The Huntington Acquires Robert Indiana's Iconic "love" Sculpture: L.a. Arts And Culture This Weekend

Love whitethorn not beryllium each you request these days, but a image pinch it mightiness help. This you tin get opening later this twelvemonth erstwhile nan Huntington installs its recently acquired “LOVE” sculpture by Robert Indiana adjacent nan Virginia Steele Scott Galleries of American Art.

Indiana first unveiled nan iconic sculpture almost 60 years agone — besides conscionable a fewer days earlier Mother’s Day — arsenic portion of his 1966 solo accumulation astatine Stable Gallery successful New York. While this early type measured only 12 inches high, nan Huntington’s version is 12 feet gangly and 12 feet wide, making it an perfect alloy for you and your, ahem, loved ones to threat a pic with.

The polychromed aluminum sculpture is 3rd successful an version of five, pinch 2 artist’s proofs, and will beryllium nan only “LOVE” sculpture successful Southern California disposable to nan public. It arrives astatine nan museum’s San Marino field arsenic a gift of Terri and Jerry Kohl, who besides provided backing for installation and semipermanent care.

“LOVE” is 1 of nan astir recognizable pieces of Pop creation ever created — a ubiquitous awesome associated pinch a assortment of societal causes, movements and groups, including nan LGBTQ+ organization during nan tallness of nan AIDS crisis.

Indiana’s creation for “LOVE,” featuring an L and somewhat askew O stacked atop a V and E, first appeared connected nan Museum of Modern Art’s yearly vacation paper successful 1965, and was apparently among nan institution’s astir celebrated vacation cards of each time. The creator completed his first monumental emotion sculpture, made from steel, successful 1970. That sculpture is portion of nan Indianapolis Museum of Art’s collection.

In a news release, Huntington President Karen R. Lawrence said that Jerry Kohl believed that “LOVE,” “belonged successful a spot wherever it would beryllium seen and knowledgeable by millions of visitors successful nan years starring up to nan Los Angeles Olympics, during nan games, and acold beyond. He recognized The Huntington arsenic a taste destination uniquely positioned to steward nan activity and stock it pinch a wide nationalist audience.”

“LOVE” will subordinate a number of different outdoor installations crossed nan Huntington’s expansive grounds and gardens, including 2 precocious acquired sculptures by nan Cuban-born creator Enrique Martínez Celaya, successful summation to pieces by Sam Francis, Tony Smith and Harry Bertoia.

The sculpture besides serves to grow nan Huntington’s postulation of American creation making love from nan mid-20th period on, joining useful by Andy Warhol, Betye Saar, Elizabeth Catlett, Isamu Noguchi, Paul Manship, Gaston Lachaise, Elie Nadelman, Daniel Chester French, Sargent Claude Johnson, Richmond Barthé and Wilhelm Hunt Diederich.

If you’re readying a Mother’s Day jaunt to nan picturesque Huntington, you won’t spot nan sculpture conscionable yet, but you should still go. (This is wherever I wish each who observe a very happy Mother’s Day. Hi, hardworking, selfless moms everywhere: I spot you.)

I’m Arts editor Jessica Gelt and I take LOVE. This is your arts and civilization news for nan week.

The week ahead: A curated calendar

FRIDAY

Freeways 2026
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra fellows Alejandro Lombo, flute, Eder Rivera, oboe, and Nicolás Valencia, viola, and different emerging musicians execute useful by Dranishnikova, Piazzolla, Mozart, Dvořák, Gaubert, Julia Moss and Ravel.
7:30 p.m. Colburn School, Zipper Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. laco.org

My Birthday Party
Based connected stories by Carl Sandburg and Viggo Mortensen, this immersive theatrical acquisition includes acrobats, aerialists and clowns from Cirque du Soleil and features astonishment guests, pinch euphony by Veronika Krausas. Opening nighttime capacity by Thelma Houston.
8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday, done May 7. Fais Do-Do, 5257 W. Adams Place, L.A. playwithsprung.com

Lorenzo Viotti successful Milan, Italy.

(Vittorio Zunino Celotto / Getty Images)

Rachmaninoff’s ‘Second Symphony’
In his L.A. Phil debut, flamboyant Italian-Swiss conductor Lorenzo Viotti and violinist Lisa Batiashvili subordinate nan orchestra for a fiery programme of late-Romantic works.
8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. laphil.com

Picasso: Le Monstre Sacré
Peter Tate’s solo capacity piece, adapted by nan character and head Guy Masterson from Terri D’Alfonso‘s “The Loves of Picasso,” explores nan analyzable artist’s bequest from within.
8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday, done May 17. Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd. odysseytheatre.com

TJ Shin’s solo accumulation “Delta” is astatine Ehrlich Steinberg done June 11.

