5 design things to do this week

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This week, you can: learn about the architecture shaping our city today; party DTLA-style on a Los Angeles summer night; solve a murder at the Getty; discover art old and new at a street festival; view a photo-ceramic mash up, and hear Frances and friends talk about “Urban Hallucinations.”

Emerson College, designed by Morphosis Architects, 5960 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)

1) Building Beautifully in L.A.

Architectural style is one of the key defining elements of a city. This lecture series by A+D Museum honors and explores the themes driving some of the most innovative architects shaping Los Angeles today. This week, Thom Mayne, winner of the Pritzker Architecture Prize (2005), co-founder of SCI-Arc and co-founder and principal at Morpohosis in Santa Monica, will share his insights on designing beautiful buildings in Los Angeles.

When: Thursday, August 24, 8 pm, doors open at 7:30 pm

Where: A+D Museum, 900 E. 4th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Tickets: $5, Free for members. No RSVP required. More info here.

East Los Angeles based Chicano Rock band, Quetzal, will perform at the FIGat7th Downtown Festival. (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)

2) A Summer Night in 3 Parties

Pick a party, any party, and you’re bound to have a great Friday night.

~ FIGat7th Downtown Festival: Kick your weekend off with happy hour when the outdoor plaza transforms into an intimate concert venue, with DJ sets followed by featured band Quetzal.  4 – 11 pm.  More info here.

~ Music Center’s DJ Nights: Enjoy great music curated by The Gaslamp Killer and maybe even a little dancing under the stars in Grand Park. Bring a picnic or purchase food and drinks on site. No outside alcohol is permitted in the park.  7 – 11 pm. More info here.

~ Summer Nights in the Garden at the Natural History Museum: As late afternoon turns to evening which dims to night, enjoy this magical time in the gardens at the Natural History Museum, with DJ sets by KCRW’s Marion Hodges and Valida, a flea circus, balloon mapping and botanical tours. Sip garden-infused cocktails while checking out various science and nature experiences. 5 – 9 pm.  More info here.

When: Friday, August 25 (see specific times above)

Where:  FIGat7th, 735 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90017; Grand Park, 200 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012; Natural History Museum, 900 W Exposition Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90007

Look beneath the surface to find the clues and solve this art world murder mystery. (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)

3) Murder Mystery at the Getty 

Help!  The curator has been murdered and authorities need you and your friends to solve the mystery!  Follow a cryptic trail of clues hidden in artworks at the museum, and you will piece together a sordid tale of greed, lust, pride, revenge and treachery.  Crack the code to figure out whodunnit.  (Note: this is a very challenging hunt and 3 or more people per team is recommended.  If your group is fewer than 3 people, consider joining with other participants at the start to form a larger team.)

When: Saturday, August 26, 4:30 – 7 pm (arrive at least half an hour early to allow time for parking and taking the tram to the museum entrance.)

Where: The Getty Center, 200 Getty Center Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90049

Tickets: Watson Adventures Getty Scavenger Hunt $21.50.  More information and tickets here.

Discover something old at the Torrance Antique Street Faire, every 4th Sunday. (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)

4) Neighborhood Festivals and Fairs

In+ersection: A Pasadena Playhouse District Festival: This end-of-summer party brings together live music and art workshops for all ages.  Explore your creativity with chalk, murals, virtual reality, sculpture and more. Plus, take a walking and photography tour, indulge in food from regional favorites or shop for local handmade goods. More info here.

Torrance Antique Street Faire: On the 4th Sunday of every month, downtown Torrance transforms into a charming open-air flea market with over 200 vendors selling a variety of vintage treasures, including furniture, home decor, glassware, books, jewelry, clothes, vinyl, toys and more… all at bargain prices! There’s also an antique appraisal booth, live music, lots of great restaurants and bars.  More info here.

When: Pasadena: Saturday August 26, 4 – 10 pm; Torrance: Sunday, August 27, 8 am – 3 pm

Where: Pasadena: Colorado Blvd + El Molino Ave; Torrance: Downtown Torrance, Public parking structure, enter from Cabrillo, Bank of America parking lot on Post Ave.

Tickets: Free.

Street photography and classical forms find a rhythm in Peter Olson’s Photo Ceramica (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)

5 ) Peter Olson: Photo Ceramica

Like a mash up of Mozart and hip-hop, Pennsylvania-based artist Peter Olson has merged the ancient tradition of pottery as narrative with his love of panoramic street photography and spliced them with classical art references.  An accomplished photographer for over 35 years, Olson has traveled the world collecting his visual experiences, which he has collaged to create stories for his pieces.  When fired, the prints burn away leaving rusty red colored images from the iron oxide in the ink; and like the Grecian artifacts before them, they do not decompose.  Photo Ceramica is Olson’s first major exhibition.

When: Closing Sunday, August 27 (Museum open Wed – Sun, 12 – 5 pm)

Where: American Museum of Ceramic Art, 399 North Garey Avenue, Pomona, CA 91767

Tickets: General admission $7. More info here.

And DnA goes on the road with. . . Urban Hallucinations!

If you are in Santa Monica on Saturday, come join DnA’s Frances Anderton, Curbed LA’s Alissa Walker, and architects Pooja Bhagat and Julie Eizenberg for a conversation about Urban Hallucinations, the latest book by Koning Eizenberg Architecture, and “how architecture shapes community (and vice-versa).” The book launch, party and panel takes place at Pico Branch Library, starting at 11AM. Full details here.