Ready for the Getty!

Have you ever been to the Getty Museum in Los Angeles?

Just a stone’s throw from the UCLA campus where we picked up Maggie’s boyfriend Ben!  Jill and I were both so thrilled that these college aged kids would want to hang with US for an afternoon of wandering a beautiful museum, looking at priceless works of art and history and enjoying the beautiful day.

The Getty is built on top of a hillside over looking downtown Los Angeles on one side, and beautiful valley views on the other side.

As we were driving, Jill and I were trying to remember just how to put on our best “Valley Girl” Speak from when we were in high school, both of us graduating in 1980 in California. She was a So Cal Gal, I was a Bay Area Bonnie.  But we have the same memories and it is so fun when certain things bubble up to the surface.

Oh. My Gggggggg….

Gag me with a SPOON!

[[[peals of laughter]]]

And then talk of the clothing styles and the hair and the music.  Did we ever think we were that cool?

Enjoying the beautiful day at the Getty!

The Getty museum is free to the public.  But parking will cost you $15.00! Well worth it for the 4 of us that were in the car.  Park in the garage, and then take the tram up the hill to the museum, enjoying the view as you climb.

This doesn’t look like the metropolis of LA at all, does it?

This does!

Cactus Garden with LA in the background!

Priceless Impressionists.

Something happens deep within my soul when I can stand this close to priceless works of art.  What was the artist thinking when they were painting?  Did they capture everything they wanted in this painting?  What did they want US to glean from what they put on the canvas with careful brush strokes and deep passion? 

And then there is the people watching.  I love catching bits of conversation as I walk past a couple talking intently about what they see in any given work of art be it a sculpture, an illuminated manuscript, painting, or a decorative art such as  17th century furniture. 

People are the best part of museum visiting of all, each of us on oiur own journey, filling our lives with our own experiences.

Crossing paths with strangers.

In the timeline of my life, I may never be in the same place with any of these strangers ever again. 

They will go their way, I’ll go mine.  But for this day we stood in the same place, breathing the same air, seeing the same art, yet each seeing these objects in our own way.  What I get from them may be different than what they take with them when this day is over.  But here we are.  Same place, same time.

Such a favorite!

Who was this lady?

What was her life like?

I wonder what she was thinking and dreaming about while she posed for this portrait. 

 Irises.

Where were these irises that the artist painted?  Who planted the bulbs?  Were they watched for every spring as they emerged from the ground - saying goodbye to the winter, growing tall and beautiful as spring turned to summer, capturing the artist’s eye and inspiring him to paint?

I tried to get the photo of the painting without the glare from the windows, but you can still see the reflection in the upper left.  Instead of an imperfection, it is rather interesting.  My time, reflecting on top of the artist's time.  Joined together.

Louis XIV Tapestries!

This was the exhibit we wanted to see ---FASCINATING and fabulous and oh so worth it.  But after taking this photo of the sign and the tapestry in the back, I was told that photos were not allowed in this gallery.  Oops.  But trust me.  It is worth seeing these.

Sit and rest and enjoy!

This was wonderful to see.  The gardens at the Getty are beautiful in all seasons.  And I loved that families brought blankets and enjoyed the sun and the moderate temperatures on this Saturday in February.

Jill and I also plunked ourselves down on the grass, feeling it tickle our bare feet as flip flops were flung off and toes enjoyed the open air.

Those in the snowy north and east – remember that smell of fresh cut grass?  I’m sending it to you with this post. It still exists.  It is coming again!

Is there a greater pleasure than laying back on the grass when the sun is warm and the breezes are gentle?

I don’t think so!  This afternoon at the Getty was such a great gift in so many ways.

Much love from Southern California!

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