t h e v a n i s h i n g g a l l e r i e . d i g e s t

breaking down art + culture one experience at a time

[thevanishingdigest-blog]

thank you for a wonderful year.

2016 announcements soon.

watch this space.

[thevanishingdigest-blog]

the adult field trip initiative | Petersen Automotive Museum | saturday 19 december

History floor | Industry floor | Artistry floor 

by the Gentleman Alphonse

newly remodeled in 2015 by kohn pedersen fox architectural firm, the petersen automotive museum is a marvelous wonderland for the petrol headed car-enthusiast. originally founded in 1994 by magaziner robert e. petersen + his wife margie, the museum houses an expansive collection of antiques + aspirational machines alike, all providing an exhilarating backdrop for the 12th + final outing of the calendar as the weeks race into the holidays.

upon arriving for ticketing, the urge to counterintuitively ignore the glorious ground floor, in favour of a start at the recommended third floor, is an exercise in extreme eyeball-discipline. exiting the elevator car at the top gallery level, said discipline is sublimely rewarded, as the very first vehicle to come into view is the near-mythical 1965 jaguar wkss, owned by none other than legendary film + adventure maven steve mcqueen. traversing through the ‘why we love the automobile exhibition’, that love transcends across space + time as models from bygone eras stand immaculately presented amongst tall displays detailing the evolution of everything from how people designed their interior packages to how road trips were guided, documented + routed. equally enthralling was the ‘automobiles in movies’ section, featuring a wondrous canon of iconic celluloid beauties, from the bat mobile to bond, magnum p.i. to breaking bad. various quotes from the visionaries + giants of industry were posted artfully about the floor, as the pathway to the steps descending to the second floor were progressed.

landing at the second level, the ‘two-wheeled transportation’ exhibition welcomes with a cascading collection of motorbikes, all with their own stories to tell. curling around past the forza racing experience + ‘the world of motorsports’ room, the walls give way to mulling design gallery, the art center at the petersen. an intriguing, open-office real look at the development of automotive designs, from sculpted buck conceptual models to CAD renders to full size structural mockups. evolving around to spotlight a number of supercars, this floor takes focus on the industry of the automobile: what it takes to create something that moves not only the driver + passengers, but the spirits of the onlooker, even at rest. after delving into the detailed + well-presented ‘alternative power’ segment, documenting all of the options for powering vehicles beyond petrol, the fan favorite stands in the form of the silver room. themed ‘precious metal’, this showcase of all silver-finisehed auto bodies shimmered in a room of greyscale, capturing old world hallowed glamour + strong echoes of racing design-inspired coach builders. this setup perfectly for the final descent, down the round stairwell into the first floor of automobile artistry.

not one to disappoint, the recommended tour definitely saved the most moving objects for movement for last. entering into a cavernous, warehouse sized faux-star enveloped space, some of the most gorgeously designed automobiles throughout history have found an appreciative home here. the number of oohs + as elicited from sheer awe balanced magnificently well with the excellently placed displays + dioramas showcasing the various modes of clothing + necessary luxury that accompanied driving during the first golden age of the automobile. never to be rendered as only a reliquary, the massive space fed visitors into the room of BMW art cars, first commissioned by hervé poulain in 1975. a history of these art cars was presented installed along the walls, gallery like, while three physical specimens of these works were on view in all their full size drivable glory.

as the sun began to set + the rain began to fall, a newly rekindled giddiness surrounding the love affair we have with the vehicles that we access to get from point a to point b rippled electric amongst the rich tapestry of intriguing individuals in attendance, all grateful for such a wondrous day of inner child reawakening.

until next year, I leave you to explore greater.

your company has been appreciated, amazingly. 

class dismissed.

