Artists and technologists collaborate to create five new
augmented reality monuments exploring history and representation
across Los Angeles
Initiative rolls out with dynamic schedule of programs
including panels, podcasts, and a docuseries
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), in collaboration
with Snap Inc., today introduces the first collection of LACMA ×
Snapchat: Monumental Perspectives projects. This multi-year
initiative brings together artists and technologists to create
virtual monuments that explore just some of the histories of Los
Angeles communities in an effort to highlight perspectives from
across the region. These augmented reality monuments were built
using Snapchat’s technology and are available to experience
starting today.
The five virtual monuments and murals include Mercedes Dorame’s
immersive portal between past, present, and future worlds for
Indigenous presence in contemporary Tovaangar (Los Angeles), I.R.
Bach’s animations designed to inspire self-reflection, Glenn
Kaino’s path of generational stories of connectedness along the
1932 L.A. Olympic marathon route, Ruben Ochoa’s homage to the
shared history of street vendors in L.A., and Ada Pinkston’s
memorial series paying tribute to Biddy Mason.
They were designed to be experienced at locations across Los
Angeles through the Snapchat Camera, including at LACMA, MacArthur
Park, Earvin “Magic” Johnson Park, and Los Angeles Memorial
Coliseum. Those in the area can discover the virtual monuments
easily by looking for their markers on the Map in Snapchat, which
will pinpoint their locations and more details about each work. The
monuments can also be viewed by anyone around the world, wherever
they are by visiting lacma.org/monumental on mobile devices.
“LACMA and our partners at Snapchat are fundamentally interested
in storytelling, but in new and innovative ways, and that’s what
many artists are interested in as well,” said Michael Govan, LACMA
CEO and Wallis Annenberg Director. “The resulting monuments
visualized by Mercedes Dorame, I.R. Bach, Glenn Kaino, Ruben Ochoa,
and Ada Pinkston are not only relevant to issues of today—Los
Angeles, civic space, community—but also to the medium of art,
opening doors to new ways of thinking about art in both physical
and virtual spaces.”
“Through this collaboration with LACMA, Snap Inc.’s augmented
reality technology has become an immersive medium for advocacy and
representation. We’re thrilled to empower these artists and Lens
Creators, and support their desire to share untold stories through
a new perspective,” said Bobby Murphy, co-founder and CTO at Snap
Inc.
The launch coincides with the International Day for Monuments
and Sites and includes a robust schedule of related programming
starting on Sunday, April 18. Additional programs related to each
project, including podcasts, a docuseries, and art kits, will be
presented throughout the year.
Last year, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the largest funder
of the arts, culture, and humanities in the U.S., announced “The
Monuments Project,” a five-year, $250 million commitment to
transform the way our country’s histories are told in public
spaces. The Mellon Foundation will support the expansion of
Monumental Perspectives to include additional artists in the coming
years. The Foundation is also providing financial support for other
critical elements of the initiative including the curation,
community engagement, and related public programming.
“The virtual monuments and murals that these five artists have
created illuminate how we can reimagine and rebuild commemorative
spaces across the country, and embodies the visionary work we aim
to support through The Monuments Project,” said Elizabeth
Alexander, President of the Mellon Foundation. “Like these
immersive commemorations, we’re excited to see more artists using
innovative means—beyond bronze and stone—to memorialize historical
figures, ideas, and movements, and to recontextualize existing
monuments that teach too little of our collective history in public
spaces.”
This new project is a continuation of LACMA’s and Snap’s
commitment to innovation and the exciting possibilities that result
when artists and technologists are brought together. In 2019, LACMA
and Snap collaborated on the Los Angeles presentation of Christian
Marclay’s Sound Stories. In 2018, Snap joined LACMA’s Art +
Technology Lab Advisory Board, a group composed of leading
innovators across a variety of technological industries. Advisory
board members lend their experience and expertise to help drive the
conversation around how museums will use new technology in the
future and serve as advisors to artists who receive grants from the
lab.
About the Monuments
Mercedes Dorame Portal for Tovaangar, 2021 Portal for
Tovaangar may be experienced at LACMA (5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los
Angeles, CA 90036) or from anywhere at lacma.org/dorame.
