The Getty

One of our sunny days in California we got to really enjoy the Getty Center. I really wanted to go, but was skeptical that the boys would like it very much. Wow. Was I wrong.

First of all, you have to have no pulse to not be delighted at the physical space itself. You enter the grounds at the base of steep hill/cliff and drive immediately into massive underground parking structure. From there, you take an elevator to a welcome plaza. At the plaza, you board a tram that takes to the Center itself, affording fantastic views along the way. When you arrive, its not stretch to say that it is breathtaking. The architecture is just amazing and the combination of the serene, pleasing open spaces along with its disconnection from the world below it somewhat clears your mind to really be "in" the day.




Connor and I got to enjoy a program called "Family Art Stop" wherein small group of kids and parents are lead by a teacher to a specific artwork and participate in 30 minutes of learning about just that one piece of art. Here's the one we studied:

A Storm On A Mediterranean Coast
by Claude-Joseph Vernet

The Getty has extensive on-line archives and you can learn about the painting yourself, here. We got to do drawings and imagine sounds and talk about what it would have felt like to stand on that beach that day. Very impressive program and very well executed by our teacher, William, whom Connor insisted on referring to as "Will" without consent. Its not a stretch to say that William was affronted. :)

After that we headed straight to the gallery with the only two Monets on display because Connor had learned about him and very much wanted to see them. From there we wandered down to the lower garden and to the sculpture garden. It was warm out and very sunny. As usual, Palmer was a trooper through the whole day.

I loved it. Its a place to devote an entire day to. Bring a picnic lunch, take a nap on the lawn, and enjoy being there. We'll be back. For sure.