For even the most seasoned European museum buff, The Getty Center will satiate the urges to be surrounded by fine permanent art collections and exhibits. You will earn a stamp on your proverbial museum passport by visiting this attraction which is dedicated to the visual arts and humanities. In 1997, this veritable treasure trove was built upon a massive hilltop in West Los Angeles near the intersection of the San Diego Freeway (I-405) and the Santa Monica Freeway (I-10). The 1.2 billion dollar trust left by philanthropist John Paul Getty's estate is responsible. Inside and out, you will find yourself amidst a lucky group of people -- the Getty Trust beneficiaries. The trust is a privately operated, non-profit foundation comprised of several philanthropic organizations.
The story began in 1953 when John Paul Getty's personal collections of Greek and Roman antiquities, eighteenth century French furniture and European paintings were exhibited in a small museum at his Malibu home. By 1974, he built the Malibu Villa, an attractive, palatial Roman style villa which still houses the Greek and Roman antiquities collections. Getty died in 1976. In 1982 when his personal estate passed to the trust, the trustees contribution was an expanded museum and large range of new programs dedicated to the arts. The Getty Center was completed by 1997 when the Malibu Villa closed for renovations. It will re-open in 2001 with a new addition, the Center for Comparative Archaeology and Cultures.
With a large educational staff, a 'Family Room' equipped with games, costumes and materials for ages five to thirteen, three extensive multi-disciplinary libraries, concessions stands, two cafés with indoor and outdoor seating, a picnic area, a full service restaurant and a beautiful performance auditorium, a wide range of patrons' needs and interests are fulfilled.
Art staggers in numbers here from every last geometrical vantage point of the 142 acre campus. The numerous gardens are not landscaped here, they are created to evoke graphic expression. The walkways, balconies, reflecting pool , staircases and five two-story pavilions are part of their own tour on architectural merit. Inside the pavilions are distinguished collections of European paintings, drawings, sculpture, illuminated medieval manuscripts, decorative arts and European and American photographs.
Several architecture tours are given daily. There is a Weekend Orientation tour that covers an extensive overview of the collections as well as Weekday Gallery Talks that cover several works of art in depth. There is a self-guided audio tour available for $3.00 to learn about thirty works of art. There are also Art Information Rooms in each gallery pavilion that contain hands-on exhibits, live demonstrations and other educational resources. Non-commercial video and still photography are permitted in natural light only. Sketching with dry materials is allowed. Attend various lectures, classes, films and performances.
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