The new year opens with many opportunities to explore Los Angeles and the diverse cultures and neighborhoods and museums that make it such a unique metropolitan area. With the approach of the new lunar year, there are of course many events featuring Asian cultures, but you can also find opportunities to explore other cultures through film screenings, museum visits, art workshops, performances, and even a cooking class. Where will your family venture this month?

* WEEKEND OF JANUARY 3 & 4 *

Pompeii: The Exhibition, California Science Center, Exposition Park, daily 10am-5pm, closing January 11. Pompeii: The Exhibition features over 150 precious artifacts on loan from the Naples National Archaeological Museum in Italy, which offer a glimpse into the opulent lifestyle and tragic end of this ancient Roman society forgotten for centuries until its rediscovery over 250 years ago. Tickets are timed and valid only for a specified admission date and time with entry times starting at 10am. The last entry time is 3:30pm. Advance ticket purchase is strongly encouraged. There is no guarantee that same-day tickets will be available on the day of your visit.

The Undiscovered Chinatown Tour, Chinatown, Saturday, 10:30am-1pm. Visit a temple, an herbal shop, art galleries, antique stores, and more when guided to the unique treasures–not to mention great bargains–to be found in Chinatown. Wear comfortable walking shoes and be prepared to wind your way through a myriad of alleyways, plaza stalls, and classical courtyards.

 

Oshogatsu Family Festival, Japanese American National Museum, Downtown, Sunday, 11am-5pm. Ring in the New Year and the Year of the Sheep with fun arts ‘n crafts, food, exciting cultural activities, and performances.

 

Andell Family Sunday—Art of the Samurai, LACMA, Sunday (also 11th, 18th, and 25th), 12:30-3:30pm. Samurai were revered and feared warriors of Japan. Check out magnificent swords and images of samurai in the installation of Art of the Samurai: Swords, Paintings, Prints, and Textiles. Then, in artist-led workshops, make your own samurai-inspired helmet and other projects.

 

* WEEKEND OF JANUARY 10 & 11 *

Barnsdall Family Art Workshop, Junior Arts Center at Barnsdall Art Park, Hollywood/Los Feliz, Sunday, 10am-12pm. Participate in a free art class in the park. Each Sunday a different culture is featured. The focus of this week’s workshop is Mexico: Colima Clay Vessels.

 

Family Jam: Up in the Air, Fowler Museum Courtyard at UCLA, Sunday, 1pm-3pm. After you explore Cameroonian Pascale Marthine Tayou’s World Share installations, watch a performance of spinning and balancing objects by a master juggler and learn some tricks of your own.

 

Andell Family Sunday—Art of the Samurai, LACMA, Sunday (also 18th and 25th), 12:30-3:30pm. Samurai were revered and feared warriors of Japan. Check out magnificent swords and images of samurai in the installation of Art of the Samurai: Swords, Paintings, Prints, and Textiles. Then, in artist-led workshops, make your own samurai-inspired helmet and other projects.

* WEEKEND OF JANUARY 17 & 18 & 19 *

Chinese Brush Painting for Children, The Huntington, Pasadena, Saturday, 9:30am-12pm. Kids can learn the expressive art of Chinese brush painting in this workshop led by artist Peifang Liang. The Chinese Garden will serve as their creative muse. Ages 7–12. Register online.

 

 

Barnsdall Family Art Workshop, Junior Arts Center at Barnsdall Art Park, Hollywood/Los Feliz, Sunday,10am-12pm. Participate in a free art class in the park. Each Sunday a different culture is featured. The focus of this week’s workshop is USA: MLK Quilt, a Collaboration.

 

World City Series: Samite & H’Sao, W.M. Keck Children’s Amphitheatre at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Downtown, Saturday, 11am and 12:30pm. Enjoy music and personal history stories from renowned Ugandan flutist Samite and Montreal-based band H’Sao originally from Chad.

 

Scandinavian Film Festival, Writers Guild Theater, Beverly Hills, Saturday and Sunday (also next weekend). This is a yearly showcase of films from northern Europe and its Baltic neighbors. The festival screens not only films submitted by Nordic countries to the Academy for consideration in the “Best Foreign Language Film” category, but also other Nordic feature films, short movies, and documentaries.

Andell Family Sunday—Art of the Samurai, LACMA, Sunday (also 25th), 12:30-3:30pm. Samurai were revered and feared warriors of Japan. Check out magnificent swords and images of samurai in the installation of Art of the Samurai: Swords, Paintings, Prints, and Textiles. Then, in artist-led workshops, make your own samurai-inspired helmet and other projects.

CAAM’s Annual Open House, California African American Museum, Exposition Park, Monday the 19th, 11am-4pm. CAAM invites the entire LA community to visit their galleries, attend special performances, and participate in an art workshop to celebrate the enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The day culminates with servings of birthday cake.

* WEEKEND OF JANUARY 24 & 25 *

 

Barnsdall Family Art Workshop, Junior Arts Center at Barnsdall Art Park, Hollywood/Los Feliz, Sunday, 10am-12pm. Participate in a free art class in the park. Each Sunday a different culture is featured. The focus of this week’s workshop is USA: Folk Art Washboards.

 

Chinese Cultural Arts Celebration, The Huntington, Pasadena, Sunday, 10:30am-4:30pm. Explore the folk arts of China in a day-long event that celebrates the approach of the Lunar New Year. Artists from Guangdong Province, China, will demonstrate ancient crafts such as intricate paper cutting, figurine sculpting, jewelry making, and embroidery. Enjoy a display of contemporary photography and savor the flavors of authentic Chinese cuisine.

Andell Family Sunday—Art of the Samurai, LACMA, Sunday, 12:30-3:30pm. Samurai were revered and feared warriors of Japan. Check out magnificent swords and images of samurai in the installation of Art of the Samurai: Swords, Paintings, Prints, and Textiles. Then, in artist-led workshops, make your own samurai-inspired helmet and other projects.

* WEEKEND OF JANUARY 31 & FEBRUARY 1 *

Children’s Cooking Class: Breakfast in the UK, The Huntington, Pasadena, Saturday, 9:30am-12:30pm. Get a taste for life in the United Kingdom through the exhibition “Bruce Davidson/Paul Caponigro: Two American Photographers in Britain and Ireland,” then cook up a delicious morning meal with chef and art historian Maite Gomez-Rejón. Ages 7–12. Register online.

Lunar New Year Festival, USC Pacific Asia Museum, Pasadena, Saturday, 11am-5pm. Celebrate the Year of the Sheep with a free day of performances, demonstrations, hands-on activities, and gallery admission. Food trucks will be close by to satisfy hungry and thirsty visitors. The festival takes place inside the museum and in the tented parking lot, rain or shine.

Chinese New Year Celebration, Saban Theatre, Beverly Hills, Sunday, doors open 7:30pm, performances 8pm-9:30pm. The fourth annual Beverly Hills Chinese New Year event will feature a full production of internationally acclaimed performances from Beijing Performance & Arts Group, including Chinese acrobatics from the China National Acrobatic Troupe, a Peking Opera piece by the renowned Chen Junhua, and other extraordinary dance and musical acts. Guests will also enjoy an art exhibition from Beijing Association for Cultural Exchanges (BACE). See website for mandatory advance ticket reservations.

Happy New Year! I wish you a year filled with delightful exploration of our city. Resolve to visit somewhere new this year.