Skirball Cultural Center

Los Angeles is a rather expensive city to live in. If you do not keep vigil, you will find yourself with two parking tickets a week at 70 bucks a pop from the street sweeper. On the plus side to living in the city, there are plenty of cool things to do for free. One year for my birthday, my dear friend Ashley gave me more or less an inspiration first aid kit, which included a set of mini sketchbooks, mini colored pencils and a list of all the free admission days for the museums around Los Angeles. This list has spared me the doldrums.

I took out my free museum list and made a date with Jenn. We opted to go to the Skirball Cultural Center. We entered the museum behind a suburban mom pushing a stroller. The group migrated towards a woman abaft the counter to collect our day pass. As the mother and her child approached the counter, the worker asked, "Here to see Noah's Ark?" "Yes," the woman replied. After she left I took my place at the front of the line. The worker gave me a quick once over. I could see her filing each detail away into their respective categories; my short unkempt hair, male prescription tortoise shell framed glasses, my plaid flannel button down long sleeve shirt in a men's large. We finally made eye contact and then she asked, "Here to see the women's exhibit?" My fantasy response, "For the last time, I am not a lesbian. I just like to dress like one." My actual response, "Noah's Ark actually."

 The second exhibition was Visions and Values: Jewish Life from Antiquity to America. The continuous theme throughout was the belief that life was a gift, deserving of celebration. The Jewish people follow multiple calendars. For example, one is to keep track of the days and months but another is the calender of the human life. Every life has certain events that occur serving as a right of passage. Birth, death, marriage, coming of age are all experiences that we get to have in this life. They are to be appreciated and celebrated. 

 Six faces to represent the six million Jews whom died in the Holocaust.

A seemingly generic kitchen of the 1890's, except this kitchen is Jewish.

The lighthearted sentiment of Noah's Ark was fleeting. As if the Holocaust segment wasn't enough to take things down a notch, the third and final exhibition focused on human trafficking, forced prostitution etc. At the end of the display, the viewer is invited to write down a wish for these women on a paper heart. These hearts are then hung from the ceiling. 

What a cute display for such a depressing exhibit.

The ceiling was incredible. I thought it looked like its own living organism.