{"id":196674,"date":"2026-02-27T16:40:11","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T16:40:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/196674\/"},"modified":"2026-02-27T16:40:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T16:40:11","slug":"an-art-week-party-at-a-99-cents-only-store-on-wilshire-blvd-gets-rowdy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/196674\/","title":{"rendered":"An Art Week party at a 99 Cents Only Store on Wilshire Blvd gets rowdy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What sounded like a very cool L.A. Art Week party ended up getting a bit too rowdy. On Sunday night the Los Angeles Police Department was called to a former 99 Cents Only store on Wilshire Boulevard where an opening night party was underway for a week-long pop-up called \u201c99CENT,\u201d organized by former tagger and blue-chip artist Barry McGee and presented with the Hole gallery.<\/p>\n

An LAPD public information officer confirmed that officers responded to a disturbance call at the location, which is just down the street from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Academy Museum, at 10:30 p.m. Sunday Police arrived to find \u201ca large group of about 20 or 30 people, drinking and playing loud music.\u201d The crowd dispersed on its own after law enforcement arrived.<\/p>\n

Neighbor Rebekka Mueller, who lives across the parking lot from the store, said that a concert at the event had attracted hundreds of people, a number of whom took to tagging four or five neighboring businesses, including the now-closed historic Googie-style Johnie\u2019s Coffee Shop.<\/p>\n

The event drew plenty of respectful art fans, Mueller said, \u201cbut attracted lots of other people, and they started tagging the whole building \u2014 but not in an art way. And then it spilled over to the businesses nearby, to an insurance company, and then two apartment buildings were completely tagged \u2026 and they had no security on site when this happened. So this was very alarming for the neighborhood.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cole Schiffer, whose family owns the 99 Cents building, said he was sorry that neighbors\u2019 structures were tagged and that he has been working all week to paint over the tagging. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t know that this would happen. I was pretty naive about the graphic art world,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re business owners, we spend a lot of time removing graffiti. My mom grew up in this neighborhood. My grandparents lived and died here, so honestly, it\u2019s a little sad and crazy to see this graffiti all over the neighborhood.\u201d<\/p>\n

Schiffer said things had calmed down after Sunday night and that the Hole gallery was working to avoid problems for the rest of the week\u2019s festivities. <\/p>\n

In a brief story about the event<\/a>, Times freelancer Mariella Rudi noted that the 99 Cents store had been transformed into, \u201ca dense, joyous artist flea market\u201d featuring, \u201cmore than 200 contributors and well over 4,000 works.\u201d When Rudi was there on Sunday night she said she didn\u2019t see any destructive behavior.<\/p>\n

\u201cPaintings are stacked against old shelving. Shopping carts hang from the ceiling. You can even check out your purchases at the register, complete with a sticker and a receipt,\u201d Rudi wrote, adding, \u201cGraffiti-heavy aisles will thrill fans of Beyond the Streets, but a handwritten sign near the entrance offers a final note: \u2018Please, no tagging inside. Owners are cool.\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n

The pop-up will feature puppets from Bob Baker Marionette Theatre this Sunday, as well as an Anti-Fascist Zine Fair. This whole scene is right up my alley, and I say, \u201cYes, please,\u201d to more edgy arts programming featuring outsider artists and youthful rebellion.<\/p>\n

But it seems a minority of guests decided to dishonor the spirit of the event by disrespecting the boundaries put into place by organizers.<\/p>\n

Even neighbors who complained, like Mueller, said they were big supporters of the arts and that a lot of great art was on display inside the store \u2014 they wished the situation had played out differently, and they hope Sunday night\u2019s grand finale proves more in control.<\/p>\n

Mueller said that although organizers had painted over many of the tags, the situation at Johnie\u2019s had not yet been remedied. <\/p>\n

I\u2019m Times Arts editor Jessica Gelt, and I\u2019m here for all the colorful underground fun \u2014 and the angry dissent that often comes with it \u2014 but none of the destruction of property.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re reading Essential Arts The week ahead: A curated calendar<\/p>\n

FRIDAY
All My Sons
O\u00e1nh Nguy\u1ec5n directs Antaeus Theatre Company\u2019s production of Arthur Miller\u2019s 1946 Tony-winning play about a Midwestern family facing a moral reckoning after World War II.
Through March 30. Kiki & David Gindler Performing Arts Center, 110 E. Broadway, Glendale. antaeus.org<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Detail <\/p>\n

Detail of a photo by Lou Bopp, seen in the documentary \u201cAll the Empty Rooms.\u201d<\/p>\n

(Netflix)<\/p>\n

All the Empty Rooms
Photos memorializing the bedrooms of children lost to school shootings captured by photographer Lou Bopp and reporter Steve Hartman and featured in the Oscar-nominated documentary short film directed by Joshua Seftel, are on display at an outdoor installation.
Through Monday, Sunset Triangle Plaza, 3700 Sunset Blvd. <\/p>\n

And What of the Children?
Writer-director Ryan Lisman\u2019s play blends drama, dark comedy and horror in a psychological thriller about a trio of siblings in the Witness Protection Program.
Through March 15. The Broadwater Black Box, 6322 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles. events.humanitix.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Front and Center: Emerging Artists with the Colburn Orchestra
Salonen Fellows Mert Yalniz and Aleksandra Melaniuk will lead a varied program of concerto works spotlighting up-and-coming soloists. The performance will be live streamed.
7 p.m. Friday. Zipper Hall, 200 S. Grand. Ave., downtown L.A. colburnschool.edu<\/a><\/p>\n

\"John <\/p>\n

John Giorno in Andy Warhol\u2019s \u201cSleep.\u201d<\/p>\n

(Andy Warhol\/John Giorno Collection, John Giorno Archives. Studio Rondinone, New York, NY.)<\/p>\n

Sleep
John Giorno, the subject of the exhibition \u201cJohn Giorno: No Nostalgia,\u201d stars in Andy Warhol\u2019s 1964 five hours and 21-minute silent film. Free with a reservation.
5-10:30 p.m. Friday. Marciano Art Foundation, 4357 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. marcianoartfoundation.org<\/a><\/p>\n

SATURDAY<\/p>\n

\"John <\/p>\n

John Holiday in the title role of LA Opera\u2019s 2026 production of \u201cAkhnaten.\u201d<\/p>\n

(Cory Weaver)<\/p>\n

Akhnatan
John Holiday stars in L.A. Opera\u2019s production of Philip Glass\u2019 portrait of the Egyptian pharaoh, sung in in English, Ancient Egyptian, Biblical Hebrew and Akkadian. Directed by Phelim McDermott and conducted by Dalia Stasevska making her company debut.
Through March 21, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. laopera.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Attacca Quartet and Theo Bleckmann
The versatile Grammy-winning ensemble teams with vocalist Bleckmann on David Lang\u2019s \u201cnote to a friend,\u201d a chamber opera based on three reimagined texts by Japanese writer Ryunosuke Akutagawa.
8 p.m. UCLA Nimoy Theater, 1262 Westwood Blvd. cap.ucla.edu<\/a><\/p>\n

From Strand to Sculpture
A self-guided tour of the Japanese bamboo basketry exhibition will be followed by a lecture from bamboo art expert Robert Coffland, founder of TAI Gallery (now TAI Modern) in Santa Fe, N.M., and now president of the Santa Fe gallery Textile Arts Inc. The lecture is also available via Zoom.
4-7 p.m. Saturday. The Gamble House is located at 4 Westmoreland Place, Pasadena. gamblehouse.org<\/a><\/p>\n

The Price
Richard Fancy, Dana Dewes, Jason Huber and Scott G. Jackson star in Arthur Miller\u2019s late-period drama about two brother\u2019s cleaning out their late father\u2019s New York brownstone.
Through April 5. Pacific Resident Theatre, 703 Venice Blvd. pacificresidenttheatre.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Pepe Romero Returns
The classical guitarist joins the Long Beach Symphony for a concert featuring \u201dConcierto de Aranjuez\u201d by Joaqu\u00edn Rodrigo, Gabriela Lena Frank\u2019s \u201cElegia Andina\u201d and movements from Handel\u2019s \u201cWater Music Suites.\u201d
7:30 p.m. Saturday. Long Beach Terrace Theater, 300 E. Ocean Blvd. longbeachsymphony.org<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Bud <\/p>\n

