The Work of Art: How Something Comes from Nothing by former New York magazine editor Adam Moss is a fascinating look at the creative processes of several famous artists. Each artist discusses specific works and gives the reader an inside look at how they came about.
The 43 artists included are visual artists, writers, musicians, editors, designers, and many other creative categories. Moss is also an artist and you can see that in his desire to both inform the reader, and to learn for himself, what makes these individuals tick.
Many of the names will be familiar, but these behind the scenes looks are incredibly enlightening. These discussions often also inspired, for me, a deeper dive. I found myself watching videos of Twyla Tharp‘s choreography, reading Guy Talese’s essay and Sheila Heti’s book, listening to Moses Sumney, watching Tony Kushner’s Angels in America, and so on, as I progressed through the book.
While some artists will appeal more than others depending on your interests, all of them had something interesting and valuable to say. This book was one of my favorites of 2024.
It’s Day 1 of Coachella and with so many great artists performing it’s often hard to choose who to see (especially with overlapping set times). Here are my choices for today-
1-1:30pm Señor Kino is on the Sonora Stage
1:45pm-2:35 Elohim is on the Sahara Stage
2:35-3:20pm Moses Sumney is on the Gobi Stage /OR/ 2:55-3:30pm Fazerdaze is on the Sonora Stage
5:00-5:45pm Helado Negro is on the Sonora Stage
6:10-6:55pm The Regrettes are on the Sonora Stage
7:10-8:00pm Vince Staples had one of the best albums of 2017 and is on the Coachella Stage
8:55-9:50pm St. Vincent is at the Outdoor Theatre (and you might catch the end of The War on Drugs’ 7:30-8:25 set)
9:55-10:45pm- SZA, who also had one of the best albums of 2017, is performing on the Coachella Stage
11:25pm The Weeknd is on the Coachella Stage or you could check out Jamiroquai on the Mojave Stage
*One note- this excludes the Yuma tent where there will be a great selection of DJs playing- including at 9:15pm- Detroit Love: Carl Craig, Kyle Hall & Moodymann
Looking to preview some of the artists playing today? Playlist below-
The Pancakes and Booze Art Show returns to Los Angeles with art from over 100 artists, performances, and of course pancakes and booze (also Saturday)
Front Porch Cinema’s free movie at Santa Monica Pier this week is the live action Beauty and the Beast
Angel Olsen is opening for Arcade Fire at The Forum
Cloak & Dagger Festival runs tonight and tomorrow til 2am at the Globe Theatre and The Palace Theatre. Tonight the lineup includes The Jesus and Mary Chain, TR/ST, Mykki Blanco, HEALTH and more
Saturday
The Brewery Artwalk is back for its Autumn edition- a great chance to check out the artists in the large complex and get some food and drink while there (also running on Sunday)
Hauser and Wirth is having a public opening for Mike Kelley: Kandors 1999-2011, with food, drink and music by Moon Uterus
Curls (with Christopher Owens of Girls) are playing with Sure Sure at Moroccan Lounge
Allah-Las are playing at The Regent Theatre with Entrance and Mapache opening
Pop-Up Magazine at The Theatre at Ace Hotel brings a magazine to life with “film, photography, film, radio, and original music all mixed together and performed live onstage”- for this iteration presenters include LeVar Burton and TV writer Cord Jefferson
Moses Sumney is playing at the El Rey Theatre with Sudan Archives
Things to do in Los Angeles this weekend (7/20-7/24/17)-
Thursday
Sufjan Stevens, Nico Muhly, Bryce Dessner & James McAlister are performing their album PLANETARIUM at Hollywood Forever
The band Kinky is playing a soundtrack they created for Weird Science at this installment of Bring the Noise, LACMA’s music and film program
Pasadena Museum of California Art is free, open late tonight, and includes a conversation between curator John David O’Brien and artist Rebecca Ripple about the current group exhibition Interstitial
Hammer Museum’s music program RebelRebel continues this week with Elohim and Suzi Analogue (free)
Mr. Elevator are opening for classic rock band Eric Burdon and The Animals at the Santa Monica Pier (free)
The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA is hosting a free music night tonight with Zola Jesus, Lawrence Rothman, Smerz and DJ Michael Stock (make sure to RSVP)
Vundabar are opening for Rozwell Kid at The Hi Hat
Friday
MNDSGN is playing a free show at Levitt Pavilion in MacArthur Park
L.A. Live’s Dark Nights returns with live music and entertainment, live painting, a market, $5 drink and food specials, and more (free)
Santoros are having a Vinyl Release Party at The Echo with So Many Wizards and Wyatt Blair opening
