The Getty Center
Categories: Botanical Gardens, Museums, Art Galleries [Edit]
Neighborhood: Brentwood1200 Getty Center Dr
Los Angeles, CA 90049 (310) 440-7300
- Hours:
Tue-Thu 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Sun 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. - Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Garage
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
3 reviews
Neighborhood: Beverly Hills
"LA chapter of debatably the worlds preeminent gallery. Gagosian represents all the big-name living artists, and a lot of their shows are…" read more »
307 Reviews for The Getty Center
I was taken on a date here by my boyfriend..... awwwww
It was a marvelous experience. All of the exhibits and the place itself is simply beautiful. Amazing architecture, the garden area was stunning and so peaceful looking, and the view of the city (minus the smog) is breathtaking.
I really want to go again and enjoy the place more thoroughly and check out the newer exhibits! Oh and of course take a billion pictures because I'm such a wannabe professional photographer :P
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The Getty is amazing.
The buildings are gorgeous and the ground and gardens are phenomenal. They had Van Gogh's Water Lillies and many other famous and old artwork - like from the 1400s and up. The panoramic view from Santa Monica to Downtown LA to Long Beach is amazing. Of course if there was no smog the view would have been better...
This is a place I could come to for the day to bring lunch, a book and escape it all. The fact that you only need to pay for parking is great.
Truly amazing. Exceeded my expectations.
I so am coming back here!!! I can't believe that I didn't visit this place sooner & I'm from LA. Geez!.. haha. My bf & I decided to come here during July 4th weekend & I seriously fell in love w/ this place. It is everything you'd expect it to be. First of all, admission is FREE. Granted you'd have to pay $8 for parking but totally worth it. Next time, we'll bring a picnic basket w/ us & have our lil picnic lunch here by the Garden. We came here in the afternoon & spent 3 hours of just touring the North & Northeast buildings (plus the Garden).
You have to enjoy art to appreciate what they have here. If you're not an artsy person, you really shouldn't come. You'd just be wasting your time... like my bf's roommate. He didn't get why we wanted to go to the Getty & he calls himself educated. NOT! Good thing he didn't want to tag along.
My goal is to finish touring this place & check out the Getty Village in Malibu. Btw, that's the original Getty for those who didn't know. Oh yea, take their daily education tour if you can. You'll learn a lot. Anyway, this is a place you'd have to check out if you haven't been here yet (tourist or local). Everything is BEAUTIFUL!!!
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This place made the visit to LA totally worth it! It's just gorgeous. From the architecture, garden and the art, it's just a cool place to be.
Parking is $8 and admission is free. You could spend hours here and still not see everything. Park and take a 5 min tram ride to the museum. Check out the statue out front, be amazed by the architecture of the building and be wowed by the expansive garden.
The garden tour is a must as they walk you through the entire garden, pointing out the architecture, horticulture and environment that were created. It's stunning. They even have umbrellas for you to use to shield yourself from the hot sun. Inside there are some art tours and it really depends on what tour guide you get. We had one for the photography exhibit that was a bit boring. But we had another one for the romanticism and neoclassical art that was great, knowledgeable and fun. Definitely take time to walk around by yourself to see the art and of course Van Gogh's irises. But don't get too close of security will come after you. I speak from experience people! Cameras allowed with no flash of course.
If you get hungry there are plenty of dining options and outside seating available. The place is just a marvel and I would definitely recommend anyone to go and I'm sure I will be back.
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What's there not to like about this place??
Free Admission, only $8 for covered parking to start. After you park your car, you take a monorail up to the Museum itself, or you can take a walk up to the museum (15min walk, tried it since the line for the monorail was HUGE). Now, I can honestly say I'm not a huge fan on art. In fact, I really don't know much about it, but Getty is seriously more than just about the art.
The architecture here is simply amazing, I love walking around here just to look at the buildings. The garden is beautiful, especially during the Spring season. Hmm, what else? Oh ya, the view from the top. From the upper levels of the museum, you can walk to the balcony and take a good look around the greater Los Angeles area, through the smog and traffic, you'll find a beautiful city. Coming to the Getty Center is a great way to spend the day. I've been here about 4 times in the past year and I've enjoyed each trip. This is a good place to take your visitors. It's a cheap, but yet, insightful experience.
