In Focus Tour: Collecting Impressionism at LACMA

Impressionist paintings reward a slow look, and a guide helps you know what to look for. LACMA's In Focus Tour: Collecting Impressionism gives you that in about half an hour. A museum docent leads a small group through the Resnick Pavilion and talks about how the museum came to build its Impressionist holdings. If you are mapping out things to do in Los Angeles on a quiet Sunday, it fits easily between lunch and everything else.

When: Sunday, November 1 at 1:30 PM, and Tuesday, November 3 at 1:30 PM Where: LACMA, Resnick Pavilion, 5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles Price: Free with museum admission Length: About 30 minutes

What to expect

The tour is short on purpose. A docent walks the group to a handful of works in Collecting Impressionism, stopping to explain brushwork, color and the stories behind how the pieces ended up in a Los Angeles collection. The format is conversational, so questions are welcome, and you leave with a few paintings you can go back and study on your own.

Impressionism suits this treatment. The paintings look loose and spontaneous up close, then resolve into light, water and air as you step back. A docent can point out where to stand and what to notice, such as the way a painter lays strokes of unmixed color side by side, which is hard to pick up from a wall label alone.

Plan your visit

The tour is included with general museum admission, so there is no separate ticket for the talk itself. Check the LACMA event page for current admission details, free-entry programs and any schedule changes before you go. Because it is a single half-hour slot, arrive a few minutes early and look for the docent in the Resnick Pavilion. Both dates start at 1:30 PM, which makes the Sunday session one of the easier LA events this weekend if you want something cultural without a big time commitment.

LACMA sits on Wilshire Boulevard in Mid-City, along Museum Row, with the La Brea Tar Pits and other museums within walking distance. Metered street parking and paid lots are nearby, and the Metro D Line extension is expanding transit options in the area, so check current service before relying on it.

Make an afternoon of it

Pair the tour with a wander through the rest of the campus. The Resnick Pavilion, the outdoor grounds and the neighboring galleries are all close, so you can stretch the visit as long as you like. Browse more upcoming events in Los Angeles on our arts and culture page, or see what else is happening in Mid-City.