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. 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