[thevanishingdigest-blog]

the adult field trip initiative | The Autry National Center | sunday 29 november

guided tour | empire + liberty: the civil war and the west | new acquisitions featuring the kaufman collection | art of the west | western frontiers: stories of fact + fiction

by the Gentleman Alphonse

unexpectedly emotional, brilliantly honest, + coming on the heels of one of the most controversially rooted, still-celebrated american holidays, our 11th outing of the 2015 calendar takes dilettantes to the autry national center for a more in-depth education on how the west was lived, populated, depicted, accounted for, + ultimately evolved. 

entering through the main entranceway, greeted by southwestern american-inspired architecture + colour palates, the day began with a guided tour. close to the starting point for the tour, a most striking horse sculpture of fallen branches was pointed out for one specific note: the branches were not wood, but of bronze, treated to appear as wood. this was one of many deeper revelations to be revealed, both literal + metaphorical. as we traversed through each of the exhibition halls that would later be delved into in greater detail, the docent spoke inspiringly regarding the handiworks of native americans, with great regard to accurate history. a surprising level of candor + accountability for one of many darker periods of american history + expansion was extolled throughout, making for an incredibly balanced overview of the works presented. equally refreshing was the accurate light that gene autry himself was painted: not as an actual cowboy, but as a shrewd business man + savvy marketer. this genuine openness was most inspiring to all in attendance, + inspired deeper explorations as the tour wound down + the independent exploration began.

returning to the entrance, first up on the autonomous touring was the empire + liberty: the civil war and the west, a featured exhibition. greeted by a projection upon layer sheets, the excellently artful visuals that accompanied a voice over detailing life during the times was intriguingly immersive. as the exhibition wound around, dozens of detailed maps, info-graphics + interactive displays touched on numerous facts about the west during the time of national civil war that were not delved into during the high school history sessions of many public school systems. the unique intersections of old knowledge + new technological interfaces made this a most rewarding, informative, mind-expanding experience.

making way down the hall to the new acquisitions featuring the kaufman collection, the silhouette of a cowboy gripping tight to his saddle astride a bucking bronco welcomes visitors into the gallery, a pantheon of widely familiar western archetypes + symbols, while introducing lesser celebrated but no less important indigenous elements into the well-presented fray. past small bronzed men + large bright canvases, modernized mechanimals + hand built structures, this gallery was most notable for its great many thought-provking quotations carefully arranged en masse along the walls, peppered throughout as if lingering echoes of past insights, calling outward to all who would dare to listen + question greater.

around the corner led to the art of the west, a more in-depth exposition of native american + latin art, detailing the life + pride of those who’s populace was displaced, but recreated with grace, beauty + passion by the artists brushes + hands. perusing through the featured works, it was ever apparent the uniform similarities that the living conditions + environments inspired in the artistic retellings, even with vastly different presentations.

down the stairs, past the great hand-painted courtyard hall, arriving at the entrance of the western frontiers gallery, the first and most jarring sight to be witnessed was that of a fully restored gatling gun, an amazingly engineered device of tragic destruction. around the installations, a full scale diorama of a stagecoach alluded to a time when transportation was still a ‘means-to-an-end’, although every effort to make it comfortable as possible was displayed in the technologies of the time. next to the stagecoach was the story of the pony express, complete with a riders saddle, ready for packing + trekking. delving deeper into the gallery revealed a plethora of gene autry + western celluloid memorabilia from the era of spaghetti westerns to hollywood’s influence on the youth of the time when cowboy themes ruled the consumer sector. beyond these, more dioramas detailing the families + groups that made up western communities, a restored 1800′s fire wagon, along with a rebuilt saloon all guided a path to the history of firearms + their role in the west. the story of the cowboy was not to be recanted without it, nor teddy roosevelt’s role in establishing the national parks service + other conservation initiatives, as the era of the cowboy drew to a close.

similarly, the day drew to a close at the wrap of this immersion, with a mulititude of expansive, challenging, enlightened + enigmatic conversation ensued, + continued amongst the rich tapestry of intriguing individuals in attendance, all grateful for such a beautiful day of incredible exploration.

so, until the next outing, I leave you to explore greater.

class dismissed.

[thevanishingdigest-blog]

the adult field trip initiative | Power and Pathos | saturday 31 october

getty center | bronze sculptures of the hellenistic world (exhibition closing) | the life of art | the art of the fold

by the Gentleman Alphonse

experiencing an exhibition when it first opens is a rare joy. the freshness of the ideas presented, the newness of the installation elements, the surge of energy at the novelty of it all unveiling is palpable. catching an exhibition just in time during its final days carries a similar sense of excitement, but with a distinct note of focused urgency to capture the purest essence of the installation with specific intention. the 10th outing of the adult field trip initiative’s 2015 calendar returns us to the familiar + always welcoming campus of the getty center to explore the final days of power + pathos: bronze sculptures of the hellenistic world.