(Ehrlich Steinberg)

TJ Shin
The L.A.-based artist’s solo accumulation “Delta,” rooted successful crippled theory, consists of a multi-channel video installation, drawings and a recently commissioned matter by writer and professor Sunny Xiang.
11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, done June 11. Ehrlich Steinberg, 5540 Santa Monica Blvd., L.A. ehrlichsteinberg.com

The Sound of Music
The Hollywood Hills (and San Diego and Costa Mesa) are live pinch nan sound of Rodgers & Hammerstein connected this circuit of nan latest revival of nan classical romanticist philharmonic group successful Austria arsenic Nazi Germany moves to annex it.
Through May 24. Hollywood Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd.; May 26-31. San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave.; June 2-14. Segerstrom Center for nan Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. soundofmusicontour.com

SATURDAY

Ascent
This world premiere of a play by nan precocious Henry Ong specifications nan existent communicative of aerospace technologist and cyberneticist Qian Xuesen, who co-founded Jet Propulsion Laboratory and was instrumental successful United States’ World War II efforts earlier being unjustly forced to return to China. Direction and dramaturgy by Diana Wyenn.
8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays; 3 p.m. Sundays, done June 14. Skylight Theatre Company, 1816 ½ N. Vermont Ave, L.A. skylighttheatre.org

Maintenance Artist
The Laemmle “Culture Vulture” bid continues pinch a 2025 documentary astir Mierle Laderman Ukeles, who, inspired by Marcel Duchamp, inaugurated nan thought that regular activities could beryllium seen arsenic capacity art. Directed by Toby Perl Freilich.
10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday; 7 p.m. Monday. Laemmle Glendale, 207 N. Maryland Ave.; Laemmle Town Center 5, 17200 Ventura Blvd., Encino; Laemmle Monica Film Center, 1332 2nd St. laemmle.com 6 p.m. May 16. Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Drive, L.A. getty.edu

Wild Up: The Center Is Between Us
The eclectic ensemble performs Robert Ashley’s “The Park” and “The Backyard,” narrated unrecorded by Christopher Rountree, from nan 1978 avant-garde spoken activity medium “Private Parts,” earlier being joined by nan santoor and tabla duo of Kamaljeet and Jas Ahluwalia, on pinch cellist Chris Votek, for caller work.
8 p.m. UCLA Nimoy Theater, 1262 Westwood Blvd. cap.ucla.edu

SUNDAY

Los Angeles Children’s Chorus
LACC presents 2 outpouring concerts: Sunday, featuring nan Apprentice Choir, Intermediate Choir and Chorale; and May 17 pinch nan Concert Choir, Young Men’s Ensemble and Chamber Singers.
7 p.m. Sunday and May 17. Pasadena Presbyterian Church, 585 E. Colorado Blvd. lachildrenschorus.org

MOMentum Place
Celebrate Mother’s Day successful nan awesome outdoors pinch aerial and circus performers, dancers and musicians, preceded by a brunch from cook David Gussin and Prose Restaurant.
Brunch, noon; performance, 2 p.m.; Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga. theatricum.com

Shirley MacLaine, Debra Winger and Jack Nicholson successful James L. Brooks’ 1983 deed “Terms of Endearment,” which won 5 Oscars.

(Paramount Pictures)

Terms of Endearment
James L. Brooks won Academy Awards for writing, producing and directing this adjustment of Larry McMurty’s novel, which should resonate pinch anyone who has aliases had a challenging narration pinch their ain mother connected this Mother’s Day. Featuring a stacked formed including Oscar winners Shirley MacLaine and Jack Nicholson, and nominees Debra Winger and John Lithgow, arsenic good arsenic Jeff Daniels and Danny DeVito. Presented successful 35mm.
2 p.m. Academy Museum, 6067 Wilshire Blvd. academymuseum.org

MONDAY

ASCAP Foundation Musical Theatre Workshop
Three caller musicals presented arsenic unrecorded readings pinch philharmonic accompaniment and master feedback panels: “Lilyville” by Antonius Anand Nazareth (Monday); “The Waiting” by Maria Isabella Andreoli and EmmaLee Kidwell (Tuesday); and “Legendary” by Cheeyang Ng (Wednesday).
7 p.m. Monday-Wednesday. The Wallis, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills. thewallis.org

TUESDAY

Rachel Ward, left, and Jason Patric successful “After Dark My Sweet.”

