628 Alamitos Ave.
Long Beach
(562)435-4048
Dedicated to the celebration of contemporary Latin American fine
art, the Museum
of Latin American Art in Long Beach is focused on giving its
visitors a close up look
of Latino life and culture. MoLAA opened in November of 1996 in
the East Village
Arts District of Long Beach, and is part of a complex that
includes a small park, a restaurant,
an artist’s registry, a research library, and a recently
acquired lot that will be the
site for future developments.
MoLAA has an
extensive collection of contemporary Latin American art, by
artists from Mexico,
Central and South America, and the Caribbean Islands in its
permanent
collection. In addition, the Museum also hosts temporary solo
exhibits from contemporary
artists several times a year. As if that weren’t enough, MoLAA
also hosts many
culturally educational programs, such as art workshops,
lectures, films and even Latin
dance classes.
The Museum
currently houses about four galleries, filled with paintings,
sculptures, and
other works from its permanent collection as well as visiting
exhibits and special
displays. Artists such as Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, Gerardo
Chavez and Joaquin Torres
have been featured at MoLAA, as well as art from Rufino Tamayo,
Maximino Javier,
and Alfredo Castaneda, from the Museum’s permanent holdings.
Don’t forget to
take a little bit of Latin America home with you from the Museum
Gift Store. You can
buy books, posters, toys, even mango salsa. Many of the items
for sale,
such as the pottery and glass, are unique and handmade.
Complete the
experience by eating at Viva!, the indoor/outdoor restaurant
located adjacent
to the Museum. Viva! has a complete lunch menu, with a
mouthwatering array of
dishes from all over Latin America. It is open for lunch
Tuesdays through Saturdays from
11:30am to 2:30pm. From 2:30pm to 5pm they serve appetizers and
dessert. On Sundays,
Viva! hosts a brunch and live entertainment from 10am to 2pm,
reservations are
suggested. For information or to make a reservation, contact
Viva! at (562)435-4048.
It is open
Tuesdays to
Saturdays from 11:30am to 7:30 pm, and Sundays from 12pm to 6pm.
Parking is free, and
admission is $7.00 for nonmembers, $5.00 for students and senior
citizens and free for
members and children under 12 accompanied by an adult..
Docent-guided group tours
are available in English and Spanish. For more information, call
the Museum at (562)437-1689.
Inside
tip:
To be better aware of all the events happening a MoLAA, it would
be a good
idea to call ahead, especially if there is a special event you
might want to attend, as it
might have a different price from admission.
