Museums for the Holidays

I'm determined to get to Long Beach Museum of Art for the "A Light in the Shadow" exhibit which ends January 2. Friday is free from 11 to 5, so I still have a good chance of making it.

Over at the Museum of Latin American Art, "Siquerios: Landscape Painter" features the provocative work of the famous muralist. It's free on Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm.

Manana, En La Noche

Tomorrow, the Museum of Latin American Art will host En La Noche, where tours of the museum's current exhibits are spiced up with a complimentary wine tasting, a prix-fixe dinner, a no-host bar AND ongoing videos highlighting artists whose works are on display. This month, an L.A. band called La Santa Cecilia will perform Afro-Cuban flavored music and next month (February 18) Argentinian vocalist Sofia Rei Koutsovitis will present her blend of South American jazz. The event runs from 6 to 10 pm and costs $10 for non-members.

Murals under the Stars Fiesta

Can it be that the Museum of Latin American Art is ten years old? The answer is yes and it's proud of it, especially director Gregorio Luke. He'll be presiding over the Murals Under the Stars events to be held on the next 3 Saturday evenings at 8 pm. Oversized images of murals will be projected on the walls of the museum's courtyard to accompany Luke's lecture on the artists and their work. This year, he'll talk about David Alfaro Siqueiros (July 18), Frida Kahlo (July 25), and Jose Clemente Orozco (August 1).

Before the lecture, starting at 5 pm, there's a fiesta with live music and dancers, a tequila tasting, and a raffle for a cruise to Puerto Vallarta. For non-museum members, tickets start at $30, but $10 for students and seniors.