December 7, 2013

• Getty Center

  On Sunday December 1, we headed to the Getty Museum in Los Angeles.
  
  That is it on top of the hill. From here it looks overcast but the day was sunny and clear.

  
  Since our last visit over ten years ago, the museum added free IPod Touch tours. You simply check out an IPod and headphone and click your way through a tour. We chose a Monsters Angels and Demons tour geared for children. It included reviews by children in their own voice. Several pictures were narrated by characters in the frame. Carl's favorite was described by a small pig in the lower corner.

  
  This is a typical installation. When the descriptor panel has a reference number, we can type that into the IPod and get more information.
  Before I visit a museum, I try to pick out an exhibit to look for. This time I selected a Rembrandt. I remember seeing this painting in my grade school textbooks. This was my opportunity to see the real thing!

  
  Here the kids show of our find. You can click on the pictures for a larger image but to really see it, the Getty website has high resolution digital images of their complete collection.

  After the rich world class paintings, we can rest our eyes with a stroll across the plaza.
  
  Every season is beautiful in LA, here is a beautiful sunny fall day in LA. Over Carl's right shoulder you can see downtown LA. The plaza offered nothing but beautiful vistas over every outlook.

  
  Étienne and Uncle John are having a moment. We met John and Erin's family at the museum. For a Sunday morning, the crowds were not bad.

  
  Meghan, Erin, and Charlotte Pletsch pose for a glamour shot!

  
  Here are both families enjoying the art.

  
  I even caught an artist at work. She took an opportunity to soak in the sun, beautiful people, and architecture of Getty Center.

  
  When I first met The Judy we visited the original Getty Villa in Malibu. The Van Gogh Irises had just been cleaned and put on display. The painting was bare, no security glass, and surrounded by a red velvet rope. I could lean in and put my nose within a couple of feet of the canvas. To my surprise, the picture was on display again. Here it is secured behind glass and drawing quite the crowd.

  I did verify that pictures are allowed. Flash pictures are prohibited and a few areas forbid all pictures. One lady near me shot several flash pictures that drew the attention of the docents. I held my DSLR low hoping they did not mistake me for the culprit. They caught up with her and expressed a polite reminder.
  
  Canterbury and St. Albans: Treasures from Church and Cloister
  I had to take this picture. I looked around for any restrictions but missed it in the darkened hall. I too got a polite reminder. I took about 200 pictures and this is the only forbidden one. I post it here for your enjoyment.

  The large window on the far wall is the real deal! You can read about it on the Getty Center website. I spent my high school years selling church bells with my father. I remember sitting beneath the large stained glass windows of the Midwest churches. This room offered several pews facing the windows for thought and reflection.

  
  The typical vistas of the Getty Center. LA does not have clear skies every day. Actually they can be few and far between. We got one this December 1, 2013.

  On our way out of Lancaster we took a drive down The Musical Road. Enjoy!

  
  Do you recognize these rocks? I remember them from a few episodes of Classic Star Trek. It is hard to miss them on the drive along Highway 14 between LA and Lancaster.

  Another rare find:
  

  • 8:14 pm
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