February 7-13, 2008
By Alfred Lee
BOOZE BUILDINGS
It all began in 1985, when news broke that Austrian wineries were lacing their wines with antifreeze to sweeten a bad batch of grapes. But a disaster for the industry there turned out to be a boon for a new generation of Austrian vintners – and, curiously, architects as well, who had the freedom to reimagine and re-create an industry from the ground up.
“They didn’t have to conserve any clichés,” says Matias del Campo, the curator of The Austrian Winery Boom. The architectural exhibit opens this Friday at the Museum of Design, Art and Architecture, in partnership with the Austrian Consulate General in Los Angeles. “It was a good opportunity and they used it.”20 years ago, Del Campo says, customers descended to a vaulted, moldy cellar in the hillside and drove away in beat-up Beetles. Now they arrive in Porsches and expect to attend tastings in buildings as well-crafted as the wines themselves. The vaulted tasting room has become the vaunted tasting room: Exposed concrete, steel, and glass – the hallmarks of sleek, modern design – have replaced traditional brick.
“This is a unique environment,” he says of the Austrian phenomenon. “In most countries, it’s very conservative. If a winery decides to try something modern, they will [only] pick up really famous architects, like Frank Gehry.”
That environment has had obvious cross-cultural appeal in two crowds: Those interested in wine and those interested in architecture. Del Campo says he expects to see a third crowd – those interested in advanced digital design – at this upcoming exhibit, where part of the appeal is the presentation itself.
Del Campo’s architecture firm SPAN has used advanced digital tools to curate the exhibit, and attempted to make its presentation as modern as the buildings it showcases. SPAN has created 43 pods that snap together like clamshells; each pod will feature a winery with photographs, blueprints, a bottle of wine, and sometimes three-dimensional models. The pods are recyclable, easy to stack, easy to transport, easy to construct, and easy to take apart, which will make the journey from Austria to New York to Culver City to Napa Valley that much simpler.
Like the wineries on display, it’s the latest meeting place of those well-worn architectural principles: Form and function.–Emma Gallegos
The Austrian Winery Boom opening reception. Fri., 7-11 p.m. Free. MODAA Gallery, 8609 Washington Blvd., Culver City, (310) 558-0902. Modaagallery.com.
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THIS WEEK IN THE CITY
THURSDAY 7
REMEMBERING MOMDavid Rieff is a man in high demand – his whirlwind book tour has taken him to L.A.-area stops at Vroman’s, Dutton’s, and ALOUD, all last week alone. The nonfiction writer and policy analyst’s new book, Swimming in a Sea of Death, has resonated strongly with critics moved by an unflinching memoir recounting the passing of Rieff’s mother. The fact that Rieff’s mother happened to be intellectual giant Susan Sontag might have something to do with the fuss, too: Hear Rieff’s unique window into mortality, suffering, and family at Book Soup tonight. 7 p.m. Free. 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, (310) 659-3110. Booksoup.com.
FRIDAY 8
A DIRTY BUSINESSThe fact that author Stephen Elliott is reportedly a big fan of sadomasochism actually isn’t that hard to reconcile with his fascination with politics: Is there really such a difference between writing a book subtitled How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the American Electoral Process, and one called My Girlfriend Comes to the City and Beats Me Up? This time, Elliott is back combining his two favorite topics, with buddies Jerry Stahl, Eric Orner, and Keith Knight, as they read from Sex For America, an Elliott-edited anthology of politically-inspired erotica. 7:30 p.m. Free. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz, (323) 660-1175. Skylightbooks.com.
SATURDAY 9
TEARS FOR PEERSA silly but popular topic of worry seems to be how the age-old practice of painting fits, or doesn’t fit, into the ever-expanding modern art world. project: gallery, nestled in the still-humming Culver City Arts District, has been one of many locales around the city able to demonstrate the pulse of contemporary painting without much eyebrow-furrowing. Its latest offering, “Something to Cry For,” pairs the largest bodies of work to date of striking and Eastern-influenced local artists Tessar Lo and Chris Devera. Opening reception 7 p.m.-11 p.m. Free. project: gallery, 8545 Washington Blvd., Culver City, (310) 558-0200. Projectgalleryla.com.
SUNDAY 10
ANOTHER SIDEIf I’m Not There and the Dylan doc screenings at “Mods & Rockers” last year only whetted your appetite for a more thorough unpacking of Bob Zimmerman’s legacy, the Skirball Cultural Center is doing some heavy lifting for you with Bob Dylan’s American Journey, 1956-1966. The traveling exhibit opens this weekend (Friday, February 8) and showcases more than 160 artifacts, including Dylan’s handwritten drafts of songs and concert recordings and posters. It’ll also be complemented by a slew of special events: Today, photographers John Cohen and Daniel Kramer discuss “Dylan’s Image and Identity”; the two took iconic photos of the star during the ’60s. 2 p.m. $5. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., L.A., (310) 440-4500. Skirball.org.
MONDAY 11
GOING POPAfter being embraced by Angelenos with open arms – and wallets – MOCA’s commerce-friendly Takashi Murakami exhibit shuts its registers today for the final time. Safely the only MOCA show to ever simultaneously showcase Louis Vuitton, Kanye West, and a sexually-curious adolescent robot named Inochi, © MURAKAMI’s broad Warholian appeal ensures an entry point for almost any show-goer, while his energetic self-reinventions reward closer inspection. The man himself gives a closing art talk Sunday, February 10. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. $8; $5 students. The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, 152 N. Central Ave., L.A., (213) 626-6222. Moca.org.
TUESDAY 12
WANT TWOHow much beguilement can a town take? Rufus Wainwright spoils L.A. tonight with his fifth show here since last January. Now that he’s done channeling Judy Garland and performing holiday songs, he’ll hopefully be getting back to his own material (8 p.m.; $37.50-47.50; The Wiltern, 3790 Wilshire Blvd., L.A., 213-380-5005; Wiltern.com). Battling it out this week with Rufus for the concert-going priorities of many a gay man across the city will be Robyn. The Swedish pop star has enjoyed a critically-welcomed second wind since her Billboard-topping “Show Me Love” heyday in the late ’90s (Sat., doors at 8 p.m.; $15 advance; Troubadour, 9081 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, 310-276-6168; Troubadour.com).
WEDNESDAY 13
COMMUNITY CENTRALThe Pan African Film & Arts Festival, which starts this week on Thursday, February 7, is a lot more than a film fest with a few extra goodies thrown in. In addition to hosting over 100 film screenings, PAFF features a comedy night, fashion show, spoken-word fest, and a juried Art Mart. Today morning (10 a.m., to be exact) also marks one of the five days of StudentFest, which brings in over 15,000 area students and teachers for free issue-oriented screenings and discussions. Later on tonight is the centerpiece screening of Of Boys and Men, starring Angela Bassett. 6:50 p.m. AMC Magic Johnson Crenshaw 15, 4020 Marlton Ave., L.A. Info: (323) 295-1706 or Paff.org.
Published: 02/06/2008
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