Right in the middle of Westwood
Village in Los Angeles is the Armand Hammer Museum and Cultural
Center. The Museum opened to the public in November of 1990, and
became affiliated with the University of California in Los Angeles
in 1994. The Museum building was designed by architect Edward
Larrabee Barnes, and includes two floors for exhibition with a
courtyard for outdoor performances and other events. Elevator
access between floors is provided for wheelchairs.
The Museum exhibits a
diverse collection of art, from Renaissance to contemporary. Works
are taken from the Armand Hammer Collection, which consists of
paintings from Impressionist and Post Impressionist artists
including Mary Cassat, Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh. Also
featured are works from the Armand Hammer Daumier and
Contemporaries Collection, showcasing the art of Honore
Daumier and fellow 19th century French satirists. In addition, the
upper level of the Museum houses the UCLA Grunwald Center for the
Graphic Arts. Its collections include thousands of drawings,
photographs, books and prints by artists such as Paul Cezanne,
Oscar Wilde and Jasper Johns.
Aside from exhibiting its
extensive collections, the Museum holds an educational series
geared towards both adults and children. Programs include poetry
readings, art workshops, lectures and musical performances. The
Museum also serves as a site for community gatherings and other
functions. Docent tours of the permanent collection are available,
as well as tours of the other collections. Group tours are also
available for large parties. Call the Museum for details.
Remember to stop by the
Gallery Bookstore. It sells a wide variety of posters, books and
gifts to remember your visit by. It operates the same hours as the
Museum.
The Museum is open Tuesdays,
Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 11am to 7pm. On Thursdays
the Museum is open from 11am to 9pm, and on Sundays it is open
from 11am to 9pm. Admission is $4.50 for adults, $3.00 for seniors
and students, and free for Museum members, and children 17 an
under, accompanied by an adult.
On Thursdays, the Museum is
open to the public for free, all day. The UCLA Armand Hammer
Museum is located at 10899 Wilshire Boulevard, on the corner of
Wilshire and Westwood Boulevard. Parking is available beneath the
Museum at the rate of $2.75
for the first three hours and $1.50 for every additional 20
minutes. On Thursdays there is a flat rate of $3.00 after 6pm.
Parking is also available at lots around the Museum, for a fee.
For information call the
Museum at (310)443-7000.
Insider tip:
Make an evening of it! On Thursdays the Armand Hammer Museum is
open to the public free of charge until 9pm. Visit the Museum, and
have dinner at one of the Nearby restaurants.