The Center branch of the Museum features pre-20th Century European paintings, drawings, sculptures, etc. The center also features a photograph collection from the Americas, Europe and Asia, dating from the 19th and 20th centuries. In addition to the indoor galleries, several gardens beautify the grounds surrounding the museums. The large Central Garden was designed by Robert Irwin.
Location: The Getty Center is located at 1200 Getty Center Dr., Los Angeles, CA, just west of the 405 Freeway.
Cost: Admission is free; Parking - $15; $10 after 3:00 pm
Time: Open Tues.-Friday & Sunday from 10:00-5:30; Saturday from 10:00 am - 9:00 pm.; Plan on spending anywhere between 2-5 hours.
Description: The museum's collection of European paintings, drawings and sculptures are on display in four main pavilions, arranged roughly by era and nationality. The North Pavilion displays the collections art from the early Renaissance era (prior to 1600). The East Pavilion primary features primarily 17th century Baroque art as well as sculptures and Italian decorative arts from 1600-1800. The South Pavilion displays 18th century paintings and the majority of the museum's European decorative arts.The West Pavilion displays sculpture and Italian decorative arts from the 1700's - 1900, including Neoclassical, Romantic, and Symbolist sculpture. It is also the home to the Center for Photographs, which are constantly being rotated in order to avoid permanent damage due to excessive exposure to light. Some of the more famous paintings include: Irises (1889) by Vincent Van Gogh, Arii Matamoe (1892) by Paul Gauguin, and Portrait of a Halberdier (1530) by Pontormo, as well as additional Van Goghs and some Monets.
The Getty Research Institute offers changing exhibits of rare books, manuscripts, photographs, artist's notebooks and other materials from the Museum's special collections.
The Exhibitions Pavilion displays from collections on loan from other museums around the world. When we were there, the special exhibit was the Cave Temples of Dunhuang, which included exact 1:1 replicas of 3 of the caves found along the Silk Road that were used by travelers along the route. Of the 1,000+ caves, about half of them had artifacts such as statues, paintings, scrolls, etc. The exhibit also included a 3-D movie on another cave, complete with detailed descriptions of the items found inside. It was spectacular.
Modern and contemporary sculptures are on display throughout the gardens. The 134,000 sq. foot Central Garden contains more than 500 varieties of plants used in the landscaping. It features a natural ravine and a beautiful tree-lined walkway which meander along streams, a waterfall a pool, and lush vegetation. Unfortunately, because of traffic, we didn't have time to explore them.
Rating: 4.5 stars (out of 5), although the traffic to and from the Center gets -5 stars
Things You Should Know: - The Getty is closed on Mondays.
- A computer-operated tram takes you from street-level (one level up from the parking garage) up the hill to the museum. If you prefer to walk, there is a pedestrian sidewalk about 3/4 of a mile in length - but steep. It will take about 15 -20 minutes to walk it.
- To schedule a group tour of Research Institute exhibitions, please e-mail GRIconnect@getty.edu.
- The Getty Center has a companion facility known as The Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades.
- Traffic getting to and from the Getty Center can be frustrating. Also, if the parking lot is full, you will be turned away and told to return at a later time.
- Not all artwork on display is PG.
Nearby: UCLA, Will Rogers State Historic Park, Westridge-Canyonback Wilderness Park, Rodeo Drive
No comments:
Post a Comment