Bud Cort in the 1971 movie \u201cHarold and Maude,\u201d screening March 15 at the Aero.<\/p>\n

(CBS via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Starring Bud Cort
The American Cinematheque salutes the singular character actor, who recently died at 77, with screenings of Robert Altman\u2019s \u201cBrewster McCloud\u201d (1970), Wes Anderson\u2019s \u201cThe Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou\u201d (2004) and Hal Ashby\u2019s\u201cHarold and Maude\u201d (1971).
\u201cBrewster McCloud\u201d, 2 p.m. Saturday in 35mm. Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd.; \u201cThe Life Aquatic\u201d, 3 p.m. March 14; \u201cHarold and Maude,\u201d 1 p.m. March 15 in 35 mm. Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica. americancinematheque.com<\/a><\/p>\n

SUNDAY
Unassisted Residency
Every edition of erstwhile weatherman Fritz Coleman\u2019s monthly comedy show features a special guest.
3 p.m. Sunday. El Portal Theatre, Monroe Forum, 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. elportaltheatre.com<\/a><\/p>\n

TUESDAY
Camerata Pacifica
The ensemble performs a program that includes Madeleine Dring\u2019s \u201cTrio for Flute, Oboe and Piano,\u201d the world premiere of David Brice\u2019s \u201cNatural Light,\u201d C\u00e9cile Chaminade\u2019s \u201cTh\u00e8me vari\u00e9 for Piano, Op. 89\u201d and Anton\u00edn Dvo\u0159\u00e1k\u2019s \u201cQuintet in A major for Piano and Strings, Op. 81,\u201d arranged by David Jolley.
3 p.m. Sunday. Bank of America Performing Arts Center, Janet and Ray Scherr Forum, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks; 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. The Huntington, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino; 8 p.m., Thursday. Zipper Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A.; 7 p.m. Friday. Music Academy of the West, 1070 Fairway Road, Santa Barbara. cameratapacifica.org<\/a><\/p>\n

WEDNESDAY<\/p>\n

\"Sara <\/p>\n

Sara Porkalob, playwright and performer of \u201cDragon Mama.\u201d<\/p>\n

(Corey Olsen)<\/p>\n

Dragon Mama
Writer-performer Sara Porkalob returns in Part II of her Filipina American \u201cgangster\u201d family\u2019s intergenerational saga, \u201cThe Dragon Cycle,\u201d this time centering her mother\u2019s journey. Directed by Andrew Russell
Through April 12. Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Avenue, Westwood. geffenplayhouse.org<\/a><\/p>\n

THURSDAY
The Adding Machine
The Actors\u2019 Gang performs Elmer Rice\u2019s 1923 satire that provides a prophetic warning from the past for our present.
Through April 18. The Actors; Gang, 9070 Venice Blvd., Culver City. theactorsgang.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Dante and Beethoven\u2019s Sixth
Gustavo Dudamel conducts the L.A. Phil in Beethoven\u2019s \u201cSymphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 \u2013 Pastoral\u201d and Thomas Ad\u00e8s\u2019 \u201cInferno \u2013 Part 1.\u201d
8 p.m. Thursday; 11 a.m. Friday; and 2 p.m. Sunday. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. laphil.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Bill T. Jones\/Arnie Zane Company
A remounting of the historic dance theater work \u201cStill\/Here,\u201d created by Jones 30 years in the midst of the AIDS epidemic from interviews with terminally patients which he called \u201csurvival workshops.\u201d
8 p.m. UCLA Royce Hall, 340 Royce Drive, Westwood. cap.ucla.edu<\/a><\/p>\n

Arts anywhere<\/p>\n

New releases of arts-related media.<\/p>\n

\"Clockwise <\/p>\n

Clockwise from top left, artists Candice Lin, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Tom\u00e1s Saraceno and Ragnar Kjartansson from \u201cArt in the Twenty-First Century.\u201d<\/p>\n

