EVENT 2: La Brea Tar Pits

I visited the La Brea Tar Pits for the first time. Although I grew up in Los Angeles I had never been to this museum. The most striking area of the museum was of course the tar pits and the mammoths, carefully positioned in the tar pits.

Although traditionally this would not be considered art because the tar pits are an outdoor venue, I realized that the tar pits are more than an outdoor exhibit they are a beautiful rendition of what life was like millions of years ago. The tar pits were like a real life photograph, they portray a still of life as it was before humans and the tragic death of the mammoths.

The exhibit reminded me of the lesson we had on space and and the effects it has on art. Although this is not a rendition of mammoths on mars, space does affect this exhibit. This exhibit is all about physical space and creating an environment that simulates/replicates a moment in time. Every detail of the space is geared toward sensory imagery. The tar pits bubble, providing background noise to the scene unfolding in front of your eyes. The mammoths are huge, giving you an impression of their grandeur and yet their vulnerability as they are swallowed by the black tar.

The more I stared at the exhibit the more  I was able to see just how much more I enjoyed this version of art more so than a traditional painting. If the tar pits had been depicted on a 2D painting, would the result be as striking? Of course not! The beauty of the tar pits lies in that an individual can  experience the art, from different angles and as if they themselves were in the presence of these mammoth beasts!

my ticket