Art Spiegelman, Janinah Burnett and more: L.A. arts and culture this weekend
'Art Spiegelman is one of the most important cartoonists in the world working today. He tackled a subject that was enormous, and he established the medium as a serious literary form.'
That's what Joe Sacco says of his fellow cartoonist in 'Art Spiegelman: Disaster Is My Muse,' a new documentary that explores the career and legacy of the artist, editor and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the acclaimed graphic novel 'Maus.'
The 'American Masters' title, which won the Metropolis Grand Jury Prize at the DOC NYC Festival in November, features archival footage and stills, illustrations and new interviews with Spiegelman, as well as insights from his family and contemporaries, including cartoonists Robert Crumb, Emil Ferris, Jerry Craft and Bill Griffith, writer-artist Molly Crabapple and author J. Hoberman.
A portion of the film sees Spiegelman deconstructing 'Maus' — which was based on his father's experiences as a Jewish immigrant and Holocaust survivor, as well as his own struggle to visualize it as an artist — and discussing its creation and impact alongside his wife, designer Françoise Mouly. Other sections recap his chapter as co-editor of comic magazines Arcade and Raw and revisit his most notable New Yorker covers.
The film premiered earlier this week on PBS and is streaming online and available via the PBS app through May 14. It is a galvanizing watch about the power of art as a medium for processing humanity's most horrific events , and the lasting influence such brave creations will have for generations to come. I'm Ashley Lee, here with my fellow Times staff writer Jessica Gelt with more things to do and news to peruse.
'What They Saw: Historical Photobooks by Women, 1843–1999'The Getty Center's interactive pop-up reading room highlights more than 100 photobooks and encourages visitors to hold the books, read and flip through pages. The exhibition includes a selection of contemporary photobooks by female Southern California photographers, including Catherine Opie, Uta Barth, Jo Ann Callis, Elena Dorfman, Rose-Lynn Fisher, Judy Fiskin and Soo Kim. It is on view through May 11; the Getty's Central Garden will feature poetry inspired by the exhibition from Camae Ayewa (April 23) and Solange Aguilar (April 30). Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Drive, Brentwood. getty.edu
'The Totality of All Things'Erik Gernand's play, which debuted in Chicago last year, explores the country's growing divide through the lens of a hate crime at a small-town Indiana high school. The Road Theatre Company production is part of Reflections on Art and Democracy, a citywide celebration of plays, salons, lectures, and concerts that raise awareness about the rise of fascism and antisemitism, as well as the power of art and design to resist them. Directed by Taylor Nichols, this West Coast premiere runs through May 25; Saturday's performance includes a talkback with the playwright. Road Theatre,10747 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood. roadtheatre.org
Janinah BurnettBoston Court Pasadena continues its Just Jazz Foundation Series with this one-night-only concert, featuring songs from the artist's debut album, 'Love the Color of Your Butterfly,' as well as hidden gems from various eras of American musical history. Of course, this set list will be delivered with 'clazz' — her signature combination of numerous genres of music, including classical and jazz. Saturday, 8 p.m. Boston Court Pasadena, 70 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena. bostoncourtpasadena.org
— Ashley Lee
FRIDAY🎸 AC/DC at the Rose Bowl The stalwart Australian rockers electrify the Arroyo Seco with their Power Up tour and opening act the Pretty Reckless.7 p.m. Rose Bowl, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena. rosebowlstadium.com
📖 🎭 Dark Library: Paris 1925 Visit Gertude Stein's apartment and mingle with such notable expats as Ernest Hemingway, Josephine Baker, F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife, Zelda, via this intersection of multisensory mediums, including cocktails, dance and movement, and experiential design.7 and 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday, through April 26. New Musicals Inc., 5628 Vineland Ave., North Hollywood. eventbrite.com
🎸 Graham Nash The singer-songwriter with the light tenor voice performs 'More Evenings of Songs & Stories 2025,' including his solo work and as a member of the Hollies and Crosby, Stills & Nash (and sometimes Young).8 p.m. Carpenter Performing Arts Center, 6200 E. Atherton St., Long Beach. carpenterarts.org
🎵 🎭 Shrek the Musical Jr. A benefit performance by middle school students with all donations going to help rebuild the Altadena Arts Magnet and Eliot Arts Magnet arts programs, which were severely affected by the Eaton fire. Admission is free but reservations are required.7 p.m. Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. centertheatregroup.org
SATURDAY🎤 Krush Groove Festival The Game, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Redman and Method Man are among the performers at the annual hip-hop festival presented by 93.5 KDAY.Kia Forum, 3900 W Manchester Blvd., Inglewood. 935kday.com
SUNDAY📖 An Evening With Mark Hoppus The Blink-182 singer discusses his new memoir, 'Fahrenheit-182.'4 p.m. The Wiltern, 3790 Wilshire Blvd. wiltern.com
🎭 God's Favorite James Rice directs Neil Simon's 1974 comedy, loosely based on the biblical book of Job.Through May 3. Long Beach Playhouse Theatres, 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach. lbplayhouse.org
🎞️ Something Mysterious: The Art of Philip Seymour Hoffman The Academy Museum's tribute series to the late Oscar-winning actor continues this week with 'Magnolia' (1999, 7:30 p.m. Sunday) and 'The Savages' (2007, 7:30 p.m. Monday).Series continues through May 29. Academy Museum, 6067 Wilshire Blvd. academymuseum.org
An art project called 'The Goodbye Line' has been gaining steam — and users — in Southern California. Created by Adam Trunell and partner Alexis Wood, the interactive project consists of stickers placed on working payphones around the city, inviting passersby to call a free recorded line in order to say goodbye to something or someone. Trunell and Wood are posting these recordings online. The results are wildly varied, but almost always poignant.
