CARISSA MARSH
A&E Editor
Los Angeles offers such a plethora of art and cultural institutions that it is easy for spoiled locals to overlook prominent venues, even those in the heart of the city, right off the 405 Freeway.
The Skirball Cultural Center is one of these untapped resources. Established in 1996, the multifaceted museum features changing exhibits as well as music, theater, comedy and film programs.
The center’s mission is to explore the connections between 4,000 years of Jewish heritage and the vitality of American democracy, according to skirball.org.
The core exhibition, “Visions and Values: Jewish Life from Antiquity to America,” showcases works from the permanent collection. The ongoing exhibit follows the experiences and accomplishments of the Jews as well as their influence on other cultures.
Almost like a history book, the museum leads visitors chapter by chapter through the Jewish journey across continents, culminating with the United States.
Despite persecution, the Jews maintained their traditions and beliefs. Each gallery celebrates this fact through the exhibit’s multimedia installations, rare artifacts, photographs, interactive computer stations and sound recordings.
Within the “Visions” exhibit is an outside reproduction of a synagogue that was excavated in Hammat Tiberias, complete with a mosaic pavement like the original.
Later in the exhibit, guests will find another reproduction, this time of the torch of the Statue of Liberty, which welcomed all immigrants to the Land of the Free.
But the most impressive part of the “Visions” is Holocaust chapter, where guests can see early Nazi documents captured by the U.S. Army in 1945. On view are the original transcripts of the Nuremberg Laws, signed by Adolf Hitler, and a rare edition of the dictator’s book, “Mein Kampf.”
Docents lead exhibit tours Tuesday through Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
Another interesting show, on display until April 1, is “Saul Bass: The Hollywood Connection.”
Bass, who died in 1996, was a graphic designer famous for the now-iconic corporate identity packages he created for companies like AT&T and United Airlines.
The Bronx, N.Y., native is also credited with transforming the opening title sequences of movies into a revolutionary new art form. Bass viewed these brief moments as valuable opportunities to set audience mood and enhance the film’s overall entertainment value.
Bass quickly became known for his innovative animation, live action and dynamic typography. His work profoundly affected the way audiences view films today.
The exhibit features movie posters, soundtrack album covers as well as Bass’s storyboard of the infamous shower scene in “Psycho.” Also on view are continuous screenings of a montage of opening and closing credits, from films including “Goodfellas,” “West Side Story” and “Vertigo.”
Bass’s Oscar-winning short documentary “Why Man Creates” shows before the montage. Though confusing at times, the 29-minute film gives a glimpse into the creative mind of Bass and deals with themes of discovery, creation, existence and the desire to be unique— not unlike the rest of the Skirball Center.
The Skirball is open Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. The center opens an hour earlier on Sunday and stays open until 9 p.m. on Thursday. Student tickets cost $6; Thursdays are free.
03-01-2007