Working in landscapes she feels anchored to, Mercedes Dorame
reclaims connection to the land and ancestral knowledge by
exploring what it means to exist as a Native inhabitant of
contemporary Tovaangar (Los Angeles). Portal for Tovaangar creates
an immersive portal that links past, present, and potential future
worlds. Viewers engage with what continues to inspire many Native
people: the sky, the land, indigenous plant life, celestial bodies,
and the infinite ability to connect to these entities and with each
other. This work proposes a community healing opportunity, an
exploration of truth in understanding Indigenous intrinsic
knowledge, and reconciliation. Portal for Tovaangar shifts away
from memorializing heroes and singular events to engage the
continued and future presence of Native people in this city. The
song included in the piece is inspired by a 1918 wax cylinder
recording of Tongva singing.
I.R. Bach Think Big, 2021 Think Big may be experienced at
Earvin “Magic” Johnson Park (905 E. El Segundo Blvd., Los Angeles,
CA 90059) or from anywhere at lacma.org/bach.
I.R. Bach’s approach to what constitutes a monument differs from
its conventional definition. A simple action such as moving through
the park may turn into an experience worth memorializing. Through
larger-than-life animations, a whimsical soundtrack, and a guiding
basketball, Think Big crafts an experience designed to inspire
self-reflection as you proceed. “The aspiration is to collectively
build an invisible monument of thought.” I.R. Bach encourages users
to playfully consider the phrase, “See yourself in others and
others in you." Think Big is ideally enjoyed in the park but is
available everywhere on a smaller scale with fewer stops. The
original soundtrack was composed by the artist and features special
guest Dwight Trible.
Glenn Kaino No Finish Line, 2021 No Finish Line may be
experienced at Christmas Tree Lane Park (within Exposition Park)
near the entrance of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (3911 S.
Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90037), Earvin “Magic” Johnson Park
(905 E. El Segundo Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90059), or from anywhere
at lacma.org/kaino.
No Finish Line centers generational stories from the
communities, businesses, and organizations along the 1932 L.A.
Olympic marathon route, which started and ended at the Los Angeles
Memorial Coliseum. This conceptual project highlights how the
stories of daily life come together to make history. A narrative
thread connects generations of people, businesses, and
organizations along the route. The symbolism of a marathon reminds
the viewer that the path of history is long, and that making
positive change and building an equitable world requires stamina.
The memories of the people and places therefore become perpetual
and not forgotten: the path of history is a marathon with no finish
line. In 2028, Los Angeles will become the only city in the United
States to host the Olympic Games three times, invoking memories of
Games past and contributing new narratives to the future. Original
music composition created in collaboration with DJ Melo-D of the
World Famous Beat Junkies.
LACMA’s Education Department will produce art kits to help young
artists understand how stories fit together to accompany No Finish
Line. With a set of large gear stencils, colored pencils, sidewalk
chalk, and dowels, families will be prompted to consider what a
monument can be.
The art kits will be distributed every weekend in June 2021
through a food distribution initiative in South Central Los Angeles
founded by artist Lauren Halsey. A digital version of the art kits
will be available to download at lacma.org/kaino starting on April
13.
Ruben Ochoa ¡Vendedores, Presente!, 2021 ¡Vendedores,
Presente! may be experienced at MacArthur Park (2230 W. 6th St.,
Los Angeles, CA 90057) or from anywhere at lacma.org/ochoa.
¡Vendedores, Presente! responds to L.A.’s complex history with
street vendors. Ruben Ochoa draws from his family history—his
mother pioneered a mobile tortilla delivery system in San Diego
County—to pay homage to the critical role of street vendors in
L.A.’s culture and economy. Referencing familiar forms of street
vending, ¡Vendedores, Presente! serves as a multilingual resource
for on-the-ground entrepreneurs and a call for advocacy. After a
decade-long fight to legalize street vending in L.A., the pandemic
has impacted its progress and potential growth, with many street
vendors left more vulnerable than ever. ¡Vendedores, Presente!
invites participants to learn more about the plight of street
vendors and provides options to assist through non-profit
organizations Community Power Collective (CPC) and Inclusive Action
for the City.
Ada Pinkston The Open Hand is Blessed, 2021 The Open Hand
is Blessed may be experienced at Earvin “Magic” Johnson Park (905
E. El Segundo Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90059) or from anywhere at
lacma.org/pinkston.
“If you hold your hand closed, nothing good can come in. The
open hand is blessed, for it gives in abundance, even as it
receives.” —Biddy Mason (1818–1891)
The Open Hand is Blessed is a memorial series that pays tribute
to the voice and spiritual philosophy of Biddy Mason. The story of
Mason is one of resilience. In 1851, Mason arrived in San
Bernardino, California, after traveling thousands of miles by foot
as an enslaved person. After this arduous journey, she settled in
Los Angeles and worked as a nurse and midwife. She died a free
person and one of the wealthiest Black women in the country. In The
Open Hand is Blessed, Ada Pinkston draws from archival images of
African American residents in 19th century Los Angeles.
Related Programming
Art & Conversation: Making
Monumental Perspectives Sunday, April 18 | 3–4:30 pm In
celebration of the International Day for Monuments and Sites, join
artists Mercedes Dorame, I.R. Bach, Glenn Kaino, Ruben Ochoa, and
Ada Pinkston as they discuss their practice and creative process of
making monuments using augmented reality for LACMA × Snapchat:
Monumental Perspectives. The conversation will be moderated by Liz
Andrews, Executive Administrator and Project Curator at LACMA, and
introduced by Sophia Dominguez, Head of Camera Platform
Partnerships at Snap Inc. This program will take place via
Zoom.
In Conversation: Michael Govan, Evan
Spiegel, Elizabeth Alexander, and Mayor Eric Garcetti
Tuesday, April 20 | 12 pm Join us for a conversation with
Michael Govan, LACMA CEO and Wallis Annenberg Director, Evan
Spiegel, CEO and Co-Founder of Snap Inc., Elizabeth Alexander,
President of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and Eric Garcetti,
Mayor of Los Angeles, as they discuss the future of monuments with
an eye toward the ways in which artists can create bold and
interactive virtual memorials. The conversation will be moderated
by Naima J. Keith, Vice President of Education and Public Programs
at LACMA. This program will take place via Zoom.
The Politics of Street Vendors in Los
Angeles Saturday, May 1 | 12 pm Saturday, May 22 | 12 pm
Saturday, June 12 | 12 pm In celebration of Ruben Ochoa’s
project, view a short documentary series that follows street
vendors as they unpack the history of the vending economy in Los
Angeles, their efforts to organize and build sustainable
businesses, the challenges and threats they face in this work
environment, and the great impact the pandemic has had on this
community. This event will be presented on LACMA’s YouTube
channel.
Mercedes Dorame: Tovaangar Story Portal
Podcast Monday, June 28 | 10 am Inspired by an artwork
by Mercedes Dorame for LACMA × Snapchat: Monumental Perspectives,
LACMA presents a self-guided podcast and AR experience. Hear from
artists, Tongva culture bearers, and archeologists as they discuss
the immense depth of our individual and collective relationship to
place. Anywhere podcasts are available.
Credit This initiative is made possible by Snapchat.
Additional support is provided by The Andrew W. Mellon
Foundation.
About LACMA Located on the Pacific Rim, LACMA is the
largest art museum in the western United States, with a collection
of more than 142,000 objects that illuminate 6,000 years of
artistic expression across the globe. Committed to showcasing a
multitude of art histories, LACMA exhibits and interprets works of
art from new and unexpected points of view that are informed by the
region’s rich cultural heritage and diverse population. LACMA’s
spirit of experimentation is reflected in its work with artists,
technologists, and thought leaders as well as in its regional,
national, and global partnerships to share collections and
programs, create pioneering initiatives, and engage new
audiences.
Location: 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA,
90036. lacma.org
Connect with LACMA @lacma
About Snap Inc. Snap Inc. is a camera company. We believe
that reinventing the camera represents our greatest opportunity to
improve the way people live and communicate. We contribute to human
progress by empowering people to express themselves, live in the
moment, learn about the world, and have fun together.
About The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation The Andrew W.
Mellon Foundation is the nation’s largest supporter of the arts and
humanities. Since 1969, the Foundation has been guided by its core
belief that the humanities and arts are essential to human
understanding. The Foundation believes that the arts and humanities
are where we express our complex humanity and that everyone
deserves the beauty, transcendence, and freedom that can be found
there. Through grantmaking, the Foundation seeks to build just
communities enriched by meaning and empowered by critical thinking,
where ideas and imagination can thrive.
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LACMA press contact: press@lacma.org, 323 857-6522
Snap Inc. press contact: press@snap.com
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