Located in the midst of Glendale's bustling downtown— a rather stagnant, concrete hell, filled with chain restaurants and strip malls a plenty— lies the newly minted Museum of Neon Art, a radiant collection of colorful awesomeness.
Finally opening after a ton of press and wild anticipation over the last few months, I can now now safely coin 2016 as "The Year the Neon Took Over" for the fine folks of Glendale. Hold those heads up and be proud, as this museum is certainly one of your greatest urban achievements.
A gift shop is the first thing you're prone to upon arrival, which serves as a very crafty way to get people to buy stuff BEFORE they enter.
Unlike most museums, where this would lie dormant and hidden in some crevice near the bathrooms, you're smacked in the face with a shopping experience before you even lay eyes on the first piece. There's no avoiding it, so peruse around while you wait in line to grab your tickets, and don't forget to take one more look as you depart. Shrewd business move, neon gods; I dig the hustle you've got going on here.
Buy your ticket, turn the corner and BOOM! you start to see the light, and boy is it bright and beautiful. Smacks you in the face like a Piston Hurricane uppercut from Mike Tyson's Punchout, and it's a heavenly experience. Behold:
This isn't your average art gallery.
Just look around and soak it in: This place has more colorful neon than a pair of Zumba Pants, more neon than The Fresh Prince (and Jazzy Jeff!) and more neon than a troll doll's hair! I feel like I'm in a classier version of Amsterdam's Red Light district...
While the gallery space itself isn't huge— basically one large white room with all of the signs and sculptures methodically strewn about— the vibrant colors, unique designs and "neonification" of each piece will keep you entertained for hours. I swear, I walked in circles for about 45 minutes, just staring at the same shit over and over again, drooling like a freshly risen zombie and slurring "looooook at the pretttttty lighttttts" over and over again. It's hypnotic, warm and just feels so right to be here right now.
And the pieces themselves are pretty amazing, finally crafted by people that are far more talented than myself.
For example: Just gaze at this dapper frog, living without a care in the world. Taking his top hat off to greet you, shiny bowtie around his neck; looking like a better, and more reptilian, version of the monopoly man. This frog is having the goddamn time of his life welcoming you to the museum.
And this sign: Come soothe my soul with your warming glow, and sell me a martini.
I live for this shit. I swear one of the reasons I've chosen to live in cities for the last 15 years is because I love to see a broken neon sign, flickering in a dark and dingy alleyway. This museum brings all of those sweet memories to the forefront.
Highly recommended for those who want to add some real visual stimulation to their day, The Museum of Neon Art is open and ready to melt faces and warm heart. Your eyes will thank you in the end.