Beloved Devo frontman and all-around uber creator Mark Mothersbaugh has finally opened his MutMuz Gallery to the public. For years Mothersbaugh had used the space on Chung King Road in Chinatown, but he never invited guests inside. First up: his debut solo show of paintings and screenprints, 'Why Are We Here? No. 01.'
'Regency Girls,' a new musical comedy set in the era of Jane Austen, is making its pre-Broadway debut at the Old Globe in San Diego. Penned by TV writers Jennifer Crittenden and Gabrielle Allan, and directed and choreographed by Josh Rhodes, the show is 'both genuinely funny and unabashedly silly,' writes Times theater critic Charles McNulty. Fans of 'Pride and Prejudice' will likely savor the nonstop action, he speculates.
Heidi Zuckerman will step down from her role as CEO and director of the Orange County Museum of Art in December, the museum announced this week. Zuckerman has overseen an extraordinary period of growth during her tenure, including the 2022 grand opening of the museum's new Thom Mayne, Morphosis Architects-designed home. Zuckerman is OCMA's 13th director since its 1962 founding and will help the executive committee search for a successor. The museum noted that in the two years since opening its new building, more than 500,000 visitors have stepped through its doors — a number 12 times greater than attendance in the old location.
OCMA is not the only regional museum announcing a change in leadership. Adam Lerner, the executive director and CEO of Palm Springs Art Museum, announced this week that he decided not to renew his contract after four years at the helm of the institution. 'The museum is now stronger, more inclusive, and more engaged than ever — and I'm especially proud of the outstanding executive team we've built to carry that momentum forward,' Lerner wrote in a message about his decision to museum members.
The 100th class of Guggenheim Fellows was announced this week and 16 L.A.-area honorees are among the 198 artists, scientists and more — across 53 disciplines — selected for the program. Writer-director-actor Miranda July is among the 2025 fellows, as is playwright Larissa Fasthorse, who is receiving funding in a new category for Indigenous Studies. 'At a time when intellectual life is under attack, the Guggenheim Fellowship celebrates a century of support for the lives and work of visionary scientists, scholars, writers, and artists,' Edward Hirsch, poet and president of the Guggenheim Foundation, said in a news release. 'We believe that these creative thinkers can take on the challenges we all face today and guide our society towards a better and more hopeful future.' The additional L.A.-area residents selected are Coleman Collins, UC Irvine, fine arts; Kyungmi Shin, fine arts; Raven Jackson, film/video; Mona Jarrahi, UCLA, engineering; Suk-Young Kim, UCLA, theater arts; Jingyi Jessica Li, UCLA, data science; Park Williams, UCLA, earth science; Mungo Thomson, film/video; Carolina Lithgow-Bertelloni, UCLA, earth science; Julie Tolentino, CalArts, fine arts; Carolyn Castaño, fine arts; Lauren Bon, Metabolic Studio, fine arts; Kerry Howley, general nonfiction; Emily Barker, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, fine arts.
