For MWest Holdings, it’s not enough to just rehabilitate classic Los Angeles properties. The company also likes to find unique ways to enhance the building experience for tenants and for neighborhoods. Toward that end, MWest recently commissioned well-known French artist Thierry Noir to paint a mural at the Lofts at NoHo property. The image honors 50 years of the “sister city” relationship between Berlin and Los Angeles. Noir, who initially came to fame as a street artist and lives in Berlin, reportedly was the first artist to paint the Berlin Wall. Beyond the benefits to the business, MWest President Karl Slovin says murals by Noir and other artists make the properties more attractive. “We’re trying to bring the buildings back to life. It can be a reinvigoration of the lobby, the hallways or our units,” Slovin added. “Making it fun and exciting draws the tenants that we want and makes our existing tenants stay.
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If Louis Vuitton is your bag, you’ll want to set aside time this summer for Louis Vuitton X, a sprawling exhibition in Beverly Hills that documents the 160-year history of the French fashion house. Running through Sept. 16, the show displays more than 180 items across two floors and 10 rooms. It’s housed in the 22,000-square-foot former home of Brooks Brothers at 468 N. Rodeo Drive. The exhibit includes iconic Louis Vuitton Monogram bags reimagined by designers such as Karl Lagerfeld. There are also original works by artists such as Zaha Hadid and Richard Prince. And if that’s not enough, of course, the LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton-owned brand also launched an on-site pop-up store where you can pick up limited edition ArtyCapucine handbags, among other items. While the bags carry a price tag of $8,600, the exhibit is free.
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A handful of local nonprofits recently received a boost from The Eisner Foundation. The organization, which supports intergenerational initiatives throughout L.A. County, awarded $1 million in grants to five programs in the second quarter. Created by Tornante Co. founder and former Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Michael Eisner and his wife, Jane, the foundation awards $7 million each year to local nonprofits. The most recent recipients include the culinary arts program at the Los Angeles LGBT Center, which was given $300,000 to train homeless youth and low-income adults. 826LA, a writing program for underserved youth, also received a $300,000 grant. The Alliance for Children’s Rights, a program that provides legal help for seniors and the children in their care, was awarded $150,000.
