The Santa Monica Museum of Art will soon be the transit gateway to our vibrant city. The coming of the new Expo line at Bergamot Station from Downtown Los Angeles, and ultimately to the ocean, has officially begun. It is scheduled to open in 2016. There is now a hulking new overpass on Cloverfield and Olympic Blvds. and today (January 22, 2013) we witnessed the demolition of Track 16—a bittersweet goodbye to this local icon. We watched with awe as the giant claw of the excavator ferociously devoured the building. 

With original artworks by 500 contemporary artists, INCOGNITO features work by luminaries including John Baldessari, Mark Bradford, and Judy Chicago, as well as a host of emerging talent. This spirited evening encourages attendees—from sophisticated art patrons to first-time collectors—to trust their instincts as they select treasures that speak to their unique aesthetic. Each piece is signed on the back and the artists’ identities are revealed only after purchase.

Video by Richard Schachter and the Santa Monica Museum of Art

From the makers of "Little Miss Sunshine" comes this short film, "The Testimonials". The film includes commentary about the Santa Monica Museum of Art (SMMoA) by world renowned artists Diana Thater and Mark Bradford; opera, theater, and multi-disciplinary arts impresario Peter Sellars; distinguished curator of contemporary art Paul Schimmel; polymath and USC professor Josh Kun; and director of the library foundation Ken Brecher.

Film by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris

Copyright Santa Monica Museum of Art

Mickalene Thomas: Origin of the Universeis the first solo museum exhibition of this remarkable multi-media artist whose classically inspired work challenges traditional notions of female identity. Origin of the Universe is centered around a new suite of paintings that examines landscapes and the female body—which is considered by the artist to be the “origin of the world.” In addition to her paintings and photograph, Thomas created an installation in SMMoA’s Project Room 2, to reinvent Marcel Duchamp’s "Étant donnés", where the “peep show” reveals an unexpected surprise. This exhibition is on view at the Santa Monica Museum of Art April 14–August 19, 2012.

Audio by Adam Gunther about Wosk's exhibition.

How does pattern and ornament affect sensation and perception?

A conversation with artists Peter Shire and Samira Yamin, moderated by executive director, Elsa Longhauser, and the director of education and public programs, Asuka Hisa.

A live DJ mix of music and words, this performance explores the aesthetics of the crossfade. Crossfader is a multipart forum that features individuals who venture beyond the constraints of genre and style. “The crossfader is the toggle on a DJ mixer that allows you to move between the music on one input and the music on another. It lets you mix without erasing; combine without destroying—to juggle and sustain difference,” writes Kun.

J. Period is hailed as one of “the world’s top DJs” by The New York Times and recruited for remix and production work by Grammy-winners Kanye West, Mary J. Blige, John Legend, and The Roots. J. Period is one of the music industry’s most respected DJs/Remixers.

Josh Kun, writer, USC professor, and cultural polymath, joins SMMoA’s Collection of Ideas series as Resident Collector. Kun uses music as a magnet to attract, mix, and connect diverse communities.