(Art21, Inc.)<\/p>\n

Art in the Twenty-First Century
Museums are fantastic, but do you ever want to know what\u2019s going on right now in the art world? Since it debuted in 2001, this video series has focused on contemporary art and artists and has been a mainstay of public broadcasting. The second episode of the 12th season (they\u2019re released biannually) debuted Feb. 11 and profiles four international artists, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Ragnar Kjartansson, Candice Lin and Tom\u00e1s Saraceno, who use ordinary materials to make extraordinary art. Of local note, Crosby and Lin both live and work in L.A., and the Huntington in San Marino makes an appearance as well. Watch at art21.org<\/a>, YouTube<\/a> and pbs.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Book <\/p>\n

(Princeton University Press)<\/p>\n

Michelangelo & Titian
It may not have been a heated rivalry, but author William E. Wallace makes the case that the two great Renaissance artists drove each other to excel in a new dual biography subtitled \u201cA Tale of Rivalry and Genius.\u201d Princeton University Press: 248 pp., $35. press.princeton.edu<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Japan's <\/p>\n

Japan\u2019s Yuma Kagiyama competes in the figure skating men\u2019s singles free skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics on February 13 in Milan, Italy. <\/p>\n

(Robert Gauthier\/Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

Turandot: Christopher Tin Finale
The two-time Grammy-winning composer completed Giacomo Puccini\u2019s famously unfinished final opera for this EP recorded at London\u2019s Abbey Road Studios with an all-star cast. You may even have heard it during Japanese figure skater Yuma Kagiyama\u2019s free skate program at the recent Winter Olympic Games in Milan (Kagiyama won silver for the second time). Not only was Milan Puccini\u2019s hometown, but the Games coincided with the 100th-anniversary of the premiere of the opera at Teatro La Scala. Tin Works: $12-30. Available on vinyl, CD, digital download and streaming platforms. christophertin.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Kevin Crust<\/p>\n

Culture news and the SoCal scene \"People <\/p>\n

Frieze Los Angeles returned to the Santa Monica Airport on Feb. 26. <\/p>\n

(Casey Kelbaugh \/ Courtesy of Frieze and CKA)<\/p>\n

Art Week is here, and L.A. is overflowing with guests, artists and dealers from around the world as the city stages a wide variety of fairs, exhibitions, dinners and other arts events. The Times put together a handy guide <\/a>to all the fairs you need to see, including Frieze, Butter LA and the Other Art Fair.<\/p>\n

Freelancer Jane Horowitz wrote an in-depth piece about Frieze\u2019s \u201cBody & Soul,\u201d<\/a> a public art program of eight installations designed to reach beyond traditional art fair audiences. The story gives information about site-specific installations and the artists behind them, including Patrick Martinez. Amanda Ross Ho and Kelly Wall.<\/p>\n

\"Kara <\/p>\n

Kara Walker, \u201cUnmanned Drone,\u201d 2024, bronze<\/p>\n

(Ruben Diaz)<\/p>\n

Earlier this week, MOCA announced it had acquired 158 works by 106 artists in 2025 and that it had acquired the centerpiece of its current blockbuster \u201cMonuments\u201d exhibit: \u201cUnmanned Drone,\u201d<\/a> by artist Kara Walker. \u201cWalker created the 13-foot-tall bronze sculpture out of a statue of the prominent Confederate Gen. Stonewall Jackson that was originally in Charlottesville, Va. The statue had been removed after serving as a significant gathering place for the infamous 2017 Unite the Right rally of white supremacists,\u201d I wrote in a story about the acquisition.<\/p>\n

Our major investigation into L.A. arts icon Judy Baca also published this week<\/a>, featuring allegations by 10 former employees, including two managers, that Baca used her nonprofit arts center, SPARC, to benefit her private, for-profit art practice, Judy Baca Inc. They also alleged Baca personally benefited from a $5-million Andrew W. Mellon Foundation grant to expand her most famous work, a community-driven effort known as \u201cThe Great Wall of Los Angeles.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Alexander <\/p>\n

Alexander Hurt, left, Katie Holmes and Charlie Barnett in \u201cHedda Gabler.\u201d<\/p>\n

(Rich Soublet II)<\/p>\n

Times theater critic Charles McNulty headed to San Diego\u2019s Old Globe to catch Katie Holmes <\/a>in a new take on Henrik Ibsen\u2019s \u201cHedda Gabler\u201d written by Erin Cressida Wilson \u201cthat compresses the action and sharpens the language to a razor\u2019s edge.\u201d <\/p>\n

