the BEAT of the week: PLAY MOCA.

Art and music come together once again in L.A. with PLAY MOCA, a three-part multimedia series event happening at the Geffen Contemporary in downtown. IAMSOUND Records is curating the shows, bringing up and coming musical acts like Salem, Zola Jesus and Lord Huron. Meanwhile, there'll be art exhibitions from Drew Barrymore (yes, that one!); a performance from the L.A. Dance Project / Benjamin Millepied and Rodarte; and DJing by Ariel Pink and Health.

All hip, all free. Get on reserving your tickets, though -- they'll go quickly! Get more info on the upcoming shows here.

PLAY MOCA takes place July 27, August 17, and August 24 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, located at 152 N. Central Ave. in downtown.

-- Chau Tu

the BEAT of the week: Transmission L.A.: AV Club.

This is the sort of stuff that makes you appreciate Los Angeles: a full-on arts/music/film/food/everything festival curated by Mike D of the Beastie Boys, featuring works by people like Will Fowler, Benjamin Jones, Mike Mills, Takeshi Murata, Cory Arcangel and more. For 17 days, MOCA will host Transmission L.A.: AV Club, which "will illustrate how audio and visual art forms complement and influence each other." Kicking off the event is none other than Santigold, and Roy Choi of Kogi and Chego fame will be providing exclusive eats on the weekends.

This isn't your regular art exhibit. Stay tuned for exact scheduled events here at avantgardediaries.com.

Transmission L.A.: AV Club takes place from April 20 to May 6 at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, located at 152 N. Central Ave. in downtown.

-- Chau Tu

the BEAT of the week: Weegee's 'Naked Hollywood' at MOCA.

The photographer known as Weegee (real name Arthur Felling) became famous for his stark and unflinchingly realistic pictures of crime scenes in New York. But in 1947, he moved to Los Angeles, and he didn't spare our fair city from his lens. Out came photos of Hollywood stars, strippers, costume shops and naked mannequins, in a style that could only be described as 'naked.'
"Naked Hollywood: Weegee in Los Angeles" is the first museum exhibition devoted to the work the photographer produced in Southern California. It tells the story not only of a photographer who worked diligently to portray an unashamed world, but also of that of the strange, strange world itself -- Los Angeles. You might be surprised to see what Weegee unearthed.

"Naked Hollywood: Weegee in Los Angeles" is showing until Feb. 27 at MOCA, located at 250 S. Grand Ave. in downtown.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: MOCA

the BEAT of the week: Hedi Slimane's "California Song" at MOCA.

To put it modestly, Hedi Slimane is one of the most well-respected and most admired names in the fashion industry. He's helped build the modern fashion houses of Yves Saint Laurent and Dior Homme, and quite singlehandedly created what is the slim silhouette so common nowadays in menswear. But Slimane hasn't stopped there: he also designs album covers (Daft Punk), and writes and photographs (Vanity Fair).

His striking photography is getting its first proper West Coast show beginning this week, with the "California Song" exhibit at the MOCA Pacific Design Center. Divided into two parts, the installation will include a photo diary focused on California artists, musicians and youth culture, as well as a section with sonic, motion-photography. Select California bands, including L.A.'s own No Age and Ariel Pink, are also contributing music for the exhibition. Those two bands are slated to perform in the opening for the show on Nov. 11.

If you're familiar with any of Slimane's work, you already know that this exhibit will be beautiful and moving and distinct -- stark yet classy. You can take a peek at Slimane's photography here, in the meantime, but being able to see the work up close and personal will definitely be an experience of its own.

Hedi Slimane's "California Song" will be showing Nov. 12-Jan. 22, 2012 at the MOCA Pacific Design Center, located at in West Hollywood.

-- Chau Tu

Do It. See Andy Warhol's 'Soup Cans' at MOCA.

There's nothing quite like seeing a Warhol in person. And though you've surely seen his iconic Soup Cans printed in books and magazines or on the Internet, seeing the intricate detailing of all the names and labels on the cans in person makes the art piece really something else. It brings a deeper appreciation to the little things, the simpler things. Beauty in what is, even if it's just your dinner for the night.

