Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA)
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA), near Long Beach, California, is the only museum in the country devoted exclusively to 20th- and 21st-century art from Latin America. Dr. Robert Gumbiner established the Museum in 1996.
Four galleries, a contemporary "project space," and an outdoor sculpture garden can be found inside the museum's modern building, which was built by Mexican architect Manuel Rosen. Through its Collection, innovative Exhibitions, stimulating Educational Programs, and engaging Cultural Events, the Museum of Latin American Art promotes understanding and enjoyment of modern and contemporary Latin American and Latino art.
Between 1913 and 1918, the Balboa Amusement Producing Company, the most prolific and groundbreaking silent film studio in history, operated out of the building that now houses the Museum. Before Hollywood even existed, nearly 20,000 feet of film per week were produced in Balboa.
Perhaps the old Balboa film studio was the site of the building that was restored in 1998 to serve as MOLAA's Entertainment / Education / Special Event venue. The Hippodrome roller skating rink now serves as the home to MOLAA's administrative offices, museum store, and exhibition galleries.
The Hippodrome, which opened in the late 1920s after the film studios had closed, served as a paradise for skaters for the better part of four decades. The transformation of the Hippodrome into a museum dedicated to Latin American art was a fitting use of the structure's magnificent vaulted ceilings and stunning oak floors.
Like many Latin American courtyards, the Sculpture Garden at MOLAA included enormous wall features, interconnecting platonic solids, ornate wall niches, and the use of strong, colorful accent colors.
The 15,000 square feet are partitioned into smaller, cozier sections by a series of raised and lowered platforms. The garden's raised platform on the north side serves as both a focal point and an entertainment venue for a wide range of events. The garden has two low-profile bubbling water fountains, the largest of which is situated in the garden's center, in keeping with the Latin design tradition.
More than 1,500 pieces of art, including paintings, mixed-media pieces, sculptures, drawings, photographs, and videos, are permanently housed at MOLAA. Dario Escobar, Daniel Lind-Ramos, Liliana Porter, Estero Segura, Marco Maggi, Pájaro (Juan Vicente Hernández), Flavio Garciandia, and dozens more Latin American artists are represented in MOLAA's collection.
Works by modern masters, including Wifredo Lam, Oswaldo Guayasamn, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and contemporary Latin American artists like Roberto Fabelo, Regina Galindo, and Marcos Ramirez Erre, have been featured in previous shows.