A Stopover in LA

 

In June 2023, Alison found an incredible flight deal to New Zealand that we simply couldn't resist, prompting us to book it right away. We knew at the time we might not go if Alison was pregnant. Alison is pregnant, but the trip is during the 2nd trimester so it worked out. The only caveat was that the flight departed from LA, which led us to extend the trip and spend a few days in LA before heading to New Zealand.

Wednesday morning we woke up to a heavy snowstorm in Daybreak. When we left our house the snow was coming down and about an inch had accumulated. Fortunately, it was less snowy by Debbie's house and the drive to the airport was uneventful. We were happy to be leaving the snow for slightly warmer weather. 

We arrived in LA and hit up one of Alison's favorite CA restaurants - In-N-Out Burger. It is quick, convenient, and always good. After we had some food we had a ~90-minute drive to Lancaster, CA. Lancaster is a city in Northern Los Angeles County. We headed out there to visit the Lancaster Museum of  Art and History because my Aunt Camilla is a featured artist in their current exhibit. Alison and I have wanted to see one of her exhibits and this was the perfect opportunity. 

The exhibit is formation and focuses on ceramics. 

Camilla's section of the exhibit, titled "The Knot," showcased several pieces exploring themes of individualism and collective identity, notably featuring the breathtaking "Eye of God" sculpture comprising 281 sculpted sparrows. Each sparrow, both individually and collectively, left a profound visual impact, with Camilla's deliberate choice of 281 as a prime number adding layers of symbolism to the artwork. Another notable piece, "Repetition," crafted from thousands of small clay beads intricately strung together. We didn't appreciate this one as much until while we were at the museum Camilla posted about it on Instagram. After reading her post we went back for a closer look and gained an appreciation for the work it took to craft thousands of beads and tie knots between each one. The exhibit was rounded out with Day, Word, and Breath - three newborns with knotted umbilical cords to symbolize the moment they realize their individual identities. There was one additional bonus piece. Camilla printed a knot and framed it and placed it on what would have otherwise been an empty wall. It was a nice touch. 

The other portion of the exhibit we enjoyed was Elyse Pigonolet's "Hysterical." She crafted porcelain tiles, vases, and vessels rendered in blue and white - a style Alison loves and is drawn to - and merged them with modern feminist imagery and slogans to create something jarring and beautiful. A description in the museum summed it up well: "to mesh traditional aesthetics with contemporary themes."

After we explored the exhibit we drove out toward Altadena to see Jason and Camilla. On our way, we stopped by Salt & Straw. It would not feel like a trip to CA without stopping to get some of our favorite ice cream. We tried two new flavors - Peanut Butter Brownie Cereal Puffs and Peanut Butter Brittle Caramel Fudge. Both were great - we even picked up a pint to give to Jason and Camilla. 

We had the most wonderful evening with Jason and Camilla. We got to meet their newest cat. He is so sweet and friendly. We had seen lots of pictures and videos of him on Instagram, so we were excited to see him in person. We also got to ask Camilla some questions about her exhibit. It was interesting to get some insight from her. As we stood looking at the Eye of God, Alison had a question about it and I told her she could ask Camilla about it later and she did and the answer was fascinating. We went to dinner at a fabulous restaurant and stayed later than we thought we would talking and enjoying spending time together. 

Unfortunately, it did get late and we had to excuse ourselves to head to Anahiem to prepare for a couple of days at Disneyland.