arriving to the top of the summit + moving through the museum entrance hall, the pathway up the stairs to the main exhibition hall is laid across the ground before the steps as a form of ground art-piece. to the top of the stairs bearing right, the museum wall of the power + pathos installation greets eyes the moment the foyer is entered, detailing the overview of the intentions behind the exhibition, while highlighting an image of one of the centerpieces of the experience, the terme boxer. utilizing the audio devices gathered in the museum entrance hall, the self-guided audio tour allowed engagement with each designated piece of the installation, extolling the virtues of the artisans, the malleability of bronze over stone, + the deeper symbolisms behind each piece + those surrounding it. traversing through the exhibition, the varying heights + presentations of each restored statue/statuette allowed for a truly immersive experience of history, craftsmanship + archaic culture. most notably detailed were the contrasts of materials utilized, specifically the use of basanite, as well as the signatures of some of the artisans to declare authenticity + propriety.

exiting the exhibition to breathtakingly clear views of the campus, robert irwin’s gardens + even the pacific ocean to the west, attention was directed to the next stop on the day’s itinerary to the south pavilion’s installation of the life of art: context, collection & display. entering the darkly lit space, a selection of museum antiquities are displayed at a table, with touchscreen tablet interfaces stationed at each. these stations allow for a deeper delving into the backgrounds + histories of each item presented, from where it originated to why it was chosen for display. a very dense immersion, what appears at glance to be a limited selection of unique antiques becomes a delightful time-spanning exercise in engaging the childlike curiosity that drives discovery + innovation. well worthy of multiple immersive visits.

making a way across the courtyard to the west pavilion, the outing finds itself approaching the final exhibition on the itinerary, the art of fold: drawings of drapery and costume. entering the first hall, it is seen that the presentation has been distributed amongst three rooms, each with works carefully hung + spaced for maximum impact of study. touring the rooms, each framed sketching displayed a study by the respective artists that clearly contributed to their greater works, be it painting in oils, designing of stained glass, or further detailed charcoal sketch for costumes + fashion plates. most intriguing throughout is the sense of gravity + hang displayed so skillfully in illustration: one could sense the weight of the fabrics adorning the characters in each illustration, be they in movement or at rest. the celebration of these wondrous attentions to detail are not lost on any view, all emerging with a much greater appreciation for the creative process of life-like portrayals across multiple mediums.

wrapping the outing with the customary architecture tour, the designs of architect richard meier continue to inspire greater thoughts as the tram arrived for the departure of a rich tapestry of intriguing individuals, all grateful for such a beautiful day of incredible inspirations.

until the next outing, I leave you to explore greater.

class dismissed.

[thevanishingdigest-blog]

the adult field trip initiative | Hammer Museum | saturday 3 october

exhibition openings | njideka akunyili crosby | jessica jackson hutchins | the armand hammer collection

by the Gentleman Alphonse

opened to the public in the late fall of 1990, the hammer museum was founded by dr. armand hammer, former chair of occidental petroleum (not to be confused with household goods company arm & hammer, in the charge of church & dwight). visioned as a vehicle to champion ‘the promise of art + ideas to illuminate our lives + build a more just world’, the 9th outing of the adult field trip initiative takes us to the collegiate area of westwood.

a quick jaunt down the road from the campus grounds of ucla, as the crow flies, the hammer museum’s edward larrabee barnes architecture is squarely modern yet progressive, as the interior lobby filters in ample amounts of natural light, giving glimmer to glass, steel + concrete structures that lovingly guide the eye + the pathways between rooms + installations. awaiting the tour to begin, a mural by mark bradford of artfully excavated + drafted state lines of the continental u.s. adorns a wall adjoining the main stairway, with decimaled number values within the frame of each state, informed to be representative of the number of AIDS related cases (+ deaths) in each. it is a hauntingly powerful piece, if nothing else by sheer scale + scope.

