Autry Museum Reframes American Ideals Through LA Lens
So, the Autry Museum of the American West is gearing up to open a new exhibition called 'Life, Liberty, and Los Angeles' on May 30, in honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. This exhibit looks at the ideas of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as ongoing discussions, specifically through the lens of Los Angeles. One highlight is a Hmong story quilt by See Lee from around 1980. The exhibit also reveals how LA embodies the clash between lofty ideals and real issues like exclusion, displacement, and activism, focusing on local perspectives instead of a traditional East Coast narrative.
Key facts
- Exhibition opens May 30 at Autry Museum of the American West
- Titled 'Life, Liberty, and Los Angeles'
- Occurs ahead of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence
- Reframes founding ideals as questions still being argued
- Features Hmong story quilt by See Lee (c. 1980)
- Positions Los Angeles as a place where principles are continually tested
- Focuses on local interpretations of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness
- Shifts narrative away from East Coast origin story
Entities
Artists
- See Lee
Institutions
- Autry Museum of the American West
Locations
- Los Angeles
- United States