakfast bowl, coffee mug or vase, or you can paint a personalized gift for someone special. It’s a therapeutic experience you won’t want to miss!
Los Angeles County Museum of Art – LACMA
If you have a car or want to venture farther from campus, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, better known as LACMA, is my top recommendation. Opened in 1965, LACMA houses a vast collection of over 150,000 artworks, spanning from ancient times to contemporary pieces, including paintings, sculptures, photography, film and design from diverse cultures around the world. If you’re into architecture and design — or just looking for an Instagram-worthy spot — you won’t want to miss LACMA’s iconic outdoor installations, Chris Burden’s “Urban Light“ (a collection of restored street lamps) and Michael Heizer’s “Levitated Mass” (a massive suspended boulder).
This month, you can enjoy:
- “Ritual Expressions: African Adornment from the Permanent Collection,” a visual feast of fabric arts and adornment.
- “Mapping the Infinite: Cosmologies Across Cultures,” an exploration of how different cultures have attempted to explain the origins of the universe.
Featured Image Photographed by Julia Gu/BruinLife
