Long Beach Museum of Art and Claire’s at the Museum Reopens
The highly anticipated reopening of the Long Beach Museum of Art has finally arrived.
Following a year-long closure due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, both the Long Beach Museum of Art and LBMA Downtown are open as of April 1st with a 50% capacity for patrons. In addition to the galleries, Claire’s at the Museum restaurant is now open for outdoor dining. Both museums and restaurant are following CDC guidelines to keep patrons and the community safe.
Two current exhibitions at the Long Beach Museum of Art location are available for viewing until May 16, 2021. These include Decade by Decade: Women Artists of California and CA Design 1955. Decade by Decade: Women Artists of California provides artwork from women beyond the city of Long Beach. The artwork is displayed chronologically by creation dates, presenting stories about the Museum’s history, historical time and place, and the artists’ personal visions through photography, sculptures, paintings, and books.
CA Design 1955 is an exhibition that displays 325 furnishings and accessories that represent the functionality and merit of modern design. Products consist of furniture, lamps, accessories, home appliances, and tableware. The collection includes works from mid-century artists Charles and Ray Eames, Sam Maloof, and Jerome and Evelyn Ackerman.
Presently, the LBMA Downtown includes an exhibition called Space as Presence. Space and Presence showcases large-scale installations from Southern California artists Christine Nguyen, Elyse Pignolet, and Fran Siegel. Utilizing a tiling process, the artists are not restricted to their canvas’. As a result, the works continue to evolve until complete, which alters the shape of their environment. Space and Presence will be on view through June 13, 2021. Reservations, face masks that cover both mouth and nose, and social distancing are required for both the Long Beach Museum of Art and the LBMA Downtown.
Right outside the Long Beach Museum of Art is their oceanfront restaurant Claire’s at the Museum. Claire Falkenstein’s Structure and Flow sculpture stands in the middle of the dining area with a beautiful view of Catalina Island and the Queen Mary. Patrons can safely enjoy a waterfront brunch provided with a new menu of fresh, seasonal, and classic brunch favorites by Chef Michael Ryan. The menu includes items such as the timeless Eggs Benedict and Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, as well as menu items with a twist such as Kumiai Oysters and a Salmon BLT. Claire’s also includes vegan dishes such as Avocado Toast and an Impossible burger. Additionally, the updated menu also includes craft cocktails, various fruit mimosas, and a wine list. Currently, dining at Claire’s at the Museum is by reservation only and allows parties of up to six people.
“I’ve been waiting to eat at Claire’s for a whole year and it did not disappoint,” said patron Madeline Guerra. “It feels great to be able to be outside and safely enjoy brunch with friends. Feels good to have a little normalcy back in Long Beach.”
Information on exhibitions and reservations for the Long Beach Museum of Art, LBMA Downtown, and Claire’s at the Museum can be found on their website at https://www.lbma.org
By Jade Delao