— Jessica Gelt
Introducing Jesse Eisenberg — composer, lyricist and movie-musical director.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Tom's Guide
4 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
I finally binged 'The Bear' to catch up before season 4 — and it's transformed how I watch TV
In the fast-paced world of streaming, the newest releases tend to steal the spotlight. The best streaming services like Max, Netflix, and Disney Plus constantly push their latest shows and movies to the forefront. But that makes it hard to catch up on all the must-watch TV shows if you're not much of a binge-watcher (guilty) or tend to be skeptical of anything that's universally hyped (also guilty). The latter may sound overly cynical (eh, I can be guilty of that too), but you have to understand that, out here near Chicago, people adore "The Bear." They will not shut up about it. The onslaught of "The Bear" recommendations began with literally the first episode, which includes a one-line shoutout about Rockford, where I'm based, that was the talk of the town for weeks. I wish I was exaggerating. Tired of hearing about how much I just have to watch "The Bear," I finally sat down at the start of the month to check out Hulu's Emmy-winning comedy-drama series. With "The Bear" season 4 premiering on June 25, I doubted I'd be able to catch up in time. And I was wrong. Turns out, binge-watching is for me after all — and my sleep schedule already hates me for it. I severely underestimated how bingeable "The Bear" would be. The hype was all well-deserved. Pretty much from the first episode, I was glued to my couch, devouring all three seasons in just a few short weeks. I can already feel you seasoned binge-watchers shaking your heads — that must be a snail's pace by comparison — but like I said, I don't tend to binge-watch shows. Every once in a while, one like "Yellowjackets" gets its hooks into me, but I thought it was the exception rather than the rule. After two or three episodes, my attention span tends to be on its dying legs; meanwhile, my actual legs are itching to get up and do something else after sitting for so long. I prefer savoring series, taking regular breaks to reflect on what happened, sit with the characters' choices for a bit, and appreciate the pacing or overarching themes. Even the juiciest of cliffhangers are rarely enough to convince me to hit "next episode" once I'm tired of watching TV for the day. But "The Bear" has made a binge-watcher out of me yet. While I considered pacing myself, "The Bear" felt almost tailor-made for a binge. Between the short episode lengths (a bite-sized 30 minutes) and the way each installment plays out like a self-contained stage play, I found myself only hungry for more by the time the credits rolled. Set in Chicago, "The Bear" tells the story of fine-dining chef Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) who returns home to rescue his late brother's floundering restaurant — and it's nothing short of remarkable. The dizzying highs and crushing lows as Carmy whips The Beef into the restaurant he and his brother always dreamed of having are captivating to watch unfold. Part of that secret sauce is how each episode adds new ingredients to play with. Flashbacks that illuminate each character's motivations and struggles. Explosive fights (and there are a lot of those) that reveal more than the characters mean to. Or small moments that add up to heart-wrenching realizations several episodes — or even seasons — later. With its raw, chaotic portrayal of family dynamics and mouth-watering food, I'm not surprised "The Bear's" achieved such cult status. The constant simmer of conflict threatened to burn me out at times, but then a quieter, more reflective episode would reset my palette. I particularly enjoyed season 3's debut episode, "Tomorrow," which completely upended my understanding of who Carmy is with a series of contemplative, devastating flashbacks of his career. I adore it anytime a show makes me fall in love with a character I initially despised, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach's Cousin Richie is one for the history books. He goes from a complete asshole to an asshole worth cheering for. Beneath the bravado and outbursts, he's grieving, insecure, and trying (however messily) to find his place in a world that's evolving without him. One of my favorite moments in the show so far was seeing him belt out Taylor Swift's "Love Story" in the car after coming into his own in season 2. While there's truly no universal rule for how to watch TV shows, "The Bear" has made me reconsider my stance on binge-watching. As much as I prefer giving stories space to breathe between episodes, I can't deny that "The Bear" was improved by devouring its twists and turns in an insatiable marathon. Binge-watching still isn't my default, but for the right show, it can be the ideal way to experience things.
