Taking shape slowly but steadily in the 1551 beach parking lot north of the Santa Monica Pier, it has inspired lots of questions, and offered no answers.
People driving by on Pacific Coast Highway, joggers, beach goers, Pier visitors – everyone who sees this enigma on the beach, wonders about it, what it is, and what it’s going to be.
The curiosity is understandable. It’s a big building – 56,000 square feet, and it doesn’t look anything like other buildings.
In fact, it is arguably the world’s first traveling museum, as well as the first museum whose design was dictated by its contents.
Made of over 150 disposable, reusable shipping containers, it was created by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban and is called the Nomadic Museum.
It will house an exhibit, “Ashes and Snow,” of over 100 large–scale photographs and three 35 mm films that portray the relationship between man and animal as captured by artist Gregory Colbert.
It will open on Saturday, January 14, and run through May 14.
Santa Monica is its second stop. Prior to coming here, it had an extended run in New York City.
Exhibition hours are Tuesday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 P.M., Sunday, noon to 7 p.m., Monday, open for groups by arrangement.
Admission: $15, for adults, $12, for seniors and Santa Monica residents with ID, $10, for students with ID, for children 6 and under free. Special group and educational rates are available.
Tickets available at www.ticketweb.com (1-866-468-7619) and the “Ashes and Snow” box office at the Nomadic Museum during regular exhibition hours. For more information, please visit the “Ashes and Snow” website at www.ashesandsnow.com.