Andy Warhol's Soup Cans is being shown until Sept. 19 at MOCA, located at 250 S. Grand Ave. in downtown. This is the first time the entire collection has been shown in L.A. since its original showing (at the Ferus Gallery, 49 years ago).

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: Andy Warhol Foundation/MOMA

Do It. Miranda July's 'Eleven Heavy Things.'

Have you gotten enough of Miranda July yet? The actress/artist/author/filmmaker has been all over L.A. recently, promoting her new film The Future, and it seems she hasn't quite tired of our city quite yet.

This weekend was the opening of her art installation Eleven Heavy Things. I remember hearing about this last year before heading to New York City, and being really bummed about missing it. But it's here now, and until October 23, at the MOCA Pacific Design Center. Just as you might expect from the July, the sculptural exhibit is cute and twee, but with a genuine sweetness. And you can't deny you'll have a lot of fun interacting with it. Check out pictures from the New York installation here.

Eleven Heavy Things is showing until Oct. 23rd at the MOCA Pacific Design Center, located at 8687 Melrose Ave. in West Hollywood.

-- Chau Tu

Do It. "Rodarte: States of Matter" at MOCA's Pacific Design Center.

If you caught the Oscars last weekend, you might have heard Best Actress winner Natalie Portman sneak in a thank you to Rodarte. Rodarte, consisting to the two sisters Laura and Kate Mulleavy, designed the gorgeous ballet costumes seen throughout Black Swan (and also Portman's mahogany dress for the night), and are widely considered a great new force in the fashion world. Their designs are often conceptual, sensual and just downright beautiful. It's no wonder that the art world would soon seek them out.

It seems MOCA has gotten to the two first. The museum's Pacific Design Center is presenting Rodarte: States of Matter beginning today, featuring Rodarte's artful works from past runway shows to Black Swan's memorable costumes. It'll be a fascinating sight for those interested in costume design, fashion, and just simple conceptual beauty as a whole.

The official public opening happens tonight at 7pm. You're sure to see some famous faces, especially among the art and fashion worlds (but also probably some film celebs too), and maybe the Rodarte sisters as well. Check out more info here.

Rodarte: States of Matter will be showing until June 5th at the Pacific Design Center, located at 8687 Melrose Ave. in West Hollywood.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: AP Photo/Chris Pizzello

Do It. MOCA's Counter Culture, Avant-Garde film fest.

Los Angeles is never short of entertainment options, much less available films -- both old and new -- to watch. But if you've already gone to popular Rocky Horror or The Room screenings, and all the Tarantino films over at the New Beverly, MOCA's Counter Culture film fest might be for you.

"Counter Culture, Counter Cinema: An Avant-Garde Film Festival" begins this Thursday at the MOCA Pacific Design Center. The two-day event will feature 40 various avant-garde films, by filmmakers like Jonas Mekas and Carolee Schneemann. Expect some really crazy antics, but also some surely creative ideas.

Festival passes are $40 and on sale until Thursday morning. Individual program tickets are $10 each.

The festival runs from Oct. 14-16 at the Pacific Design Center, located at 8687 Melrose Ave. in West Hollywood.

-- Chau Tu

Do It. MOCA's engagement party.

Tomorrow night, MOCA's Geffen location will be hosting an Engagement Party for its new exhibit ...AND NOW WE ALL DANCE! which is aimed at getting the audience to move either in a choreographed dance or freestyle. It will also have dance collaborations and video shorts, and sounds unlike anything MOCA has ever exhibited before.

The engagement party will include a dance by the exhibitor Ryan Heffington and a dance performed by the Sweaty Sunday Dancers.

MOCA's Geffen Contemporary is located at 152 North Central Avenue in downtown Los Angeles. The engagement party will take place from 7 -10 p.m.

-- Lauren Williams

Check It. MOCA Store.

How can I say a museum store has great gifts without sounding like a grandmother? Check out the MOCA Store and you'll see what I mean. This shop really gets it. An Elizabeth Peyton beach towel (pictured) featuring Sid Vicious? Check. Mini Robert Indiana "LOVE" statue? Check. A 10 oz. ceramic mug inspired by Pantone color charts, in Blue 286 C? Check.