initiating the guided tour was a passionate + intelligent student docent from eastern europe (who’s name, remorsefully, escapes at the moment). we began our trek past the mural up to the primary courtyard (with wondrously fun little chairs!), then beyond it, traversing up a second concrete stairwell to the first stop in our tour: the armand hammer collection. within the allegedly haphazard collection in the story of how it was accumulated, the curation told a sweeping sorry of interest + intrigue; the lighting, all well tailored to each piece on view. the docent led the tour under the thought premise of the concept of ‘identity’, where we began at viewing ‘portrait of a man in armor’ by titian, then ‘salomé dancing before herod’ by gustave moreau, each followed by a prompting of questions to inspire active discussion amongst the group regarding individual impressions of each piece through the thought premise of ‘identity’. quite unique in museum visits + tours for such engagement by docents. very exciting.

we made our way back down the stairs then to the special exhibition room featuring the first of the two newly revealed exhibitions of the day: the works of nigerian born-los angeles based visual artist, njideka akunyili crosby. entering the moderately sized room, of all the larger pieces that populated the walls, attention immediately went to the smaller, almost obscure piece on the side wall just left of the instep at the entrance. a self portrait painted against a black background, the eye is immediately drawn to a brilliant cameo earring, then invited to delve further. the discussion inspired by this piece was very inspired, as was the dialogue that followed the final piece highlighted by our gifted docent, a huge floor-to-ceiling piece depicting a local dance where the silhouette of the man’s head + arms contained the same obscure collage of images that also formed the fabric of the woman dress. it was an intriguing think piece of identity, observation, even intrusionism, as the internal thoughts + self image of all participating in the conversation was lain bare at the feet of the artist’s creation. which, is truly the impact of all great works: to inspire dialogue, discourse + discovery of self by what is seen in the artworks.

closing the tour, investigation of the second exhibition opening commenced: the works of chicago-born jessica jackson hutchins. working in mixed mediums across, painting, paper mâché, sculpture + found objects, her works spoke volumes as the carefully curated works were quietly consumed, interpreted, + appreciated for their formless yet thought-forming inspiration. freely exploring the open architecture of the museum, passing the ‘installation in progress signs’, upper level common areas, + the incredibly dense, highly rewarding gem of a museum store, our day at the hammer museum drew to a delightful close with the rejuvenated departure of a rich tapestry of intriguing individuals all grateful to have been in attendance.

until the next outing, I leave you to explore greater.

class dismissed.

[thevanishingdigest-blog]

the adult field trip initiative | Catalina Island | sunday 30 august

avalon bay | island golf carting | catalina casino | avalon theater + ballroom

by the Gentleman Alphonse

purchased by william wrigley, jr. in 1919, santa catalina island has played host to the chicago cubs spring training to the stars of old hollywood as a playground of who’s who of the talking pictures era. deeded in the 1970′s to the catalina island conservancy to insure it remained largely natural + undeveloped, this old glamour getaway was the ideal destination for the year’s eighth adult field trip excursion.

loading into the catalina express ferry off golden shore dr. in long beach, the day began with a bit of a grayish cloud cover that shaded the docks + paths to our train-reminiscent seats. leaving the dock + picking up speed in open water, we soon outran the ominously gloomy canopy, as informed by the colour of the water seeming to change from a murkish-grey to gleaming blue. mental note was made that the perceived colour of the ocean at any given time is equal parts composition + reflection of the above sky. inspiring.

making great time across the 20+ miles from shore, the ferry made berth where the eyes were greeted with the wondrously welcoming arms of avalon bay. homes stacked the immediately viewable hills in the center, flanked by the casino to the right, and the curving natural expanse of the untouched island areas to the left. disembarking, the first order of business was to take in the charm of the shoppes + snap quick photos, as the golf cart rental hub was approached.

securing a modest-capacity cart, the island begged to be explored at an inquisitively leisurely pace. streets were sped upwards + gently careened down, with frequent stops for photo ops. the architecture was quaint, yet familiar, with locals giving freely of welcoming smiles + waves. living on the island appeared deliberate yet carefree, as miniature cars + numerous golf carts maintained a quiet ever-presence among the moderate streets. returning just as the allotted time was expiring, the carts were returned as travel to the casino was made on foot, observing all the local shoppes + wares along the way.

the catalina casino still retains much of its turn-of-the-century charm, as towering columns + grandiose art deco decorum welcomed all who entered. guided by a spirited, silver-haired gentleman, our time travel through the architecture + still-existing programming of the casino theater as well as the above ballroom was a master class in staying power. original paint pigments, hardwood ballroom flooring, tiffany + co. design chandeliers, all stood impressive enough, but the gem of knowing that the theater acoustics were engineered so incredibly that the study of such engineering was conducted + applied to radio city music hall in new york city? a priceless point of historical pride.

