Trust me when I tell you this: one never arranges well enough to beat changes. I, the living proof of this proverb, never thought that I would pursue my college degree in USC and that I would have a home in the States. As a result, when these impossibles became possibles, I became more certain that God has done his work.
Instead of spending my holidays in my beloved country Taiwan, I, along with my parents and my sister, decided to spend the last month of 2014 in Irvine, California. During our wonderful time here at California, we visited the J. Paul Getty Museum.
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| Google Map showing the location of The Getty |
Basic Information
Start Your Journey
- What: Art and Architecture
- When:
- Tuesday- Friday and Sunday 10 AM - 5:30 PM; Saturday 10 AM - 9 PM
- Holiday closures: January 1, Thanksgiving, and Christmas
- Admission: Free
- Parking: $15 per car; 10 after 5 PM
- Audio Guidance: Free
- Website: http://www.getty.edu/
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| Map and Guide of The Getty |
Unlike most museums that are indoor, the Getty is a large indoor and outdoor museum that not only exhibits decorative arts and paintings but also showcases modern architecture and horticulture. In other words, once you enter the Getty, you are always surrounded by both natural and artificial beauty.
Once you exit the parking structure, you can walk to the Lower Tram Station, where you can ride the tram which will take you to the top of the hill. If the weather is nice and you would like to take a 15 to 20-minutes walk, you can also reach the top by following the pedestrian sidewalk. There is a garden next to the Lower Tram Station. The garden functions as an open-air gallery where sculptures, landscaping, and the station merge harmoniously to create a space filled with light and art.
While on the tram, you can see the traffic on San Diego Freeway. The dots in the dark created by vehicles lights streak out into light trails, creating dreamy flows of red and gold on the highway. I would recommend photographers to practice shooting light trails here. Why? Everyone in LA knows that traffic jam in LA area is a timed, daily occurrence!
Tour and Explore
Once you reach the Arrival Plaza, look around and take a selfie! Want to figure out where to start? Pick up a copy of Map and Guide at the Museum Entrance Hall!
There are four main buildings: North Pavilion, South Pavilion, East Pavilion, and West Pavilion. Each building exhibits artworks from a specific time period. Before you start viewing, you can check out the GettyGuide, a free of charge iPod Touch that severs as an audio guide. GettyGuide will not only gives you commentary on selected works of art but also shows you images and videos related to the artworks. My favorite is the West Pavilion building which shows art after 1800s. On the second floor of the building, you will be able to find famous paintings by Impressionists such as Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, Pierre-Aguste Renior, Camille Pissaro and Post- Impressionists such as Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin.
If time allows, you should take the tours offered on the garden and architectures. You can see the LA skyline and Pacific from the garden terrace and find a maze in the Central Garden. If you are an artist or student majoring in art, feel free to stop by workshops where you can examine artworks closely and make sketches of your own. After all, there is something for everyone at the Getty Museum.
If time allows, you should take the tours offered on the garden and architectures. You can see the LA skyline and Pacific from the garden terrace and find a maze in the Central Garden. If you are an artist or student majoring in art, feel free to stop by workshops where you can examine artworks closely and make sketches of your own. After all, there is something for everyone at the Getty Museum.