McNulty also caught Guillermo Cienfuegos\u2019 \u201cenlivening, if at times unsteady,\u201d production of Shakespeare\u2019s \u201cRichard III\u201d<\/a> at A Noise Within. \u201cCienfuegos is a font of directing ideas, but his work here could use more editing. He plays up the comedy, which is as much a part of the play as its violence. But sometimes the actors overdo it,\u201d McNulty writes.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeethoven\u2019s \u2018Missa Solemnis\u2019 is a grand mass for large orchestra, chorus and four vocal soloists that lasts around 80 minutes,\u201d writes Times classical music critic Mark Swed<\/a> in his review of Gustavo Dudamel and the L.A. Phil\u2019s performance of the challenging piece. \u201cIt was written near the end of Beethoven\u2019s life and is his most ambitious work musically and spiritually.\u201d The concert at Disney Hall was part of Dudamel\u2019s \u201cmonth-long L.A. Phil focus on Beethoven.\u201d<\/p>\n

Enjoying this newsletter? Consider subscribing to the Los Angeles Times<\/p>\n

Your support helps us deliver the news that matters most. Become a subscriber.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Urban <\/p>\n

Urban Light at LACMA<\/p>\n

(Deborah Vankin \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art announced that its partnership with Hyundai Motor Co. will continue until 2037. <\/a>The union was first cemented in 2015, and the museum said in a news release that it \u201crepresents the largest programmatic commitment from a corporate partner in LACMA\u2019s history.\u201d The announcement included two initiatives \u201cthat will define the next chapter\u201d of collaboration. \u201cThe first initiative is a new exhibition series under the title \u2018Hyundai Project.\u2019 Beginning in 2028, the museum will present a biennial survey of an artist with significant ties to Los Angeles and the Pan Pacific region. The featured artist will also develop a large-scale banner for the exhibition that will be installed on the exterior of the Broad Contemporary Art Museum (BCAM). Secondly, with Hyundai Motor\u2019s renewed support, LACMA will expand the scope, visibility, and impact of the Art + Technology Lab,\u201d the release noted.<\/p>\n

Segerstrom Center for the Arts is celebrating its 40th anniversary season and has announced its 2026\u201327 Broadway season <\/a>featuring 11 shows, six of which are Orange County premieres. The season kicks off with \u201cBeauty and the Beast,\u201d followed by \u201cThe Outsiders,\u201d \u201cWater for Elephants,\u201d \u201cBook of Mormon,\u201d \u201cJersey Boys,\u201d \u201cThe Who\u2019s Tommy,\u201d \u201cBuena Vista Social Club,\u201d \u201cWaitress,\u201d \u201cThe Great Gatsby,\u201d \u201cMaybe Happy Ending\u201d and \u201cDeath Becomes Her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014 Jessica Gelt<\/p>\n

And last but not least<\/p>\n

Olympic Gold-winning U.S. figure skater Alysa Liu is everybody\u2019s favorite person these days. Now she has her own mural on Crenshaw Boulevard in Gardena.<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"What sounded like a very cool L.A. Art Week party ended up getting a bit too rowdy. On…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":196675,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[10242,10246,10247,10243,48,52,51,47,50,49,63,10244,10239,10241,1406,10245,10240,1860,3044,430,1968],"class_list":{"0":"post-196674","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-los-angeles","8":"tag-design-columnist-carolina-a-miranda","9":"tag-existential-questions","10":"tag-group-show","11":"tag-l-a-museum","12":"tag-la","13":"tag-la-headlines","14":"tag-la-news","15":"tag-los-angeles","16":"tag-los-angeles-headlines","17":"tag-los-angeles-news","18":"tag-los-angeles-times","19":"tag-matthew-lopez","20":"tag-opera","21":"tag-pauline","22":"tag-performance","23":"tag-private-jet","24":"tag-schindler-house","25":"tag-show","26":"tag-story","27":"tag-week","28":"tag-work"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/196674","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=196674"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/196674\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/196675"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=196674"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=196674"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=196674"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}