The Legendary LACMA Art + Architecture Tour

May 2011

I love art, design and style. One of my favorite places to explore and get inspired is at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). LACMA is the largest art museum in the western United States, with a collection extending from ancient times to the present. In addition to individual donors, LACMA has many fundraisers and events throughout the year to sustain art acquisition and sponsor exhibitions. One of their most notable fundraisers is the Art + Architecture (A + A) Tour, put on by the Art Museum Council (AMC), which is the oldest of LACMA’s support councils.  The A + A Tour is the largest fundraising event of the year and features four to five premiere homes from the Los Angeles area.  The well-known event began in 1953 and featured homes belonging to some of Hollywood’s most recognizable names, including Anne Baxter, Ira Gershwin, Sam Jaffe and Vincent Price. 

I’m honored that this year’s tour, the 55^th annual, features a home that I recently remodeled. The 1920’s adobe style hacienda in the Pacific Palisades was originally designed by famed architect John Byers. To assist with renovations, I teamed up with acclaimed interior designer, Sasha Emerson, and revered landscaper, Jay Griffith. The newly transformed home boasts an eclectic aesthetic and extraordinary contemporary photography collection. The combination of the home’s historic roots, thoughtful renovations and stellar art collection make it a perfect fit for the tour.

Other homes on this year’s tour include:

•     A true Paul Williams colonial juxtaposed against cutting-edge contemporary art

•     A prime example of California rustic contemporary architecture featuring collections of modern art, glass, sports memorabilia, and antiquities

•     A spectacular 1930s Mediterranean estate meticulously restored to its original grandeur

•     An original Cliff May-designed house restored and true to the style, highlighting a Japanese photography collection (bonus home for gold packages and above) 

To learn more about LACMA or the A + A Tour visit: http://www.lacma.org/. Tickets can be purchased online through Wednesday, April 27 and the day of at Paul Revere Middle School, the main shuttle sight for the tour.