Whoever said museums were dull was seriously mistaken.
Tonight at the Hammer Museum’s bimonthly “Big Time” event, the featured attraction will be a screening of Wes Anderson’s new film “The Darjeeling Limited,” but the entertainment doesn’t stop there.
There will also be a DJ, open access to the Hammer’s art galleries, and a premiere of alternative musician PJ Ha rvey’s new album “White Chalk.”
And for those who do not get seats (limited to 250) for “The Darjeeling Limited” in the Billy Wilder Theater, can watch another Anderson film that will be playing outside.
The free event is part of the museum’s joint series with Filter Magazine.
Alan Miller, cofounder of Filter Magazine, hopes the convergence of the music-based magazine with the visual-art focused museum will provide a fun and stimulating atmosphere that will distinguish it from the vast L.A. nightlife.
“Our goal was to really try and bring together film and music, and art,” Miller said. “People are tired of going to the same stale venues all the time, and we wanted to try and create an atmosphere that was really different.”
James Bewley, the Director of Public Programs and Education at the Hammer stressed the effective collaboration of the two art-based companies.
“(The Hammer and Filter Magazine) have a lot in common. They’re looking at culture through a musical perspective and we’re looking at culture through an artistic and visual art perspective,” Bewley said. “It seemed like a natural fit. Miller hopes the event will draw both Wes Anderson and PJ Harvey fans, and those who are just up for trying something new.
“We can really round out the evening so that you might hear or experience something that isn’t even the reason you came there but you take away something saying, “˜Oh wow that was really great,'” Miller said.
The series has indeed lived up to its title as a “big time” success since it began in February of this year. There were over 600 people at the last event, which screened the film “Inland Empire” and featured a Q&A with director David Lynch.
“As we do each (event), we’re getting more and more support from the different film companies and the artists themselves to come out and be a part of this,” Miller said. “And the turnout has been really solid.”
With the series’ mounting public support and success, Miller advises those interested to show up early, although those who arrive later are still guaranteed an artsy night that only a city like Los Angeles could offer.
“Our goal is definitely to do them next year as well,” Miller said. “I think we’ve been building a lot of momentum and I think the longer we do them the better they will become.”