5 design things to watch – KCRW

Available from home:See artists talk about other artists atLACMA YouTube;see how past plagues influenced movie monsters; armchair travel to the mountains of Montana, to filmic depictions of Italy and Spain,and to global citieswith fabulous street art.

1)Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County: The Natural History of Horror

Covid-19 is not the first pandemic, and past contagions have produced cultural responses that have shaped our imaginations. Take rabies for example, blamed on vampire bats, which then manifested in the popular imagination in Dracula, whoseduces women and then drinks their blood. The first of many movie versions of this story is the1931 Spanish-language film Dracula, and stills as well as an original bat prop from the movie are among exhibits at The Natural History of Horror. This fascinating look at the connection between science, human fears and scary creatures in the movies is on exhibit at theNatural History Museum; but you canlearn more about it online hereandfrom this DnA story.

When:Available Now

Where:NHM: History of Horror

Cost:Free

2) Street Art with Google

Right now many of us feel a close connection with friends around the world as we share the experience of shutting down for the coronavirus. We also share a global creativephenomenon:street art.The last five decades has seen art take to the streets with glorious abandonand Google has assembled some of the gems in its Google Art Project: Street Art.Take dozens of online tours - some with audio, some written - and thousands of imagesthat tellstoriesof streets, passion, art and culture, from LA to pretty much everywhere.

When:Available Now

Where:Google Art Project

Cost:Free

3) Tippet Rise Art Center, MT

Tippet Rise Art Center in Montana brings together site specificartworksand classical musicin the bracing wilds of a 12,000-acre working ranch in Montana. The latest artworkto be unveiled is Xylem, by FrancisKr (heard on this DnA). It is namedafter the part of the plant that transports water from the roots to the leaves. In normal times, Tippet Riseoffers tours and classical music concerts throughout the summer. But you can get a taste of this land art and music experience viaThe Tippet Rise podcast, which releases a new episode on the first Thursday of every monthandits YouTube Channel, featuring scenes from its extraordinary landscape against a backdrop of birdsong and classical music performed at Tippet Rise.

When:Available Now

Where: Tippet Rise.org

Cost:Free

4)Imaginary journeys on film

Probably many of us are wavering between over-consumption of coronavirus news, and pure TV escapism.Here is a recommendation for the latter from Film and Furniture editor Paula Benson (heard recently on this DnA): No-one is making too many travel plans right now, but we can use film to take us on some imaginary journeys. I recommend films to inspire future travel and which provide an abundance of interior design inspiration at the same time - and since Spain and Italy are on official lockdown then Id suggest any film by Spanish Director Pedro Almodovar such as 'Pain and Glory' or 'Volver', and take a trip to a beautiful Italian villa in Luca Guadagninos 'Call Me By Your Name'.

When:Available Now

Where:Amazon.com

Cost:From $2.99

5)LACMA YouTube/So Cal Design

It's often fascinating to hear artists talk about other artists work and at LACMA YouTubeyou can find great examples in theirArtists on Art series.In addition to many fine artists, such as John Baldessari discussing the famed 1929 surrealist artworkThe Treachery of Images (This is Not a Pipe) by Ren Magritte, you can also find designers reflecting on designers invideos made during the 2011 California Design exhibition, including: Kay Sekimachi; John Kapel; Deborah Sussman (long version here); Lou Danziger; and Bernard Kester. If this whets your appetite to learn more about LACMA's holdings (much of which is in storage as the museum prepares for demolition of four buildings to make way for the Peter Zumthor-designed expansion) check out their online archive ofSo Cal Design - furniture, pottery and objects d'art -- here.

When: Available now

Where: Multiple links listed above

Cost: Free

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5 design things to watch - KCRW

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero