New MOCA in LA

The Broad Art Museum has finally opened in LA. FINALLY! It's the imposing, white, honey-combed-exterior building at the corner of 2nd and Grand in downtown LA - one block south of Disney Hall. Eli Broad (rhymes with "mode") had built the museum to house his contemporary art collection of a couple thousand pieces ... and he is keeping museum admission free to the public. Bless his heart.

He has pieces from some of the most recognizable names in the contemporary movement - JM Basquiat, Keith Haring, Jasper Johns, Koons, Lichtenstein, Murakami, Rauschenberg and Warhol. A visit here would be an easy, concentrated survey to introduce the next generation to modern art.

As downtown LA continues to struggle through its' urban revitalization - along with the accompanying problems that flourish with gentrification - The Broad is a bright light. A magnet to pull visitors from the burbs and travellers from around the globe to breath diversity into downtown.

Broad has been criticized for creating a "vanity Museum." I cry foul. Broad built the building, curated the collection and is sharing it with the public - for FREE. While LA does have a handful of world-class museums - The City of Angeles is no Florence. Thank you - Eli - for your generosity and vision.

You can order your free tickets to the Broad Museum online here.