while the best intentions were to view a film in the theater, the present offering had already been viewed by the group’s individuals. as the sole screening offering (the theater screens one major film release, two weeks after it’s debut, nightly, at 7:30p only), attention was enjoying time on the beach + surrounding areas areas prior to dining reservations. making our way back to the ferry after a delightful meal following a long, enjoyable day of exploration, the sentiment of ‘soon return’ to this local island of magic was echoed amongst the entire rich tapestry of intriguing individuals in attendance, as we sailed back to the port of long beach. 

such a grand experience. 

until the next outing, I leave you to explore greater.

class dismissed.

[thevanishingdigest-blog]

the adult field trip initiative | Getty Villa | saturday 25 july

tea by the sea | villa garden tour

by the Gentleman Alphonse

j. paul getty’s original site for home + curiosities, the getty villa has a fascinating history, with such a marvelously recreated roman villa in the hills of malibu. for this year’s outing number seven, the adult field trip initiative takes a seat for an afternoon tea by the sea.

taking a non-traditional approach to arrival, public transit was tested on this excursion to great effect, if for no other reason than sheer curiosity of ‘if’ it were possible + effective (to which it was, to great discovery). walking up to the main gates at the base of the grounds gave a much greater appreciation for the immensity of architecture + painstaking detail that is often missed when in motor vehicles, almost exclusively reserved for those entering on-foot en route to the shuttle point.

traversing up to the main elevators was swift, as was the lift to the top, where the grounds immediately open up to the ampitheater, + full view of the villa architecture along with the dining areas. with the proper head tilt + squint, one can also make out the original getty residence atop the hill through the veil of trees, kindly watching over all visitors as they indulge in a manner of time travel in this exquisitely recreated landscape of stone + tile.

previous visits made familiar, this outing all attention was expeditiously directed up the tan-stoned stairways to the founder’s room, perched above the primary eating pavilions. after checking in, guests get seated at designated tables for this party size, eyeing the many tables + trays playing host to what tastes are to come. a proper high tea ceremony, tea is presented + poured by careful + warmly attentive waitstaff, with glorious silver table trays offered plenty of delicate finger foods that complimented the teas + delighted the palate. 

wrapping the afternoon tea experience, guests proceeded back downstairs, around to the garden area for a garden tour, detailing where many of the scents, tastes + contributions to what was just consumed originally came. at the end of the garden corridor, a breathtaking view of the pacific through the framing of downward sloping hills allowed for a plethora of photo captures + personal reflections.

ready to depart, the shuttle arrived very quickly, escorting all patrons on foot to the base entrance. leaving just enough time to take a final glimpse back upward from whence we came, our small group traversed the ever-lively highway of pch, with a newfound appreciation for antiquity, as well as public transit, amongst a rich tapestry of intriguing individuals.

until the next outing, I leave you to explore greater.

class dismissed.

[thevanishingdigest-blog]

the adult field trip initiative | Grammy Museum | saturday 27 june

the writings of tupac shaker | sinatra | joan rivers | the supremes | the taylor swift experience

by the Gentleman Alphonse

once each year, since 1959, the national academy of recording arts + sciences honours its peers during a life-changing awards show. known affectionately as the grammys, this tiny gramophone has had a great impact on its celebrated recipients over the years, all with a great diversity of stories. with this storied history in mind, our sixth installment of the adult field trip initiative brings us to the grammy museum in downtown los angeles.

upon entering the grammy museum, its small foyer belies its depth and breadth of archival installations + experiences. taking the elevator to the fourth floor, we were greeted by an installation detailing the evolution of the grammy award itself over time, with immersive footage of previous winners projected all around as we made our way into the main room. booths transporting each listener to the origins of its designated sound, these genre education-stations painted a vivid history of the evolution of popular music as we progressed to our first stop: the writings of tupac shakur.

flanked by museum-grade installations of past wardrobe ensembles, old notebooks, developing script ideas + audio/visual stations, the all eyes on me exhibition gave the west-coast icon an incredibly fragile, tangible feel, as visitors were treated to snippets of early life, public progression as an artist, balanced by well-detailed private ambitions that went unrealized due to an untimely death. gripping, intelligent, hauntingly human. a wonderful celebration of his life + origins of his artistry.

