Scene & Heard: MOCA’s conversations about art

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The Museum of Contemporary Art began its first brunch series, “Salons by the Shore,” on Sunday with “A Conversation with Doug Aitken” at the Malibu home of Nancy and Howard Marks. Additional salons are scheduled over the next few weeks with artists Urs Fischer and Richard Prince at the seaside homes of other L.A. cultural leaders and art collectors.

MOCA director Jeffrey Deitch and event co-chair Lilly Tartikoff Karatz both talked about the unique quality of Los Angeles, which combines the natural beauty with important cultural resources. Tartikoff Karatz called that combination the inspiration for the series, while Deitch said those qualities may be responsible for nurturing great artists.

Guests gathered on the lawn atop a seaside bluff for the talk with the internationally known, L.A.-based Aitken, who described his creative process, while illustrating his diverse body of work. He ended with a few thoughts about the “Artist’s Museum Happening” on Nov. 13, for which he will be designing as an artwork, which guests will experience.

Excerpts from the Conversation have been posted on MOCA’s blog, The Curve.

Look for the full report in Scene & Heard here and in Sunday’s Image section.

-- Ellen Olivier