P.S. Personally, I love the Irises piece by van Gogh.
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This is one beautiful architecture. I think the price of admission just for this structure and garden is worth it. And did I mention the price of admission is FREE? Well, the only exception is parking, which is $8, but that's nothing if you got a car full of people. Richard Meiers did a bang up job here and its weird how he designed the new San Jose City Hall and it doesn't look nearly as nice as this place. The geometry and layout of the place is so well conceived that I couldn't stop taking pictures of the place at different angles. And a side note, bring sunglasses if you come here, this building is white and when the sun light is blaring off this place, you will get blinded.
The art collection isn't extremely extensive, but they had some nice art pieces from the renaissance and impressionism era. There were a few sculptures and a lot of old classical furniture. The time that I was there, their special exhibit was dedicated to women of arts and sciences aptly named, Maria Sibylla Merian & Daughters. From what I remember, there were watercolor paintings and a lot of preserved insects, but all in all, quite interesting.
If you want to enjoy art or just relax in an artistic tour de force environment, Getty is a great place to go and only $8 for parking, it's a steal.
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Five stars aren't enough; I wish I could give more. The museum collection is absolutely fantastic. I am a fan especially of the paintings on the 3rd floor. But, best of all, is that you can take a break from looking at such creative art indoors, step outside, and goggle at the creative artistry of the gardens outdoors. And the views---what can I say about the fabulous views?
You can also pick up here free tickets to the Getty Villa in Malibu.
I am so fascinated by this place! First of all it's so nice that it's free admission. Just the $8 for parking. There so much to do here you just cannot do it all in one day.
Tons and tons of art exhibits. The collection is HUGE! This place is so beautiful. Amazing views of the city (well when there is semi-visibility), amazing architecture, the amazing garden, and many food options. I can't say anything bad about the Getty center. The tram ride is lots of fun too :)
The garden area is one of my favorites. A big pond in the center with a hedge garden perfectly manicured. There's lots of grassy areas perfect for just relaxing or even bringing a picnic lunch. You can even get an umbrella for the sunny or rainy days.
Lots of tours going on all day. Still want to check out the garden and architectural tour another time. I think it would be really interesting.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Getty Center!!
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Truly on par with the Worlds Great. The building itself is a testament to the magnitude of architecture in our daily lives. A deep pensive design that invokes profound feelings of admiration and awe. The collections as well as the exhibits are top notch. Last year I had been fortunate enough to attend one of the live music openings they host there in summer and was able to see Los Amigos Invisibles... ... Beautiful Setting, Beautiful Music, Beautiful Smiles. Thanks L.A. all that for 8.00 dollas No One should Holla.
Architectural Tour!!
Everyone has something to say about the Getty. I just have two words: Architectural Tour.
Don't miss it. It really gives you perspective of the location, dedication, and overall awesomeness!
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Great art work and stunning architecture.
The garden is magical.
What is there to say about the Getty that hasn't already been said. The art collection is pretty mediocre and lack luster (only saw one Matisse and one Van Gogh. And a crappy Rembrandt).
The architecture is astounding. A friend and I mused that the architecture could be almost interpreted as Caprican from the new Battlestar Gallactica. Nerd alert.
If nothing else, go and lay in the soft turf grass and look at the sky. Very peaceful. No place like it.
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On my way to Tokyo a few years back I had a 18 hour layover in LA; I solicited my friend Steve for a recommendation on what to do and he said, "Go to the Getty." .. and so I did.
Nothing special about the art really, but the architecture and the view of the city is amazing! It was a great way to spend the afternoon. I was so taken by the place I felt I needed to capture the moment with a memento from the gift shop, the budget was tight so I got the most useful item in the store: a T-Shirt. Much to my dismay, when I unbagged the shirt and tried it on, I realized that it didn't fit very well - at this point I was already in Japan so returning it wasn't an option. I washed it a few times but all that did was burn off the ink so now I had an ill-fitting "etty" shirt; it has since been cut and used as a rag for cleaning off my bike chain.
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Awesome. Great selections and beautiful buildings. The landscaping is breathtaking. They offer several different tours all day and a vast lawn for eating lunch. Didn't bring anything? The cafe serves really nice sandwiches and surprising soups. On the south side there's a cactus garden and a nice view of the smog. It's off the 405 just north of the 10 so use your head and don't drive here at, say, 4pm. You could easily spend a whole day and not see all you wanted but if you need a mid-day break, there's a nice hiking trail near the parking lot that offers great views into the valley and of the ocean and it's a very easy walk.