It’s FYF Fest time and tickets are available at this writing for the Friday and Sunday shows- tonight’s lineup includes Missy Elliot, Bjork, Thee Oh Sees, Slowdive, Anderson .Paak & the Free Nationals, Flying Lotus, Beach Fossils, Angel Olsen and more
Odd Nights returns to the Autry Museum with live music, a market and late hours for select galleries ($5)
Saturday
Lo Moon is opening for Mondo Cozmo and Paul Oakenfold at KCRW’s Sound in Focus event in the park outside Annenberg Space for Photography (free but you must RSVP)
Bergamot Station is hosting Summer Celebration, an all day event that includes performances, artist talks, workshops, live music and more (free)
Beta Main is hosting a panel discussion with photographers Valerie J. Bower, Arlene Mejorado, and Desilu Muñoz moderated by Star Montana
The Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills is having a free Night Sky Festival with kids activities, Native American night sky stories, a science presentation and telescope viewings
Moaning, Soccer Mommy and Shannon Lay are opening for Stef Chura at the Bootleg Theater
Sunday
If you loved Mystery Science Theater 3000, The Theatre at the Ace Hotel is offering two chances to see creator Joel Hodgson and host Jonah Heston, along with Crow, Tom Servo, Gypsy and more, as they offer their running commentary on fan fave Eegah for the first show and a yet to be announced film for the second show
Check out the last day of FYF Fest with a lineup that includes Nine Inch Nails, Iggy Pop, Run the Jewels, Ty Segall, Temples, Solange, Blonde Redhead, Moses Sumney, and more
The Los Angeles Philharmonic will be performing a tribute to the musical work of Stephen Sondheim at the Hollywood Bowl for Sondheim on Sondheim, with special guests that include Vanessa Williams and Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Mashrou’ Leila- Maghawir (acoustic for NPR’s Tiny Desk)
Things to do in Los Angeles this weekend (6/16-6/19/16)-
Thursday
After 5 has singer songwriter Sara Lov performing as part of gallery Hauser Wirth & Schimmel’s weekly series. Photographer Robert Cumming will be signing his book The Difficulties of Nonsense at the bookstore there as well.
Hammer Museum is hosting a Bloomsday celebration with dramatic readings of James Joyce’s Ulysses, live songs, live music, and Guiness on tap in the courtyard (free)
Materials & Applications is hosting TURF: A Mini-Golf Project in which a corner lot in Echo Park is transformed into a functional mini-golf course with obstacles created by architects, designers and artists who won its 2015 competition “to design a single architectural obstacle that investigates a contemporary Los Angeles condition”
Friday
Mashrou’ Leila are playing a free show as part of Grand Performances at the California Plaza
The Music Center’s late night event Sleepless returns with a special hip-hop edition- DJ’s , dance crews, roller skating, live graffiti painting ($30 tickets go on sale Friday 6/17 at 10 am)
The first of Chinatown’s Summer Nights has performances, DJs, vendors, a beer garden, and a list of bands performing that includes The Lonely Wild (free)
Sunday
Mrs. Magician are playing with Junk, and GRMLN at the Hi Hat
Tobacco headlines Natural History Museum’s First Fridays first indoor/outdoor set with DeLux
On the Waterfront screening for the 60th Anniversary at LACMA with special guest Eva Marie Saint
Friday and Saturday
If you are missing the scares of Halloween you can spend the night at the old zoo in Griffith Park for the Great Horror Campout, which has varying levels of scares including a “chicken” tent area for the more faint of heart
Saturday
Make Music Pasadena’s free music festival has a great line up including a bunch of bands mentioned in the past on this site including Surfer Blood, Moses Sumney, and So Many Wizards
Eat/See/Hear presents Rushmore outside at the Autry
Modernica’s 25th Anniversary Factory Sale with loads of cool furniture and hidden coupons on the showroom floor
Saturday and Sunday
The Aero theatre is showing the works of Fritz Lang- Saturday it’s a double feature of M and The Testament of Dr. Mabuse and on Sunday Metropolis
Sunday
The Faint (also Friday and Saturday) are playing along with Reptar at the Roxy
All Weekend (Friday through Sunday)
LA Pride Festival in Weho- art installations, music (Azealia Banks, The Bangles, Jennifer Hudson and more) and a roller disco
Dance Camera West’s festival includes film shorts and live performances and takes place at the Music Center, MOCA, and Grand Park and REDCAT
Tonight (3/31) is the last night of Moses Sumney’s residency at Bootleg Theater where he is playing with a few other bands for FREE. Definitely worth checking out.
The Work of Art: How Something Comes from Nothing by former New York magazine editor Adam Moss is a fascinating look at the creative processes of several famous artists. Each artist discusses specific works and gives the reader an inside look at how they came about.