"Fabulous" Forum Announces Musically Inspired Art Program

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Plans for a musically inspired art program for the reinvented Forum, presented by Chase, were announced today, showcasing distinctive interior and exterior works that celebrate the history and spirit of the Forum for patrons and community-members alike.

When the legendary venue reopens on January 15, its interior will feature a photo exhibition, entitled "The Fabulous Forum," which includes more than 200 historic images of artists and Southern California institutions. Meanwhile, two local Inglewood residents have designed the landscape and art for the Forum's exterior that will create a usable recreation space for music fans and for Inglewood residents upon its completion in February.

"We are bringing an interior and exterior art program to the Forum that is as remarkable and memorable as the venue itself," said Sid Greenfeig, senior vice president, west coast business operations, the Forum. "'The Fabulous Forum' photo exhibition celebrates the many defining moments in the Forum's history, paying homage to what has made this arena truly fabulous. At the same time, the functional artwork created by local artists outside the building will add new life to the exterior of the Forum, which has long served as a gathering place for the Inglewood community."

In 1967, the Forum was constructed by Jack Kent Cooke as a home for the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers and the NHL's Los Angeles Kings. But the Forum was a mecca for music as well, welcoming the world's greatest musicians to its stage, beginning with Aretha Franklin in January 1968. "The Fabulous Forum" exhibition will pay tribute to its history with photographs from defining music and entertainment moments, located in both public and backstage areas.

Featured collections will include: photographs of the female stars who have performed at the venue, located in the Level One corridor; a "Forum Legends" display celebrating the 14 artists who have played the venue 12 or more times, located outside the Forum Club; and floor-to-ceiling images featuring artists who played at the Forum during its first two decades, located in the corridor adjacent to the floor seats.

In addition to the museum-quality photographs, every artist that has played at the Forum will be honored with a stencil of their name on the walls of the Forum's truck tunnel in the order in which they played. As additional artists play the venue, their names will be added to the walls.

Outside the venue, two local Inglewood-based artists will create distinctive benches and a mural for a newly-landscaped area, in addition to unique, rock 'n' roll- medallions and mile markers for the perimeter of the building. 

Michael Massenburg, a celebrated, Inglewood-based multi-media artist, is creating a mural that depicts the rich history of the Forum using unforgettable images, from the famed 1982 "Miracle on Manchester" hockey game to Lakers championships to some of the most memorable moments in music history. Abstract elements will be painted in sepia tones and will be interwoven into a visual collage depicting momentous events from the Forum's past.

Massenburg also designed ten medallions that will be strategically placed around the venue to welcome residents who walk the Forum site for exercise, making their visit more visually appealing. The medallions will depict various musical instruments, from drums to saxophones to guitars, and will be complemented by five mile-markers in the shape of guitar necks and picks.

Gale McCall, another Inglewood-based artist who works with a variety of materials, is also contributing to the Forum's fresh new exterior, creating sculptural benches that will provide a welcome respite for the community. Lights below the concrete benches will illuminate the surrounding areas for nighttime use.

The Forum underwent a reinvention that has created a thriving venue for both artists and music fans. The Forum opens on January 15 as the largest indoor performance venue in the country designed with a focus on music and entertainment. Architecturally, the interior of the bowl has been completely modernized and features flexible seating, ranging from 17,500 seats to 8,000 seats, enabling the venue to attract a wide variety of events. In addition to completely refurbished concourses, fans will enjoy approximately 8,000 square feet of new event level hospitality offerings, including food and beverage, merchandise and bathrooms. A tinted glass wall separates this concession area from the arena; ensuring fans do not miss a moment of the performance. Additionally, the Forum will deliver a one-of-a-kind experience for artists thanks to its superior acoustics, intimate ambiance and state-of-the-art facilities. The new Forum was designed with artists in mind and includes seven, star-caliber dressing rooms that feature upgraded amenities, providing an unparalleled experience for all entertainers and performers. 

The "Fabulous" Forum reopens on January 15 with the first of six historic performances by the legendary Eagles.  Additional dates include: January 17, 18, 22, 24 and 25. On January 20, Justin Timberlake's highly anticipated "20/20 Experience World Tour" will come to the venue followed by Alejandra Guzman on February 1, who will be the first Latin artist to perform at the newly reinvented venue. Imagine Dragons' "Into the Night Tour" will come to the Forum on February 14, followed by "Paul Simon & Sting: On Stage Together" on February 15. TobyMac will bring his "Hits Deep Tour" to the venue on March 1 along with some of the biggest names in Christian music and Kings Of Leon will be performing at the Forum on March 21 in support on their 2014 Mechanical Bull Tour. Chelsea Handler will bring her "Uganda Be Kidding Me Live" tour to the venue on April 26 and Armin van Buuren's "Armin Only: Intense" is scheduled for May 9.

About The Madison Square Garden Company:
The Madison Square Garden Company is a fully-integrated sports, media and entertainment business. The Company is comprised of three business segments: MSG Sports, MSG Media and MSG Entertainment, which are strategically aligned to work together to drive the Company's overall business, which is built on a foundation of iconic venues and compelling content that the company creates, produces, presents and/or distributes through its programming networks and other media assets. MSG Sports owns and operates the following sports franchises: the New York Knicks (NBA), the New York Rangers (NHL), the New York Liberty (WNBA), and the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL). MSG Sports also features the presentation of a wide variety of live sporting events including professional boxing, college basketball, bull riding and tennis. MSG Media is a leader in production and content development for multiple distribution platforms, including content originating from the Company's venues. MSG Media's television networks consist of regional sports networks, MSG Network and MSG+, collectively referred to as MSG Networks; and Fuse, a national television network dedicated to music.  MSG Networks also include high-definition channels, MSG HD and MSG+ HD, and Fuse includes its high-definition channel, Fuse HD.  MSG Entertainment is one of the country's leaders in live entertainment. MSG Entertainment creates, produces and/or presents a variety of live productions, including the Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the Rockettes.  MSG Entertainment also presents or hosts other live entertainment events such as concerts, family shows and special events in the Company's diverse collection of venues. These venues consist of Madison Square Garden, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, the Beacon Theatre, the Forum in Inglewood, CA, The Chicago Theatre, and the Wang Theatre in Boston, MA. More information is available at www.themadisonsquaregardencompany.com.

SOURCE The Madison Square Garden Company