Forbes
8 hours ago
- Forbes
‘Irem Collection Vol. 3' Review: Totally Worth It For ‘Mr. Heli'
'Mr. Heli' is a classic shmup that has been unavailable to play for a long time. Having reviewed the first and second Irem Collection releases, the third is now here, and it finally includes the much-loved Mr. Heli. Following the previous releases, this new collection contains Mr. Heli, Mystic Riders, and the weirdly compelling Dragon Breed. Starting with Mystic Riders, this is a fairly straightforward side-scrolling shmup where you ride around on a broom, firing magic and using the broom for other attacks. It was a decent shmup for its time and a lot more colorful and even cheerful compared to other Irem releases from the period. As for Dragon Breed, it has a similar element to X Multiply's tentacles that can shield the player. In this instance, it's the dragon Bahamoot that can be used to coil around its rider, Kayus, to protect him from attacks. 'Mystic Riders' is a bright and colorful, magically themed shmup. FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder Dragon Breed also has a similar art style to X-Multiply and definitely stands out as one of the more fantastical-looking Irem shmups. Then there is the beloved Mr. Heli. It's been a long time since we've had a home version of this arcade classic. I think the last time we saw Mr. Heli in any kind of Irem-related collection was back in 2011 for the Irem Arcade Hits release from DotEmu. In any case, its premise is fascinating, as Mr. Heli has you somewhat explore levels and mine for jewels that then unlock upgrades for your weapons. The pacing and feel of the game is unlike most common shmups and feels more exploratory in nature. The game starts off suitably cheerful, but gets more involved and bleaker later on. The art style is still very vibrant, and the gameplay is really unlike anything else. While many, myself included, rate the 1987 release of the original R-Type as being a definitive and excellent shmup, I feel that Mr. Heli, also released in the same year, often gets overlooked despite its inherent excellence. 'Dragon Breed' shares elements with 'X Multiply', as the titular dragon can shield its rider. Mr. Heli is also a really big game. Stages are split into sections with mini bosses and tunnelling levels with some quite tricky enemies. Each stage is also wildly different from the last and do become insanely challenging later on. To be honest, this collection is worth getting purely for Mr. Heli alone. It's an amazing and unique shmup and one that hasn't been readily available for over a decade. The other bonus is that this collection also includes the PC Engine version of Mr. Heli, which is not only a more humane game in terms of difficulty but is also a very good port. Much like the original PC Engine version of R-Type, it seems that this era of Irem's games lent itself very well to the PC Engine system. As for the other goodies in this collection, each game has a handy rewind function, as well as cheats and all manner of screen filters. Overall, this is yet another great Irem Collection, and much like the first and second releases, this third instalment is excellent. However, its star attraction is the adorable Mr. Heli, which is still just as fun to play as when I played it in the arcades as a kid. Irem Collection Vol. 3 Platform: Nintendo Switch (Reviewed), PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S Developer: ININ Games Publisher: ININ Games Released: 1st July 2025 Price: $24.99 Score: 8/10 Disclosure: ININ Games sent me a copy of this game for the purposes of this review. Follow me on X, Facebook and YouTube. I also manage Mecha Damashii and am currently featured in the Giant Robots exhibition currently touring Japan.
CBS News
11 hours ago
- CBS News
Colorado arcade bus owner honors heroic good Samaritan Johnny Hurley
A Colorado man is hitting the road and bringing classic arcade games to you. It's an achievement that began as an aspiration between two friends. Despite the death of one of them, the other has followed through with their goal to share beloved games with others who also cherish them. Boss Battle Bus CBS Owning and operating the "Boss Battle" arcade bus has been a dream come true for Devin McKenna, a self-proclaimed "arcader" and entertainer. "It's a love letter to the '80s," McKenna told CBS Colorado. "There is nothing else out there like it." The bus, formerly a Denver International Airport shuttle bus, is filled with retro nostalgia, and it's equipped with over 12,000 games. It has everything from Pac-Man, NBA Jam to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. With the ability to host more than two dozen players at once. Meaning when it's full, there are dozens of smiling faces. "There is nothing better in the world," McKenna said. "I could literally live in that moment forever." The bus also carries with it an homage to one of its original creators -- Johnny Hurley. McKenna made the connection while on a test drive before he purchased it a year ago. "I look down, and there's stickers of Johnny from his memorial, and I will go, 'Wait. Is that John Hurley?" McKenna explained. "He's like, 'Yes. That was my best friend, and that's who built the bus with me.'" Johnny Hurley was shot and killed on June 21, 2021 after he stopped an active shooter who had killed Arvada Police Officer Gordon Beesly. Hurley was then shot by an officer who mistook him for the suspect. McKenna wanted to make sure Hurley would have a lasting legacy beyond the heroics that led to his death. "We rebranded it to be called the "Boss Battle Bus" with the tagline, "Beat the boss, whatever the cost," because that's what Hurley did. He beat the bad guy," McKenna said. "He gave everything, and it was to have this kind of community involvement that there is. He was trying to build what we're building now, and it is the greatest honor to be able to carry that on." McKenna joined forces with a party rental company to create Epic Party Rentals, which offers the arcade bus for rent and a plethora of other games. The bus brings joy to people's lives. That's McKenna's full-time mission now, and he feels reassurance from someone he lost as well. "My wife passed three months after Johnny, so I just know it was up there, them going, 'OK, you're supposed to do this, kid,'" McKenna said. "It was what I wanted to do my whole life -- bring fun and bring joy to this darkening world."