proceeding down the rear stairway to the third floor below revealed an entire floor dedicated to explaining the stages of the recording process, the progression of audio formats over time, historic grammy performances, + an impressive display of the career of joan rivers as well as the stage costumes of the supremes. while all was stunningly dense + incredibly informative, the clear crowd favorite was the mini-theater screening previous performances at the live grammy award tapings, with a few genuine tears shed during whitney houston’s ‘I will always love you’. much love + respect was sent to her memory.

winding down the tour to the second floor, the taylor swift experience shared stories behind the songs + signature looks of one of the nation’s most adored talents. being in the company of two actual grammy winning songwriters + producers added to the very human experience of the excursion. from the emotional bonds with departed talents, to the real-life conversations about how certain songs actually came about, many genuine points of connectivity were established + revealed. 

a refreshingly heartwarming + unifying day with a rich tapestry of intriguing individuals. 

until the next outing, I leave you to explore greater.

class dismissed.

[thevanishingdigest-blog]

the adult field trip initiative | Malibu Wine Safari | sunday 31 may

malibu family wine grounds | saddlerock ranch

by the Gentleman Alphonse

any escape to the coast of the pacific is a welcome break, + malibu is always a great idea. combining a day of wine with winding mountain passes + incredible views, our fifth calendar outing takes us out to malibu family wines.

while beach traffic definitely makes for an interesting segment of travel, there are few driving experiences as rewarding as the winding coastline roadways of the pacific coast highway. the aforementioned traffic giving way just before malibu city limits, the wide open road welcomed us with clear skies + lightly salted air leading up to our turn-off point. bearing east on the mountain pass, we were entertained by supercars + sport bikes delighting in the plentiful curvaceousness of our ascension to the summit, where we easily split left and found our parking space on the gravel lot of saddlerrock ranch.

nestled coyly in the santa monica mountains a stones throw from the vineyard facaded hills, the malibu family wines grounds lay a quick shuttle ride up road. noting the petting paddocks + tier-seated safari trucks, our group recanted on how there would definitely be advance ticket purchases next time.*

*pro tip: weekend safari tours fill up quickly; purchasing no less than 7 days is ideal for securing a seat for the wine safaris.

however, all is fair in love + wine, with a consolation prize none could refute: an open air flat ground of stringed lights, clever enclaves [insert: school bus seating area], complimented by breathtaking scenery of the surrounding mountains, + mountains of bottles of locally made wine.

navigating through the parties of bridal showers + birthdays, we proceeded to secure a gentle space towards the back of the green in the company of a brilliantly restored, early-1900′s red pick up, and pitched our charcuterie camp. amid conversation, prosciutto, malbecs + gouda, time was punctuated and tracked simply with each emptied bottle, now filled with great stories shared in an incredible atmosphere. as the sun began to dip, belongings were gathered to proceed back to the shuttle, where we were politely delivered back to our arrival vehicles.

being in the moment, an opportunity presented itself to investigate the more accessible paddocks to which a zebra greeted our sights, aside an open field that met the edge of the vineyard fence, perfect for photographs. piling into our respective vehicles, nicely mellowed for a safely pleasant drive back to the city limits, the sentiment for a return to this quaint experience was echoed by all + noted for the future.

this shared, it wrapped an immensely relaxing time amidst a rich tapestry of intriguing individuals, set upon returning.

until the next outing, I leave you to explore greater.

class dismissed.

[thevanishingdigest-blog]

the adult field trip initiative | Griffith Observatory | tuesday 28 april

samuel oschin planetarium + sunset walk & talk

by the Gentleman Alphonse

welcoming the second quarter of 2015, we turned our gazes skyward + gathered at the world renowned griffith observatory for an afternoon of youthful reliving + an evening of adult discovery.

the winding roads leading up to the summit of the observatory have long been a personal favourite, as the numerous hiking trails passed teasingly taunt the infinite possibilities of future explorations. arriving to the main lot, the splendor of classic american art deco architecture echoing the boundless enthusiasm of our once rabid national interest in the stars, is enough to stir awake even the most stoic individual’s inner child of wonder.

