smart phone make me dumb…

Introducing: Simone Porter & Blake Pouliot

Violinists Simone Porter and Blake Pouliot’s friendship grew on Sunset Boulevard. The duo became inseparable after meeting as teenagers at the Colburn School in DTLA. They lived close to each other in Echo Park as they grew up and spent their time exploring Sunset at Sunset, as Porter put it. 

“That was the setting of so many pivotal moments for us, college and beyond,” Porter said. “We also had the distinction of living in LA for over a decade and never driving. So, we walked, biked and took bird scooters everywhere.” 

LA became their home and they watched it grow. Today, they live in New York where there are few good salads and cafe patios, Porter said. This weekend, they’ll return to the city where they grew as friends and artistic collaborators. For one night only in LA, they’ll perform at the BroadStage in Santa Monica with pianist Hsin-I Huang for a program dedicated to Los Angeles. 

“The show is about the idea of California as a fantasy, as a source of inspiration, as a musical home for both of us and the composers who are featured on the program,” Porter said. 

Los Angeles isn’t typically considered central to historical classical music, but Porter and Pouliot hope the program can reflect the city’s often overlooked music history. For example, the program will include pieces by Miklós Rózsa and Erich Wolfgang Korngold, two prominent film score composers who “curated the sound world of what we consider a film score,” Pouliot said. 

LA is most known for its contributions to new and contemporary music. To highlight this part of the city’s artistic landscape, Porter will perform “Sabina” by Andrew Norman, a prominent contemporary composer who studied and taught at USC Thornton School of Music. 

“We wanted to represent the swing of how music is represented in the city and California,” Pouliot said. “We just thought it’d be super cool to show these other things that maybe people don’t even realize or pieces that aren’t always played very often, but have so much to offer.” 

Since college, Porter and Pouliot have gone on to start their own solo careers. The show at the BroadStage is partly a culmination of their artistic story by simply bringing the duo back on stage together. Their adult professional life has always been in conversation with each other. Porter noted that there wasn’t a single major concert that the other hadn’t gotten a glimpse of before opening night. They each have had a front row seat to the other’s professional rise. 

“There are very few of us who really get to explore and have this type of soloist career, but both of us achieved that in the company of one another,” Pouliot said. “To have this support system and someone who is always there, it’s really helpful and so nice to even just chat about things — to text someone and say, ‘How are you navigating this?’” 

Their deep-rooted friendship has allowed for a special collaboration to take hold, one without judgment and with genuine care for each other’s artistry. The show at the BroadStage is part of their ongoing tour. During our interview, they were in Fort Worth, Texas. They gathered in a hotel room for the Zoom call. A violin and case lay atop the bed in the background as they laughed over their memories on Sunset Boulevard. 

“What part of the concert always brings you a sense of joy?” I asked. 

“I think we have the same answer,” Pouliot turned to Porter and said. 

“What’s yours?” Simone asked. 

“Doing it together.” 

“Oh yeah, 100%.” 

“We travel as soloists, as individuals, 90% of the year, so to be able to actually hang out and be together in this and then to return to end the cadence of our little tour in the city that we met and that we lived in for so long is just so awesome,” Pouliot said.  

This Week’s Top Spots

‘Director’s Inspiration: Bong Joon Ho’ @ Academy Museum of Motion Pictures

The Academy Museum just opened the first exhibition dedicated to Oscar-winning director Bong Joon Ho as part of its Director’s Inspiration series. The filmmaker known for “The Host” and “Parasite” has provided introspective and thought-provoking stories over the years. The exhibition focuses on his artistry and archive, sharing storyboards, research material and on-set memorabilia to depict his ability to share social critiques beneath humor. Bonus: Make it a double feature and head over to the movies to see his latest film, “Mickey 17.” 

LOCATION: 6067 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036
DATES: March 23 - January 10, 2027
TIME: On view 10 am - 6 pm Wed. thru Mon. 
PRICE: $0 - $25
LINK: https://www.academymuseum.org/en/exhibitions/bong-joon-ho

‘Jane Eyre’ @ A Noise Within

A Noise Within, a Pasadena theater known for revitalizing classic plays, is currently showing Elizabeth Williamson’s stage adaptation of “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Brontë. The story follows an orphan coming of age while facing societal expectations and everyday challenges. Under the direction of Geoff Elliott, this production turns Jane Eyre’s journey through adversity into a bold theatrical experience. 

LOCATION: 3352 E Foothill Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91107
DATES: March 23 - April 20
PRICE: $74.50 - $99.50
LINK: https://www.anoisewithin.org/play/jane-eyre/ 

‘Jim Jarmusch: some more collages’ @ James Fuentes

Jim Jarmusch, known as the filmmaker behind “Only Lovers Left Alive” and “Paterson,” has his first solo exhibition with James Fuentes opening this weekend. The art show will include a new series of hand-torn newsprint collages made of his own archive of source material. This was initially a practice not meant for public consumption, but after decades of creating private works of art with newspaper clippings, he is letting people in for a glimpse into his creative process. 

LOCATION: 5015 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038
DATES: March 29 - April 26
TIME: On view 10 am - 6 pm Tues. thru Sat.
PRICE: Free
LINK: https://jamesfuentes.com/exhibitions/some-more-collages 

‘Georgia Gardner Gray: Chrysalis’ @ Regen Projects

Georgia Gardner Gray’s first exhibition with Regen Projects includes new paintings, sculptures and a theatrical play staged in the gallery. Speaking of, to mark the conclusion of the exhibition, there will be three final performances on March 29. The content of the exhibition is inspired by the chrysalis, which is both a symbol of transformation and an exoskeletal shield. The works explore ritual reenactment and cycles. For example, one painting reflects on the significance of reenactment through a Civil War reenactment that harks upon a more recent narrative of America. 

LOCATION: 6750 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90038
DATES: March 29
TIME: 1 pm, 4 pm, and 7 pm
PRICE: Free 
LINK: https://www.regenprojects.com/exhibitions/georgia-gardner-gray/press-release 

‘Dracula (Annotated)’ @ Skirball Cultural Center

Skirball Cultural Center will show a sneak peek into theatre dybbuk’s new project, “Dracula (Annotated).” The theatrical performance merges the famous tale of a Transylvanian vampire with the ensemble’s own historical investigation and research. 

LOCATION: 2701 N Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90049
DATE: March 30
TIME: 5 pm 
PRICE: $15 - $20
LINK: https://www.skirball.org/programs/dracula-annotated-staged-reading 

Things: Artist Talks

Learn more about the artists behind the art with these upcoming conversations and talks across SoCal.  

• Sun Yu-Xin @ OCMA: LA-based artist Sun Yu-Xin will discuss her interest in the materiality of color with OCMA CEO and Director Heidi Zuckerman. DATE: March 30 @ 3 pm / PRICE: Free / LINK: https://ocma.art/calendar/artist-talk-su-yu-xin/ 

• Ozzie Juarez (of TLALOC Studios) in conversation with Jasmine Monsegue and Paul Flores @ Control Gallery. DATE: March 26 @ 7:30 pm / PRICE: Free w/ RSVP / LINK: https://www.instagram.com/p/DHd6KRJJ80G/?hl=en

Meme of the Week