LACMA BCAM GALA OPENING FEB. 9 SOLIDIFIES LA REPUTATION AS ART MECCA

On February 9, art, politics, celebs and Hollywood collide in smashing style as the Broad Contemporary Art Museum (or BCAM) celebrates its birth with a gala opening at LACMA. And smack in the middle of Hollywood award season, no less. Perhaps good timing, since having an event when "important people" are already in town or on their way can't hurt the star/buzz factor.

Here is what a W Magazine online post had to say (with bold added):

The party will be as over-the-top as the invitation, with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on hand to speak and a possible performance by Elton John. And then, of course, there’s the chance to see about 200 choice works loaned by Broad, as well as a massive new Richard Serra that LACMA bought, with the help of Broad, for its soaring ground-floor gallery. “There’s no other building like it in America,” says Broad, noting that with the opening of BCAM, Los Angeles will have more museum space devoted to contemporary art than any other city in the world. Broad is ensuring that a galaxy of art stars will attend by flying in (some on his private jet) Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Cindy Sherman, Damien Hirst, Ellsworth Kelly, Serra, Koons and others whose work figures prominently in his collection.