(Kino Lorber)

After Dark My Sweet
Actor Jason Patric presents a screening of his individual 35mm people of head James Foley’s 1990 neo-noir adapted from nan Jim Thompson novel. Introduced by Alex Winter and followed by a Q&A pinch Patric and writer/film professional Travis Woods.
7:30 p.m. Vidiots, 4884 Eagle Rock Blvd. vidiotsfoundation.org

Sarah Andon
“Eclectic Engagement: Explorations successful Sound, Space, and Collaboration” features nan L.A.-based flutist and an all-star ensemble, including percussionist Nick Terry, pianists Todd Moellenberg, Bryan Pezzone and Aron Kallay, flutist Sarah Wass, violinist Shalini Vijayan and electronicist Cristina Lord performing useful by Toru Takemitsu, Sungji Hong, Gabriela Lena Frank, Nicolás Lell Benavides, Herman Beeftink, Jerry Goldsmith, Ennio Morricone and Nino Rota.
8 p.m. Monk Space, 4414 W. 2nd St., L.A. brightworknewmusic.com

WEDNESDAY

Alexandra Silber adapted a caller book for Lerner & Loewe’s classical “Brigadoon.”

(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

Brigadoon
Tyne Daly headlines this caller adjustment by Alexandra Silber of nan classical Lerne & Loewe philharmonic astir a mysterious Scottish colony that only appears erstwhile a century. Directed by Katie Spelman, pinch original dances created by Agnes Demille.
Through June 14. Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molina Ave. pasadenaplayhouse.org

A Sea Symphony
Pasadena Chorale performs Walt Whitman’s words pinch Vaughan Williams’ music, featuring solos by sopranos Rachel Adcock and Asha Srikantiah and baritones Eric Werner and Tobin Sparfeld.
7:30 p.m. First United Methodist Church Pasadena, 500 E. Colorado Blvd. pasadenachorale.org

THURSDAY

Camerata Pacifica
The ensemble performs a programme that includes useful by Beethoven, De Mey and Bunch, and concludes pinch Shostakovich’s “Symphony No. 15 for Piano Trio and Percussion,” arranged by Viktor Derevianko.
8 p.m. Thursday. Colburn School, Zipper Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A.; 7 p.m. May 15. Academy of nan West, 1070 Fairway Road, Santa Barbara. 8 p.m.; 3 p.m. May 17. Bank of America Performing Arts Center, Scherr Forum, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd.; 7:30 p.m. May 19. The Huntington, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. cameratapacifica.org

Arts anywhere

New and caller releases of arts-related media.

Open-Door Playhouse
Playwright Bernadette Armstrong launched this online task during nan pandemic to thief different authors get their activity heard by audiences. The endeavor has continued, producing dozens of audio versions of 10-minute and one-act plays delivered arsenic podcasts. The latest release, “Holy Hell,” written by Barbara Lindsay, features a man (played by Gary Lamb, who besides directed) and a female (Elaine Mello) separately recounting nan calamity that agreed them. Open Door Playhouse is free, relying connected listener donations.
opendoorplayhouse.org

“Rupert García: The Making of an American Artist, a Testimonio” by Mario T. García.

(Rutgers University Press)

Rupert García: The Making of an American Artist, a Testimonio
An oral history 30 years successful nan making, nan book chronicles nan life and profession of nan American Chicano ocular creator and activist, whose activity arsenic a painter, pastellist and surface printer some documented and galvanized taste movements from nan 1960s onward. The book’s author, historiographer Mario T. Garcia of UC Santa Barbara, will beryllium successful municipality for a book signing astatine 7:30 p.m. connected Friday astatine Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. vromansbookstore.com
Rutgers University Press: $35, 215 pages.

Arturo Sandoval, who often performs successful Los Angeles, has a caller album, “Sangú.”

(The Wallis)

Sangú
Trumpeter, bandleader and composer Arturo Sandoval’s latest medium — nan title is simply a malapropism of “sounds good” made during nan workplace sessions — features 12 tracks of Afro-Cuban funk, blending bebop, fiery jazz fusion and batá-inspired rhythms. Sandoval will execute June 4-7 astatine Blue Note Los Angeles.
Self-released: integer download, $9.50. arturosandoval.com

— Kevin Crust

Culture news and nan SoCal scene

Maria Wirries and LJ Benet successful “The Lost Boys,” from left; Sara Chase and Brad Oscar look onstage during curtain telephone of “Schmigadoon!” connected opening night, and Joshua Henry and nan formed of “Ragtime.”

(Matthew Murphy, near and right; Valerie Terranova / WireImage, center.)

Tony Award nominations were announced early this week pinch musicals “The Lost Boys” and “Schmigadoon!” starring nominations pinch 12 each, followed by “Ragtime” pinch 11. Malia Mendez has nan full list, here, and Times theatre professional Charles McNulty followed up pinch a communicative connected 10 standout Broadway performances and shows worthy celebrating, including Laurie Metcalf successful some Samuel D. Hunter’s “Little Bear Ridge Road” and this spring’s revival of “Death of a Salesman.”

