May 2026

                    

38 years ago (almost to the month), I packed a big suitcase and hopped on a one way flight to Los Angeles. I’d never been to LA before and I didn’t have a job, but I was soooo excited. I lived on Gulana Avenue in Playa del Rey with two guys, classmates from the USC (South Carolina) and we all worked in the entertainment business. I worked at Scotti Brothers at 2114 Pico Boulevard in Santa Monica, and the first time Lorenzo Lamas called the receptionist desk, I nearly passed out - you remember Falcon Crest, don’t you? Despite having my car stolen by The Crips, it was a great experience, but I knew I wasn’t cut out for LA.

We just got back from a nice long weekend in LA and, of course, it felt different this time. I told Scott that I think if you move to LA in search of something, trying to make a name for yourself or catch a big break in entertainment, the town can eat you alive. But being there just to enjoy the city, the beaches, the weather, art and music is completely different. It’s fun, really, really fun. 

As always, it was an art packed adventure. We checked into our hotel in West Hollywood then went straight over to LACMA to see the new 724 million dollar renovation of the Geffen Galleries that just opened to the public a few weeks ago. The campus is split into 3 sections and each offers a different slice of art history. The Broad Contemporary building was filled with Egon Schiele, Picasso and the Abstract Expressionists. The Reznik Pavillion had Asian art and Impressionistic works and the Geffen Galleries was a mix of everything. 

Lee Krasner is a bad ass

Egon Schiele (you already know)

Matisse sculptures

Rene Magritte

A spectacular William Wendt

Chaim Soutine self portrait

Oskar Kokoschka (OK!)

Geffen Galleries

A Francis Bacon triptych (!!!)

Frans Hals

One of the things I love about the Geffen remodel is the incredible architecture, the way the museum flows, curves and winds around soft bends, unbelievable views around every corner. We could see the La Brea tar pits from above and street long views of Wilshire Boulevard. If you’ve heard about the renovation, you’ve probably heard mixed reviews because this doesn’t look like a “typical” whitewashed museum. It’s different and that always throws people for a loop. I’m happy to go on record as a fan. Move my cheese any day.

That night we went to Koreatown for dinner at Lapaba. SO good! I’m a fan of trying new things, different cuisines, different parts of the city. 

On Day 2 we headed to The Hammer Museum on the edge of UCLA’s campus. Small, but very cool museum with high quality Rembrandts, Sargent’s Dr Pozzi, and a few Van Goghs. We had lunch at Alice Waters’ restaurant, LuLu, which was outstanding. She only uses the freshest, seasonal ingredients and it was excellent.

Afterwards we Uber-ed over to The Getty. This is another massive campus with multiple buildings and birds eye views of the city. Breathtaking, honestly. And it’s free. A lot of people go and just hang out in the public spaces because it’s so beautiful. We thought the highlights were the Sorolla pieces: 3 landscapes and one huge portrait. 

Views from The Getty

Everybody loves Van Gogh …well, almost everybody ;)

Sorolla

The Broad was up next! I hoped to see some John Currin paintings, but once again, they were not on view. There is an expansion coming to The Broad and I’m hoping that will pave the way for some Hot Pants in the future. The Basquiats were up, tho! And as much as I despise Jeff Koons, I have to confess that I LOVE Michael Jackson and Bubbles. 

Afterwards, we walked over to the MOCA, which is also a free museum. I liked the first few rooms, but then things got weird (installation art) and that’s when I sorta checked out. 

We had lunch at the world famous Egg Slut, a few blocks away at the big food hall, Grand Central Market, then wandered over to The Last Bookstore, another LA landmark. What a cool place!!! There was one whole room devoted to art books. Heaven. 

I picked up a book about a lost Velasquez painting called “The Vanishing Velazquez” and I’ve already made a dent in it - a fascinating read.

At this point, I was exhausted, but managed to forge ahead … we went back to West Hollywood and had a cocktail at the Farmers Market, then ventured over to Beverly Hills to check out the art books at Taschen. And since Erewhon was right across the street, we had to walk in and see what all the fuss is about. Erewhon is like Whole Foods on steroids. You think Whole Foods produce is fresh and expensive? Erewhon says, “hold my beer.” The place was PACKED with people knocking back $20+ dollar smoothies. Crazy.

That night we took our first Waymo ride! And everything went pretty well until we got stopped by a fire truck. Waymo wasn’t quite sure how to handle it, so we circled the block 3 times before it finally stopped and told us to get out. LOL. Luckily the restaurant was only about a block away, but this seems to be something they need to figure out. Waymo in ATL recently went off the grid due to cars driving into flood waters. I didn’t feel unsafe or scared at all, but there’s still work to be done. I would take it again for a short ride, but definitely not for a longer ride. 

Our last dinner was at The Night We Met and I *loved* it. Thai food, super cool atmosphere, epic people watching, great music, food and drinks. Ten outta ten. Those dumplings! Wow!

Our hotel - so cute and the weather was perfect!

It was a great long weekend and now I’m just chomping at the bit to fly back west in a few weeks for another super fun art weekend. More on that later.

OTHER STUFF

We wrapped up our docent year, my 8th, and got an evaluation in the same week :) I passed with flying colors, but it’s always nerve wracking when you know that a staffer is hanging on your every word. The new Amy Sherald exhibition is up and it’s fantastic, highly recommend. I’m also enjoying the Noguchi exhibition.

We held another pastel painting workshop at Acworth and kicked off a new session of Drawing Fundamentals in Decatur. Speaking of classes, I’ll be teaching drawing at Acworth all summer on Wednesdays and Fridays. Yes, that’s now twice a week! And all the classes are filled. I’m so lucky to have this opportunity. 

I’ve been painting a lot, finished up some of the pieces from the St Gervais trip as well as a few new pieces. Things at Palmetto Bluff are bangin’ so my only concern right now is filling inventory and that’s what I’ll be working on over the next two weeks. Lots to do! I’m shipping two boxes of work to them tomorrow but they need more, a very good problem for me to have. 

The boys are great. Otis has really come around. Only occasional hissing these days. And sometimes I even catch all three of them sleeping on our bed :) It only took a year and 2 months. That’s all.

JUNE

Things are kind of intense in Atlanta right now. Several women have been randomly stabbed and then I read another article this morning about a horrifying incident in Canton. People are so cruel, so mean and just F’N CRAZY and I’ve never really considered myself to be a fearful person, but honestly, I don’t feel safe right now. Plus, heat and humidity are just around the corner, so I’ll be inside with the a/c on, quietly working on Palmetto Bluff paintings, flower paintings and a few other experiments. I also have a drawing workshop in Chattanooga with the legendary Dan Thompson. 

Lou is a climber!