entering with plenty of time to process tickets + secure great seats, our group settled into the samuel oschin planetarium, where reminisces of grammar school field trips + the giddy excitement of being in the planetarium itself took a playful hold over all adults present. a welcome break from the daily schedules of work/client commitments.

after an enlightening session of stars, stories + scenic projection, our group made its way outside to take in the view from the south wall of the observatory before delving back indoors to the basement, where interactive scale models of our solar system were considered with imagination + intellectual queries, expending just enough time to emerge back out on the grounds to join the gathering for the sunset walk & talk.

led by an astronomer/part-time docent + a park ranger, the audience of curious tourist + locals alike were educated on various little-known functionalities of the observatory grounds, leading out to the small wooded path at the north end of the parking lot. progressing up the slight incline, the park ranger took point, extolling the stories behind the trees in this man-made forest, sister cities in europe + tales of native animals, specifically bears + cougars. no patrons were harmed during the recanting of these stories, even if a few became rather skittish + on alert. 

reaching the summit of our half mile hike, we are treated to the astronomer detailing constellations + star positions in the newly curtained night sky, as the hike time allowed for sunset to complete. with a laser pointer that seemingly touched the stars, we were imparted with a wealth of curious trivia + all around fun facts about our night sky. as everyone made their way back down to the lot, it left many of us to ponder many more questions while looking up. 

reflecting on the evening under starlight, it was truly a highly fun + enjoyable time with such a rich tapestry of intriguing individuals.

until the next outing, I leave you to explore greater.

class dismissed.

[thevanishingdigest-blog]

the adult field trip initiative | The Huntington | saturday 28 march

garden tour | chinese tea house | exhibitions

by the Gentleman Alphonse

for our third installment of the 2015′s programming for the adult field trip initiative, we set our sights just beyond the lines of los angeles proper to the huntington library, art collections + botanical gardens, nestled quite unassumingly in san marino, politely adjacent to pasadena.

the pleasant drive up to the sprawling estate is calming enough to be worthy of excursion for its own sake, but once arriving at the stately gates of entry, your mind is instantly impacted with the scale of care and preservation exacted to regulate such a location. this will be no typical saturday respite.

walking up from the parking lot, we passed + were passed by all manner of attendees, each nonverbally expressing their intentions for which area of the grandiose greenspaces they would be concentrating their time in. this added a heighten factor of curiosity to what repeat visits would reveal over time, leading to many questions at the guest desk, cheerfully answered in full by the knowledgeable + kindly staff members as we processed our admission + secured our maps. exploration time.

the garden tour unfolded as a self guided one, as we missed the tram by a matter of mere moments. this lent to being a great fortune in disguise, as our meandering led us into the breathtakingly manicured greens of the rose + botanical gardens. traversing under trellises, fawning over flora, we made our way through this celebration of spring life to the chinese gardens, where the topography made a drastic, yet surprisingly still smooth transition. lazy hills gave way to minor canyons through which a modest stream ran unchecked under the gentle sloping of trees, curved every so slightly over.

many photographs were had. much appreciating stillness ensued. 

taking the fork to the right, we made our way around the chinese tea house, which was brimming with cordial life. everyone courteously awaited their teas of choice + selected foodstuffs, respectfully. hungry to explore more, short work was made of these delicious indulgences as we forayed through the japanese zen + tea gardens, arriving around the rear face of the gallery of american art. after a mental rock/paper/scissors for which entrance to elect, we made our way through a slim corridor which fed into the smaller portion of the gallery that expanded the further we delved. great works, expressive explanations + engaging gallery attendants made for an enlightened + fulfilling experience, as our time drew to a close.

seizing the opportunity to take the long way to the lot, we navigated past as much of the external architecture + green open spaces our eyes, cameras + imaginations could consume before arriving back to our original point of entry. as we made our respective departs, one thing was agreed: like rome, the huntington could not be done in a day. 

highest appreciation for another lovely day with a rich tapestry of intriguing individuals.

until the next outing, I leave you to explore greater.

class dismissed.

