To celebrate Valentine's Day this weekend, we are profiling couples with a special connection to LACMA. I recently chatted with Erin and Jake about their engagement story and their love for the museum.
How did you meet?
We each had a very close friend who was dating each other, and we were introduced in a larger group of mixed friends. According to everyone else there, we hit it off immediately. They enjoyed watching us chat, dance, and interact all night long. Since Erin was a professional dancer and Jake had formally worked for the Los Angeles Ballet (and he did a very good job of pretending to know more about dance/ballet than he let on) we had an all-night flirtation/getting to know each other that ended with our first kiss on top of a friend's Jeep.
How has LACMA been a part of your relationship?
Attending museums is one of our favorite activities as a couple. We always really enjoy a date that includes art (paintings, sculpture, dance, music, theater, you name it). Our first Valentine's Day date was going to LACMA, followed by dinner and drinks at Ray's. In fact, we always play one of our favorite games whenever we are at a museum or gallery: Art Collector. We each pick a piece of art that we would love to own in our home, no matter the price or size. Each time it's a little different, but the first time we played this game together was at LACMA. In the past, one of Jake's choices has been the Jasper Johns's Flag and The Orator by Magnus Zeller. Erin has picked one of Rothko's paintings, as well as the Edward Degas painting, The Dancers. We've never picked the same piece as each other, nor have we chosen the same piece from previous visits, which makes it exciting each time we return.
Is there an artwork at the museum that holds special meaning for you?
The most obvious and special choice for us is The Dancers. This is the gallery, in front of this specific painting, which Jake chose to propose to Erin, and she readily and excitedly said yes. He chose this location and artwork especially because he knew it was one of Erin's favorites in the museum, and LACMA is our favorite L.A. museum that holds many good memories for both of us. This day was made even more special by the fact that many of our friends in L.A. were able to join us immediately after at Ray's to celebrate our engagement. The museum and restaurant staff were so excited for us as well and made every effort to ensure we had a spectacular visit and evening, and that shared enjoyment is a huge part of that day and memory for us.