"Museums-Free-For-All" Event at the Norton Simon Museum

Free? Did you say "free", ExperienceLA?! I like free. 24 museums in Los Angeles and Orange County participated in a "Museum-Free-For-All" this past weekend (Oct. 3-4). Out of two dozen choices, I picked one that I've been meaning to go to for a very long time...the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena! For the whopping price of free, I got to experience an enriching and magnificent L.A. afternoon with my family.

After entering the museum and confirming with the information desk that it was free entry that day, my parents and I learned about art, history, culture, and the importance of really making sure the flash is off when photographing an 18th century piece of art. In a couple hours, we were able to tour a remarkable collection of European and Asian artwork. We started with the European art sections that spanned seven centuries from artistic greats like Raphael, Rembrandt, Degas, Monet, van Gogh, Cézanne, Picasso, Matisse, and Moore. Eventually, we strolled through the serenely pleasant outdoor sculpture garden and pond. We concluded our visit with the amazing South and Southeast Asian art that included Cambodian, Tibetan, Indian, and Nepalese works of art, exhibited both indoors and in an outdoor garden.

From Kushan stones to Kandinsky, the Norton Simon Museum's diverse and world-famous collection is worth the general $8 price tag...but if you like free (like me) and missed the "Museum-Free-For-All" weekend event, you can get free admission the first Friday of every month from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. (unless otherwise stated).

-Christine Tran
Guest Blogger