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LACMA is previewing new $720-million galleries designed to break the mold of the traditional art museum. Instead of white walls, there's exposed concrete, and instead of little, if any natural light, there's floor to ceiling windows.
LACMA is the largest museum in the western U.S., organizes groundbreaking art exhibits, and welcomes many L.A.-area school children through their education programs.LACMA’s David Geffen galleries are open to members only from April 19 to May 3, then to the general public after that. After about two decades of planning, six years of construction and a cost of $720 million, L.A. County Museum of Art officials gave a preview of the new David Geffen museum galleries on Wednesday. “This museum is very experimental,” said Michael Govan, LACMA’s CEO. “It's very new, it's very fresh. It's a new way to think about our history and being more accessible at the same time that I think it's more meditative." Gone is LACMA’s 1965 iconic, boxy gallery building, replaced by an exposed concrete and glass structure distinguished by a soft, curved profile. “You can stand in the building and know where you are, not in a box… you are here in the city, you can look around the perimeter and know exactly where you are,” said Diana Magaloni, LACMA’s senior deputy director overseeing conservation, curatorial and exhibitions. LACMA's new David Geffen galleries have floor to ceiling windows and are more open than traditional museum art galleries.The feeling of knowing where you are is due largely to the acres of open space and plazas next to the building and ground level, as well as the floor to ceiling windows in the galleries’ second level that allow you to see L.A.’s mountains and urban skylines. LACMA officials say the design by renowned minimalist Swiss architect Peter Zumthor will better serve the public’s interaction with its massive art collection that spans 6,000 years and cultures from around the globe. The collection includes Southeast Asian sculptures, paintings by Diego Rivera, as well as contemporary art by Southern California artists.“One of the nice things about this building is there are many new works of art and then there are old friends,” said Stephanie Barron, head of modern art at LACMA, as she stood next to a 12-foot-tall by 18-foot-wide piece by Henri Matisse. The 2,000-pound work features multicolored leaves made of ceramic. It’s well known to LACMA’s visitors because it hung for years near the old gallery’s entrance. Now, the work faces northwest toward the Hollywood Hills and the Pacific Ocean. LACMA opens its new David Geffen galleries to members on April 19 and to the general public on May 4.Success, Govan said, will be measured by visitors’ reactions to seeing art in this new setting, as well as what the setting does to people visiting by themselves or with groups of people. “The way this building works, the way you can wander through galleries, the way the light works, the way it brings collections and thinking together, the way we’re collaborating” centers human interactions, Govan said. “It’s a launch pad, not an end point.” LACMA’s David Geffen galleries are open to members from Sunday April 19 to Sunday May 3, then to the general public after that.Big Bear third graders will make the final call on the chicks' names. But they'll use a computer-generated list of finalists from the naming contest to vote on the winners.of Jackie and Shadow's nest. One entry is $5. Three entries will cost $10. And 10 entries will set you back $25. Names also have to be gender neutral because it's not known yet whether the chicks are male or female. And this probably goes without saying, but any inappropriate, explicit or derogatory names will automatically be disqualified.The Los Angeles County district attorney and Sheriff's Department say they have opened investigations into former Rep. Eric Swalwell over allegations he sexually assaulted a woman in West Hollywood.Lonna Drewes, a former model who works in fashion technology, alleged at a news conference Tuesday that Swalwell offered her connections and drugged, choked and raped her in July 2018. Drewes’ attorney, Lisa Bloom, said Tuesday that they would also be filing a report with the Sheriff’s Department, which patrols West Hollywood.Swalwell, a Democrat who represented a Bay Area district, has forcefully denied any allegations of sexual misconduct or assault. He resigned from Congress Monday and dropped out of the race for California governor a day earlier after a series of women came forward with sexual assault or sexual misconduct allegations. He had been a frontrunner in the race. His attorney has said the former Congress member"categorically and unequivocally denies each and every allegation of sexual misconduct and assault that has been leveled against him."Nathan Hochman, the county district attorney, issued a statement saying the office’s Sex Crime Division was working with law enforcement to look into the matter. “When and if a case is presented, seasoned prosecutors will review the facts and evidence to determine whether there is sufficient evidence for charges to be filed,” Hochman said. “When a filing decision is made, we will ensure the public is made aware.”The Sheriff’s Department said its Special Victims Bureau is investigating the case and is"in the process of gathering information, reviewing available evidence, and conducting follow up inquiries as part of a comprehensive investigative process."The district attorney of Manhattan also has opened a criminal investigation into Swalwell over allegations he sexually assaulted a woman in New York in 2024.If you're enjoying this article, you'll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report. Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less.On Wednesday, a federal jury in Manhattan found that Live Nation and its subsidiary, Ticketmaster, operated as a monopoly that harmed consumers and overcharged ticket buyers. The decision came after four days of deliberations.The decision is a victory for 33 states, including California and the District of Columbia, which accused Live Nation of unfairly controlling too many aspects of the live entertainment industry at the expense of venues, artists and fans after the company settled an earlier antitrust suit with the U.S. Department of Justice. The verdict has the potential to reshape the live music industry in the United States. Live Nation owns, manages or works with hundreds of venues across the United States.The verdict could cost Live Nation and Ticketmaster hundreds of millions of dollars. After the jury reached a decision, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian ordered both parties to meet with each other and"the United States" to propose a schedule for the next steps,On Wednesday, a federal jury in Manhattan found that Live Nation and its subsidiary, Ticketmaster, operated as a monopoly that harmed consumers and overcharged ticket buyers. The decision came after four days of deliberations. The decision is a victory for 33 states and the District of Columbia, which accused Live Nation of unfairly controlling too many aspects of the live entertainment industry at the expense of venues, artists and fans after the company settled an earlier antitrust suit with the U.S. Department of Justice. The verdict has the potential toNew York was among the states that participated in the lawsuit. Following the verdict, New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a statement. "For far too long, Live Nation and Ticketmaster have taken advantage of fans and artists by raising prices for tickets and stifling any competition that threatened their power," the statement reads."A jury found what we have long known to be true: Live Nation and Ticketmaster are breaking the law and costing consumers millions of dollars in the process." Live Nation has not responded to NPR's request for comment on the verdict. In past statements to NPR, the company has denied the claim that it operates a monopoly, stating that there's more competition in the marketplace than ever. Live Nation owns, manages or works with hundreds of venues across the United States. In 2024, the Justice Department, under the Biden administration, filed a lawsuit accusing Live Nation of unfairly wielding its power over concert promotion, artist management, venue operations and ticketing services to shut out competition in the industry. The DOJ contended that Ticketmaster controlled around 80% of concert ticketing in the primary marketplace, plus a growing share of the resale market. The District of Columbia and 39 states joined the government's case.One week after the trial began in early March of this year, the Justice Department and several states reached a $280 millionwith Live Nation. The company agreed to cap service fees at certain amphitheatres and allow some concert venues greater flexibility over the promoters and ticket distributors with whom they choose to do business. Stephen Parker is head of the National Independent Venue Association, a member-based trade association advocating on behalf of live music venues. After news of the settlement, he told NPR that it was"not significant enough to call a slap on the wrist."After the Justice Department settled its case, 33 states and the District of Columbia decided to move forward with the trial. Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino, who spent hours on the witness stand,that his company engages in anticompetitive practices. In an email, University of Notre Dame law professor Roger Alford commended the states for seeing the antitrust trial through. "This was a massive win for the state AGs and an historic miss for the DOJ," Alford wrote."The DOJ had the talent, the material, and the audience. It just lacked leadership with the courage to step on stage." After the jury reached a decision, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian ordered both parties to meet with each other and"the United States" to propose a schedule for the next steps,covers Orange County and its 34 cities, watching those long meetings — boards, councils and more — so you don’t have to.As a sanctuary in Riverside County closes down, nearly 500 ducks are now in the possession of the Riverside County Department of Animal Services, setting off a mass adoption effort that started Wednesday.Howard Berkowitz, founder and CEO of the Duck Sanctuary in Anza, was a hometown hero. He was the person called whenafter Easter festivities died down. But now he says he's been turned on. The Riverside County Department of Animal Services announced Tuesday that Berkowitz surrendered 480 ducks because of “overcrowding at the property,” setting off a mass adoption effort that started Wednesday.Berkowitz said he has taken care of hundreds of ducks, sometimes at his own expense, and still has around 500 ducks at the sanctuary. But the mental health problems caused by the accusations are prompting him to shut down the sanctuary and move to Northern California, taking many of his beloved ducks with him.The county is putting the ducks in their possession up for adoption. To adopt, email shelterinfo@rivco.org, or visit the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus. Ducks will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. The county is also waiving adoption fees.Howard Berkowitz, founder and CEO of the Duck Sanctuary in Anza, was a hometown hero. He was the person called when Now, the Riverside County Department of Animal Services says Berkowitz surrendered 480 ducks because of “overcrowding at the property,” setting off a mass adoption effort that started Wednesday. In an interview with LAist on Wednesday, Berkowitz said his problems started after he received an unexpected call in 2024. It was from a supplier of the Filipino delicacy balut and her duck eggs were about to hatch. He rushed over and saved around 120 hatchlings. A social media page then began accusing him of mistreating the fowl and mismanaging donations. Berkowitz said he has taken care of hundreds of ducks, sometimes at his own expense, and still has around 500 ducks at the sanctuary. But the mental health problems caused by the accusations are prompting him to shut down the sanctuary and move to Northern California, taking many beloved ducks with him. Because he won’t be able to take them all, he said he called the county for help. But the Riverside County Department of Animal Services said officials had to remove the animals because of “improper” breeding and care.But, the county added, the California Department of Food and Agriculture tested a sample of the fowl for infectious diseases and the results came back negative. Berkowitz said he'll transport around 500 ducks with him to Northern California, where he’s in the process of buying a 160-acre property.The county now is putting the ducks in their possession up for adoption. To adopt, email shelterinfo@rivco.org or visit the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus. Ducks will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. The county also is waiving adoption fees.
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