The Agenda: L.A.’s Freedom Sculpture, Culinary-Dance Immersion in West Marin, and Festival Napa Valley
Author:Lindsey ShookUnveiling
Instead of barbecues and beers this 4th of July, feast your eyes on “The Freedom Sculpture,” L.A.’s brand-new large-scale public artwork by noted artist, architect, and engineer Cecil Balmond. Designed as a modern interpretation of the 2,500-year-old Iranian Cyrus Cylinder—which is widely considered to be the first-ever declaration of human rights—the monumental work is composed of lace-like cylinders within cylinders, held aloft by two parallel circles. The silver exterior will sparkle in the afternoon sun, and at night, LED lights will illuminate a golden center. It will all be unveiled on the 4th and will serve as a beacon of freedom, diversity, and inclusiveness—a reminder of the ideals upon which this country was built.
When: 5:30 – 10 p.m., Tues. 7/4
Where: Santa Monica Blvd. and Century Park East, Los Angeles
Exhibit
Hawaiian artist and painter Gabrielle Anderman presents her latest series at this SFMOMA Artists Gallery exhibit. A rumination on fear and letting go in the face of the unknown, the collection of abstract paintings, small-scale drawings, and large-scale work were inspired by two major life experiences that Anderman was faced with over the past four years: the birth of her children and the loss of her mother. Each piece explores the idea of having to accept and move on. And the large-scale painting—earthy and heavy at the bottom, vibrant and pulsing at the center, and light at the top—mirrors the course of life itself.
When: Fri.7/14–Fri. 8/25; Artist reception: 5 – 7 p.m., Wed. 7/19
Where: SFMOMA Artist’s Gallery, Fort Mason Center, 2 Marina Blvd., San Francisco
Solis, Photo by Steven Smith
Culture
Solis Culinary-Dance Immersion
Picture this: a gourmet meal under the stars and an open-air ballet performance against a stunning hillside backdrop. If that sounds like the most magical experience ever, then get your tickets now to Solis, a dance and culinary experience presented by Julia Adam Dance and Big Mesa Farmstead. The creative collaboration is an actual marriage of people and crafts—Julia Adam is a former dancer and choreographer and Aaron Lucich is a producer, rancher, and agricultural activist. Each evening starts with a farm-to-table dinner, after which guests meander over to the stage with steaming mugs of hot cocoa for the latest ballet from Julia Adam Dance.
When: Fri. 7/14–Sun. 7/16 and Fri. 7/21–Sun. 7/23
Where: Big Mesa Farmstead, 280 Mesa Rd., West Marin
Culture
Wine Country’s annual culture fest promises performances by violinist Joshua Bell, plus the U.S. premiere of a poetry-meets-music production by actor Bill Murray and cellist Jan Vogler. All variety of performances—from Cuban beats presented by the Havana Chamber Orchestra to a dance gala with the San Francisco Ballet—play out over 10 days at wineries, inns, theaters, and jazz clubs throughout the valley.
When: Fri. 7/14–Sun. 7/23
Where: Various venues, Napa Valley
Richard Deacon, Dead Leg, 2007
Exhibit
“Richard Deacon: What You See Is What You Get”
The first major U.S. exhibition by renowned British abstract sculptor Richard Deacon has been so popular that the show was extended by more than a month. The exhibition shows off Deacon’s vast oeuvre of works in multiple materials—from free-standing sculptures made of steamed oak and stainless steel to wall-mounted works, glazed ceramics, and works on paper.
When: Through Mon. 9/4
Where: San Diego Museum of Art, 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego
