Pop Art

Westwood Village is a mostly commercial neighborhood adjacent to UCLA- think chain restaurants and staples like Verizon, In-N-Out and CVS- that has been languishing for nearly two decades. Desperate for a comeback, a month long installation of art in vacant storefronts will be happening through November 24. ArtsReSTORE is a new initiative by the Hammer Museum, which was included in a $100,000 dollar grant from the LA2050 project’s Goldhirsh Foundation that supports a shared vision for the future of Los Angeles. Offering a long term strategy to turn the neighborhood around, the goal is to energize the community and property owners through these pop-up displays of the work of young LA artists.

After six months of planning, ArtsReSTORE launched November 1 as an experiment to raise awareness by showcasing furniture, limited-edition apparel and homemade food in 15 temporary stores, all of which are provided by Westwood landlords. The works include well-known local artisans such as fashion designer Christina Kim of Dosa, Fallen Fruit’s Fruitique collaborative, Homeboy Industries, Tanya Aguiniga, Whitman’s Beard Used Books, and more. Additionally, the Hammer Museum will host free DIY workshops and other events, including dance performances and Tango workshops, in conjunction with the campaign. This month, a very different Westwood Village will resonate culture and style… not just UCLA football and tacky neon windows. No offense to the Bruins… www.artsrestore.la     www.hammer.ucla.edu      wwwlla2050.org/