ForYourArt complemented its 24-hour screening of Christian Marclay’s “The Clock” with a free exhibit of LA’s signature donuts titled "Around the Clock: 24 Hour Donut City II, LACMA's Choice."

LACMA employees chose 12 of their favorite LA donuts with a new donut rotated out every two hours. Favorite donuts included Winchell’s Donut House’s buttermilk bars, The Gumbo Pot’s beignets, and Café Dulcé’s green tea donut. 

The 24-hour, 12-course donut extravaganza culminated on Sunday in a donut discussion led by Top Chef Masters judge and LAist Food Editor Krista Simmons. The panel also included Fōnuts owner Waylynn Lucas, The Donut Snob owner Janeen Gudelj, and food writer and owner of FoodGPS.com Joshua Lurie. 

The panel’s conversation circled around two issues: the effects of the economy on the donut scene and the donut’s struggle to emerge as a staple pastry in LA. 

There was a general consensus that LA was behind other cities – such as New York, Chicago, and Portland – in its development of a strong donut culture. 

“As we all know, living in LA, we are a very image-driven city so we’re very concerned with health. And I would imagine that people are bit more hesitant to eat fried dough,” Simmons said. 

Gudelj acknowledged two other factors that make LA a difficult place for a donut scene to grow: hot weather and a competitive market. 

“The weather does affect us because seasonally in the summer, you don’t necessarily want to eat as many donuts…And even though your product might be different from a flavor standpoint or as a well-made product, if there’s a donut shop that’s more accessible to somebody else by 300 feet, they could be going to that one over yours,” Gudelj said. 

Still, people would always look towards a donut as a type of comfort food even if the donut was pricier and gourmet. 

“People still want to go out, they still want to indulge, and they still want to enjoy. Food and entertainment are two of those things that people will always want to – in some way, shape, or form – spend money on because they lift your spirits,” Lucas said. 

Reach Reporter Melissah Yang here. Follow her on Twitter.