The Pulitzer Prizes were announced nan time earlier nan Tony nominations, and Bess Wohl’s play “Liberation” took location nan 2026 Pulitzer for drama. The triumph foreshadowed what would travel next: “Liberation” was nominated for 5 Tonys, including champion play and director.

McNulty besides rounded up 3 awesome Broadway musicals successful 1 handy, sweeping review: “Cats: The Jellicle Ball,” “The Lost Boys” and “Titanique.” “Cats,” notes McNulty, has managed to region itself from its kitschy estimation and checkered past to go “one of nan hottest tickets of nan Broadway season. It didn’t return a miracle, only a complete conceptual overhaul.” Happily, “The Lost Boys” besides won McNulty complete contempt his “antipathy to vampire schlock.” “Titanique” was not McNulty’s favorite, but he noticed that his chap theatergoers couldn’t get enough.

Joe Mantello astatine his location successful New York connected Friday, April 3, 2026.

(Evelyn Freja / For The Times)

There was not 1 free infinitesimal successful McNulty’s New York itinerary successful early March. While attending a flurry of shows, our professional besides sat down to a brunch question and reply pinch head Joe Mantello during rehearsals for nan caller Broadway revival of “Death of a Salesman.” “A two-time Tony-winning head (‘Assassins,’ ‘Take Me Out’), Mantello has a résumé truthful extended that it tin beryllium startling to callback that he’s nan original Broadway head of “Wicked,” nan blockbuster that has allowed him to constitute his ain ticket. There aren’t galore theatre board who tin prime and take their projects without worrying astir their adjacent paycheck, but he has go nan Mike Nichols of our era successful position of nan breadth and consistency of his theatrical success,” writes McNulty,

The Times sewage nan scoop that Holocaust Museum LA will reopen June 14 arsenic portion of nan caller $70-million, 70,000-square-foot Goldrich Cultural Center. The halfway doubles nan museum’s original 35,000-square-foot footprint and broadens nan institution’s “focus connected inclusion and community, pinch a divers scope of events and ramped-up acquisition offerings,” writes Times contributor Solvej Schou.

Composer John Williams, 94, attended nan dedication ceremonial of nan caller John Williams Performing Arts Center astatine North Hollywood High connected April 29, 2026.

(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Times contributor Tim Greiving, who is besides nan writer of a curriculum vitae connected John Williams, covered a ribbon-cutting ceremonial for nan caller John Williams Performing Arts Center astatine North Hollywood High — nan famed movie composer’s alma mater. Williams, 94, was successful attendance and gave a fewer little remarks successful beforehand of a crowd filled pinch different notable schoolhouse alumni and friends including Kathleen Kennedy.

The Times published an exclusive connected Pasadena Playhouse’s caller 2026-27 season, which includes nan post-Broadway debut of “Real Women Have Curves: The Musical.” Other offerings see a caller accumulation of Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s tragicomedy “The Visit,” nan L.A. premiere of “Passing Strange,” and a revival of “Cat connected a Hot Tin Roof.”

Comedian Kathy Griffin successful 2019.

(Matt Licari / Invision Associated Press)

Comedian Kathy Griffin is staging her first-ever residency astatine nan Plaza Theatre successful Palm Springs. “Can You Handle This Heat? The Kathy Griffin Palm Springs Residency,” is scheduled to tally from Jan. 31 to Feb. 26, 2027. Tickets spell connected waste today.

The Soraya has announced it 2026-27 season featuring 8 noteworthy debuts and 45 performances, including Sutton Foster pinch Chris Walden and nan Pacific Jazz Orchestra; nan eclectic set Snarky Puppy; Majo Aguilar con Mariachi y Banda; Dance Theatre of Harlem; National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine; Los Angeles Philharmonic; Audra McDonald; and nan National Symphony Orchestra. The caller lineup besides introduces Chad Hilligus arsenic nan Soraya’s caller executive and creator director.

Grand Performances announced its 40th yearly Summer Concert Series featuring free outdoor shows successful downtown L.A.’s California Plaza from June 6–Aug. 29. Highlights see a June 13 day ceremony pinch Jungle Fire, Healing Gems and DJ Liza Richardson; a tribute to nan euphony of Stevie Wonder pinch DJ Spinna, Monalisa and MC Cognito; and a tribute to Roy Ayers led by composer Sly5thAve pinch a 12-piece ensemble including drummer Kassa Overall.

This week, IATSE revenge unfair labour believe charges against guidance astatine nan beleaguered John F. Kennedy Center for nan Performing Arts, alleging nan halfway collapsed its national statement by permanently eliminating national jobs up of its arguable impermanent closure.

— Jessica Gelt

And past but not least

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