Events for December 7, 2011
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The House that Sam Built: Sam Maloof and Art in the Pomona Valley, 1945–1985
Sept. 24, 2011–Jan. 30, 2012
Sam Maloof's iconic chairs, tables, and other creations are renowned for their elegant sculptural form and virtuosic craftsmanship. This exhibition showcases about 30 important Maloof pieces spanning more than three decades of his career in a display integrated with approximately 80 works by his colleagues who worked in other media.
Dec. 7 (Wednesday)
7:30 p.m. Free
From the late nineteenth century on, there has been a chorus of complaints about the decline of letter-writing as it lost out first to postcards and, finally, to e-mail. Peter Stallybrass, professor of English at the University of Pennsylvania and the R. Stanton Avery Distinguished Fellow, will suggest that for the great majority of correspondents from the 16th century onward, the art of letter-writing has been the art of writing as little as possible. Free. No reservations required. Friends’ Hall
Wed., Dec. 7, 1-3 p.m.
Mr. Qichao Liu on Dizi (flute) and Sheng
Enjoy the sounds of traditional Chinese music Wednesdays from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Chinese Garden. A different solo musician will perform each week inside the Love for the Lotus Pavilion, playing unamplified melodies on classical instruments including the dizi, sheng, pipa, erhu, and zheng. Let the music transport you to another time and place as you stroll through one of the most magical landscapes in Southern California.
Blue Sky Metropolis
Oct. 8, 2011–Jan. 9, 2012
Blue Sky Metropolis traces the history of local aviation from the early days of barnstorming pilots through the Cold War space race and beyond. In the process, it documents the extraordinary metamorphosis of Southern California itself, transformed from a land of orange groves into a high-tech region.
Dec. 7 (Wednesday)
1:30–2 p.m. and 2:30–3 p.m.
Dressed in elaborate period costumes, the a cappella group Vox Feminae will perform medieval and Renaissance works in an informal concert in the grand hallway of the Huntington Art Gallery. The program will include Gregorian chant, rarely heard medieval carols, Renaissance motets, and traditional carols from these periods. Included with general admission.
Dreams, Disasters, and Reality: Goya’s Prints from The Huntington’s Collections
Oct. 1, 2011–Jan. 9, 2012
Praised as one of the first “modern” artists, Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (1746–1828) addressed issues of contemporary political and social reality in his work. His forceful etchings exposed the systems of power that ruled 18th-century Spain: a corrupt and despotic monarchy, the injustices of war and occupation by Napoleon’s France, the terrors of the Inquisition. “Dreams, Disasters, and Reality” presents about 10 works from all of Goya’s major etching series, including Los Caprichos and Los Desastres de Guerra.
Ancient Chinese Bronze Mirrors from the Lloyd Cotsen Collection
Nov. 12, 2011–May 14, 2012
An important collection of ancient Chinese bronze mirrors spanning 3,000 years makes its first public appearance in an exhibition highlighting some 80 highly decorative pieces ranging in date from the Qijia Culture (2100–1700 B.C.) of pre- and early Chinese history, the Warring States period (450-221B.C.), and the Han (206 B.C.-220 A.D), Tang (618–906 A.D.), and Jin (1115-1234 A.D.) dynasties.
Dec. 7 (Wednesday)
3–3:45 p.m.
3, 2, 1, blast off! Young imaginations will soar as children explore the world of airplanes, space shuttles, the moon, and stars through crafts and fun activities with instructor Laura Moede. Ages 5–6. Fee includes one accompanying adult. Members: $10. Non-Members: $15. Registration: 626-405-2128.