16 high-intensity lasers, 800 pounds of blood-red yarn: The Hammer goes big in new immersive spaces
The exterior of the Hammer Museum is ensconced in silvery sheets of rain and heavy fog today. But inside, the atmosphere is even more dramatic.
The unusual environments in the lobby and bank gallery are large-scale, immersive installations by Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota and Rita McBride, respectively. The Hammer is unveiling the final phase of its two decade, $90-million expansion and renovations project, designed by Michael Maltzan Architecture, this week. In addition to a new sculpture terrace, featuring a monumental piece by Sanford Biggers, the project includes a brand new lobby and entrance on the corner of Wilshire and Westwood boulevards and a massive gallery for large-scale works and performances, among other uses, in the former City National Bank space next door.
It’s a critical juncture for the museum, and Shiota and McBride are the perfect artists to create the inaugural works for the new spaces that house them, says Hammer curator Erin Christovale.
This post is an excerpt. Read the full article on the LA Times website.
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