[thevanishingdigest-blog]

the adult field trip initiative | Getty Center | sunday 22 february

wwi: war of images, images of war :: short film | lecture | exhibition

by the Gentleman Alphonse

following up an exciting start to the year’s excursions, the second monthly outing of the adult field trip initiative took our group to one of the most architecturally impressive institutions of art + conservation, the getty center.

perched commandingly atop a planed hill overlooking the 405 freeway, the richard meier-designed structure is an inspiring beacon of intelligent design + sprawling elements of control. 

upon arrival, visitors are directed up from the catacombs of parked vehicles to the open air tram platform, boarding a gentle monorail that carries patrons to the summit of the hill, to a glorious reception for the senses. fresh air, expansive mountain views, + an immense stairway invite all bearing witness to test the limits of their curiosity. 

bringing out the childlike awe in us all, we delightfully accepted.

some bounding, others more calculated in their steps, we ascended the stairs to gather in the primary rotunda, where we were directed just outside for the architecture tour. this 40 minute walk about the campus grounds informed us of the vision of j. paul getty as well as the mathematical fanaticism of aforementioned architect richard meier in developing a pace full of angles, art + life.

upon completion of the architecture tour, we migrated to the building housing the exhibition du jour, wwi: war of images, images of war. entering the main foyer, a gallery wall detailing the exhibition greeted our eyes with stories + images that set the tone for what we would explore. filled with archival posters of propaganda, acrylic-cased volumes of ledgers + compendiums of artifacts of war + timelines etched along the curved walls, this cradled space was equal parts time capsule + inquisitions, laying bare all past transgressions to the light of modernity. an immersive experience, to be sure.

exiting the southwest wing, we freed ourselves to openly explore the grounds further, taking in sights, flora, photo + food from the carts in the atrium areas. this being a particularly clear day, the high altitude gave view clear to santa monica, back across to downtown los angeles. a rarity in any locale, especially one with a notoriously regular clarity-hampering film of smogginess. a brilliant respite, indeed.

our time coming to close, we gathered at the tram platform, reflecting on our experience this day, fantasizing of immeasurably wealth + the possibilities that exist when resources can meet the expanse of ideas. ever looking forward, we arrived back a the base of the hill, freshly rejuvenated + ready to make our respective marks in the world. yet another lovely day with a rich tapestry of intriguing individuals. 

until the next outing, I leave you to explore greater.

class dismissed.

[thevanishingdigest-blog]

the adult field trip initiative | LACMA | saturday 31 january

samurai: japanese armor + hollywood costume exhibitions

by the Gentleman Alphonse 

bringing in the new year with a new, streamlined approach to the adult field trip outings, our opening excursion to the los angeles county museum of art was a masterclass in history, craftsmanship, design + utility across time. 

samurai: japanese armor welcomed visitors with a battery of heavily fortified equestrian warriors astride their elegantly protected steeds, frozen in time beneath a crimson lacquered ceiling, reminiscent of eastern sunsets + bloody battles. 

continuing through the ensuing displays of delicate dioramas detailing daily life of these stoic + principled warriors, each visitor was invited to engage with the presentation at their chosen level of depth. 

some passed, gleaning an overview of the suits behind the glass with a quick photo snap. others, along with myself, delved deeper into the painstaking details of the threading and compositional elements of each suit, informed exquisitely with well-placed cards of background knowledge at each point by the curators. 

an elegant tribute of artful proportions to some of the most respected warrior classes in history. incredibly well done.

hollywood costume was incredibly packed, with a wait time that exceeded the opening hours of operation for the day of our visit, so unfortunately we did not indulge in that experience during this outing.

pro tip: museums are at their highest visitation levels on weekends, + even more during ‘museum free days’. always verify/double check museum calendars online just prior to your visit + always be open to amend itineraries on the fly.

gratefully, this detour incited a curiosity among the group to explore other buildings + collections not set for the day’s itinerary, offering an amazing chance for new discoveries + inspirations. this lead to some spirited conversations about art history, world events + art appreciation, which birthed some wonderful ideas for solutions + new initiatives. 

the outing concluded on an inspired note, with many planning their next trip + musing over membership options upon departure. a lovely day with a rich tapestry of intriguing individuals. 

until the next outing, I leave you to explore greater. 

class dismissed.

[thevanishingdigest-blog]

the vanishing gallerie. digest

breaking down art + culture one experience at a time

an ongoing journal communicating experiences in the worlds of art, travel, deign, history + culture. 

a periodical production of the vanishing gallerie.

stay tuned.

-the gentleman alphonse, curator.