Advertisement

‘Tim Burton’ versus ‘Art in the Streets’: Here’s the skinny

Share

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.


This summer, two blockbuster exhibitions are dominating the L.A. art scene, both testing the boundary of what constitutes art and both possessing a strong youth appeal.

“Tim Burton,” at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art through Oct. 31, is an homage to the wild-haired film director of such movies as “Edward Scissorhands” and “Ed Wood.” The show features 700 works from Burton’s collections and those of his colleagues. Across town, “Art in the Streets,” at the MOCA Geffen Contemporary through Aug. 8, is a mega-exhibition devoted to the history of graffiti and street art. It features works by noted street artists including Banksy, Shepard Fairey and Space Invader.

Advertisement

Navigating these exhibitions can be intimidating, so here’s a user-friendly checklist before heading out.

Timed entry required?

‘Tim Burton’: Yes, $20 (with a $2 surcharge if purchased at lacma.org)

‘Art in the Streets’: No, $10

Freebies

‘Tim Burton’: Children 17 and younger get free admission at all times

‘Art in the Streets’: Mondays are free, as are Thursdays after 5 p.m. Children younger than 12 get free admission at all times.

Wait time for admittance

Advertisement

‘Tim Burton’: On busy days, expect to stand in line as long as 30-40 minutes past your designated timed entry

‘Art in the Streets’: A line usually forms in the afternoon, but it moves quickly.

Kid-to-adult ratio

‘Tim Burton’: About 1:8

‘Art in the Streets’: About 1:5

Most popular artwork

‘Tim Burton’: Everything. The galleries are jammed on busy days

‘Art in the Streets’: The Banksy gallery

Must-see art

‘Tim Burton’: “Air Dancers,” created for LACMA by Burton and Danny Elfman, inspired by the inflatable men at car dealerships

‘Art in the Streets’: Swoon’s “The Ice Queen,” a large-scale canopy composed of silhouette cut-outs.

Advertisement

Most unusual gift-shop item

‘Tim Burton’: Jack Skellington lip-gloss compact (cherry), $7.95

‘Art in the Streets’: Bodega wall vinyl designed by Barry McGee, $135

Overheard in the galleries

‘Tim Burton’: “I think he’s schizophrenic.”

‘Art in the Streets’: “I wish they had a wall here that people could tag.”

Visitor tips

‘Tim Burton’: The least crowded hours are weekday mornings.

‘Art in the Streets’: Picture taking is allowed, so bring your camera.

Attendance to date

‘Tim Burton’: 134,572 (for eight weeks)

‘Art in the Streets’: 158,214 (for 14 weeks)

RELATED:

At LACMA, lifelong outsider Tim Burton feels a connection

Advertisement

Art review: ‘Tim Burton’ at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Critic’s Notebook: The real controversy in MOCA’s ‘Art in the Streets’

-- David Ng

Photos, from top: ‘Art in the Streets’ at MOCA’s Geffen Contemporary; credit: Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times.

Crowds mill at the ‘Tim Burton’ exhibition at LACMA; credit: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times.

‘Stained Window’ by Banksy and dozens of students from City of Angels School is part of an installation space at ‘Art in the Streets’; credit: Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times.

Tim Burton stands at the entrance to his show at LACMA in May; credit: Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times

Advertisement
Advertisement