In the midst of anti-ICE demonstrations, Geffen Contemporary at MOCA Los Angeles remains shut down
The Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles (MOCA) has not publicly announced a closure of the Geffen Contemporary space due to anti-ICE protests, as some reports suggest. Current information indicates that the space, currently hosting an Olafur Eliasson show, remains active and has scheduled exhibitions through 2025[1].
However, the ongoing protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) near the Los Angeles Federal Detention Facility have caused disruptions elsewhere. The area surrounding MOCA is under a curfew that begins at 8 p.m., and the National Guard is facing off with the protestors nearby. Numerous arrests have occurred during the protests, with over 200 people detained for violating curfew last night alone.
The protests have also resulted in vandalism at certain sites, including MOCA's facade. Notably, the museum's 1990 mural Untitled (Questions) by Barbara Kruger has become a significant symbol in the protests. In a recent article by the Los Angeles Times, Kruger expressed concern that the protests could give President Trump the opportunity to declare martial law.
Nadya Tolokonnikova, a member of the Russian collective Pussy Riot, staged a performance called POLICE STATE at the Geffen Contemporary over the weekend. However, the performance space for POLICE STATE was designed to resemble a prison cell, with art by formerly incarcerated Russians, Belarusians, and Americans lining the walls. Despite Tolokonnikova's intention to join the protests on the streets this Saturday, her performance at MOCA's Geffen Contemporary has been postponed beyond that date.
Trump ordered the deployment of the National Guard to quell the protests and protect immigration agents, a move that Governor Gavin Newsom deemed "unlawful" in a lawsuit against the President. The museum's Grand Avenue building will remain open, but its regularly scheduled late-night hours for Thursday have been canceled.
[1] According to available sources, there is no specific mention that the Geffen Contemporary is being kept closed due to protests related to ICE.
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