From the reasonable (notebooks for $12) to the pricey (Comme des Garçons wallets for $200, and limited edition Murakami prints for $900), the MOCA Store has gifts for most occasions, especially if there's a contemporary art lover in your life.

MOCA Grand Avenue is located at 250 South Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles. Info: (213) 621-1710. The store is also online: http://mocastore.org.

If you make it downtown, be sure to stop by Lemonade at MOCA.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: Art Production Fund / MOCA

Check It. Dennis Hopper Double Standard at MOCA.

By his later years, Dennis Hopper was known most for his rogue acting roles in such films like Blue Velvet and Easy Rider, but behind the scenes he was actually a very important player in the art world scene. After gaining a bad reputation in the '60s among Hollywood studios and filmmakers for being difficult to work with, Hopper immersed himself in photography, painting and sculpture, and began collecting art as well. Most notably, he was an early proponent of Pop Art, and actually bought one of Andy Warhol's infamous Campbell's Soup Cans for the unimaginable price of $75.

His impact on pop culture undeniable, Hopper has made for a perfect debut subject for Jeffrey Deitch's inaugural exhibition as the new director of MOCA. Dennis Hopper Double Standard is curated by fellow artist Julian Schnabel and is the first comprehensive survey of Hopper's artistic works. The exhibition has gained a lot of attention in light of Hopper's recent passing and because of the Deitch expectations, but nevertheless is sure to follow through on simply being a great, memorably and not-to-be-missed art show.

Dennis Hopper Double Standard is set to open this Sunday at the Geffen Contemporary branch of MOCA (the one in Little Tokyo, at 152 N. Central Ave.). There will be a special tribute to Hopper on Saturday with a cash bar and DJ set by Eddie Ruscha (yes, the son of artist Ed Ruscha), and on the official opening day of the exhibit on Sunday, curator Schnabel himself will be on hand at 3 p.m. to discuss the exhibition. The show will run until Sept. 26.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: Dennis Hopper, Double Standard. 1961 gelatin silver print © Dennis Hopper, image courtesy of the artist and Tony Shafrazi Gallery, New York

Do It. Museums!

If you're in the lucky majority of those who get the next couple of days off for the holidays (i.e. students, people who wisely saved up vacation time, the unemployed, not me), it's excellent timing to take advantage of one of Los Angeles' greatest assets: its art. Plus, it's a great, non-super-touristy thing to take out-of-towners to do. Here's a round-up of what's currently going on at the city's big museums:

MOCA: Collection: MOCA's First Thirty Years
A year ago, MOCA was about to go under for lack of sufficient funding. Celebrate its perseverence with this retrospective exhibition, featuring the renowned museum's collection at its best, including special focuses on artists like iconic contemporarists Robert Rauschenberg and Mark Rothko. If anything, the museum needs and deserves your support!
250 S. Grand Ave. & 152 N. Central Ave., downtown; open this week Mon. 11-5 & Thurs. 11-3; $10

Hammer Museum: The Bible Illuminated: R. Crumb's Book of Genesis
And he's done it again. Seminal comic artist R. Crumb has been challenging and influencing the art world for decades with his strange, insane and stark images on society at large, and now he's up and illustrated the first book of the Old Testament, the Book of Genesis. Cain and Abel, Adam and Eve, The Creation...it's all there, now distinctly portrayed with the unforgettable R. Crumb touch.
10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood; open this week Tues.-Wed. 11-7 & Thurs. 11-3; $7

LACMA: Heroes & Villains: The Battle for Good in India's Comics
Gods as superheroes and demons as villains? It's nothing particularly new, but take it from an Indian perspective and drop them into modern society and you've got some interesting comics. This exhibit's got both Indian and American comics, vintage and modern, and include other Indian art from LACMA's collection.
5905 Wilshire Blvd., Miracle Mile; open this week Mon.-Tues. 12-8 & Thursday 12-5, $12

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: Hammer Museum