Pre-Conference Social Activity (Optional)

USC Pacific Asia Museum Visit
Thursday, May 15, 2025, in the afternoon in Pasadena, CA

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Join us for a tour of a unique Pasadena institution: the USC Pacific Asia Museum! Established in 1971, the museum’s mission is to further intercultural understanding through the arts of Asia and the Pacific Islands. The museum resides in the historic Grace Nicholson Building, built in 1924, and has been aligned with the University of Southern California since 2013. The current collection holds over more than 15,000 objects spanning more than five thousand years.

For this LOEX pre-conference activity, you can choose between either a docent-led tour or a self-guided tour to explore the museum’s current main exhibition, Cai Guo-Qiang: A Material Odyssey. Cai Guo-Qiang, who designed the pyrotechnics for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, has incorporated gunpowder into his work for decades. This exhibition features artworks, scientific displays, videos, and interactive exhibits. 

Logistics

1:00pm                      Depart from Pasadena Convention Center by foot (Group 1: Docent tour)
1:15pm                      Arrive at USC Pacific Asia Museum for docent-led tour that starts at 1;30pm

2:00pm                      Depart from Pasadena Convention Center by foot (Group 2: Self-guided tour)  
2:15pm                      Arrive at USC Pacific Asia Museum for self-guided tour that starts at 2:30pm
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2:45pm                      Depart from museum to return to Pasadena Convention Center (Group 1: Docent tour)

3:00pm                      Arrive back at Pasadena Convention Center

3:30pm                      Depart from museum to return to Pasadena Convention Center (Group 2: Self-guided tour)

3:45pm                      Arrive back at Pasadena Convention Center

The docent tour is $20 each and the self-guided tour is $12 each. Attendees will pay in-person at the museum’s Visitor Services Desk directly before the start of the tour, or payments can be made over the phone with a credit card at 626.787.2680 (during working hours, Wed through Sun). Capacity is limited to 20 attendees per tour group (a max of 40 total).

The Convention Center is about four blocks, and the Westin Pasadena one block, from the museum.

After the tour, you are welcome to spend more time at the museum on your own to view the other parts of the museum and then depart separately. The museum does not sell food or drinks, but you may bring your own snacks to enjoy in the Sculpture Courtyard following the tour.