A surprisingly large number of PAA members and guests braved the elements to convene at the Hammer Museum in Westwood for the January meeting. President Annaly Bennett welcomed everyone and updates were given by committee chairs. The Fringe Benefit committee announced the patron drive, which kicks off next week. Education Inside LA will take a visit to the Tala Mandani exhibition at MOCA Geffen. Grants Chair Annie Brose and Assistant Grants Chair Kirsten Molz announced that the committee has finalized the list of grantees and will present their recommendations at the February general meeting. Programs Co-Chair Clara Igonda introduced our speaker, Connie Butler, the Hammer’s chief curator, who gave a fascinating introduction to the show “Joan Didion: What She Means”.

The Hammer show was conceived by New Yorker art critic and curator Hilton Als, and focuses on Joan Didion’s writing and the feelings and impressions her work inspired in other visual artists. The exhibit follows Didion’s life chronologically through the places she lived and explores her development as a writer.

A delicious lunch followed the tour at the Persian restaurant Touranj, and fortunately the rain had stopped! A great day, a wonderful exhibit, and well worth the trek to Westwood through water, rain and wind!