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The Getty Museum is a fantastic place for family, friends, dates, and all that jazz.
The best part is that its FREE! what is it? FREE FREE FREE!
everything free is great in my book.
From European paintings, drawings, sculpture, to illuminated manuscripts, decorative arts, and European and American photographs, the Getty is able to capture a wide range of audiences.
GO NOW!
love the space
dont like the art
love that the museum is trying to make museums more relevant to LA locals and people in general. props for reviving the discussion on the current state of museums.
During our Memorial Day Glendalian Extravaganza, we had to make the decision between going to the Getty Villa or the museum. I made reservations to visit the Villa, and the tickets never arrived via email, so we defaulted and went to the Museum, instead. I know nothing about art and architecture, but can appreciate how nice things look and are aesthetically pleasing to the eye. The Getty Museum is definitely a place where nearly everything is aesthetically pleasing.
The architecture on this place is amazing, and it's HUGE. Viewing the gardens and outdoor architecture is a trip in itself. It was our first trip visiting there, and they do offer an "orientation video" to show you where everything is, and suggest some of the places where you might want to go during your visit.
Like all museums, if you visit during the week, be prepared to be met by groves of elementary, junior high, and high school students. The first being fairly loud. So, if you want to avoid the kiddies, you might want to come after school hours.
Have fun, and don't get too overwhelmed. I suggest researching ahead of time if you really want to know where certain pieces of art are located. If you're like me, and don't know too much about art, just go here and absorb what you want. It's a nice oasis away from the hustle and bustle of LA.
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It sits on top of a hill looking down at LA for everyone to behold and see. They don't call it The Getty for nothing because at one point or another, you need to get there. And if you don't believe me, well there's 260 plus reviews that give it an average of 4 1/2 stars.
The structures and even landscaping have been covered many times over in other reviews, but my point of view will come from a garden lover's perspective. See, I'm a member of the SoCal Horticultural Society and last year, I was able to take a tour of the Getty and the Villa (see other review) with Michael DeHart, the Horticulturist of Grounds and Gardens for the J. Paul Getty Trust.
Mr. DeHart's challenge is to make Robert Irwin's vision a horticultural reality. Mr. Irwin is the landscape architect with a large ego who even clashed wills with the building architect. that's how big his ego is. Mr. Irwin's edict and the garden's tenet is, "Always changing, never twice the same."
So what exactly does this mean when translated into a garden? Unlike most pieces of art, gardens are living things and constantly changing so maintaining this vision is extremely high maintenance in both labor and money.
For instance, trees do not grow in perfectly straight lines, nor do they have symmetrical foliage (i.e. leaves). In the Getty, this horticultural fantasy has become realized where many techniques are used to attain this symmetry. In many ways, its very similar to the approach of Japanese gardening.
In the first year that the garden was planted, the crape myrtle trees were adjusted nightly so that they had a straight posture and stood together in a row perfectly. The roots of these trees rest in a planter that is less than two feet deep. This is because the planter is constructed over a building.
The soil used for the plants is 90 percent sand and 10% earthworm castings. Earthworm castings are not cheap. They cost at least $20 per bag. This soil mix was specifically chosen for enhancement of water retention and fertilizer uptake. They really pump in quite a bit of fertilizer into their plants. the effect you get is basically plants on steroids. they will put on a great flowery show, but it will quickly deplete the plants and so their normal lifespans are cut short. The trees are trimmed 6 times a year, including the tall California sycamores. When I say trimmed, this means every other leaf is literally trimmed off, because Mr. Irwin specifically wants a an exact certain amount of light to filter through the canopy. This is why the garden has such an unnatural feeling of perfection, because perfection does not exist naturally.
The path in the bowl garden is made from decomposed granite. The walkway color and texture looks best when the paving is not sealed into the ground. So what this means is daily sweeping to erase footprints. Whenever a pebble is tossed into the azalea labyrinth pool, the pebbles need to be later retrieved. Talk about high maintenance.
The garden celebrates 3 seasons which requires continuous replanting. From Feb. to June, the dominant flowers are the brilliant scarlet poppies. Once the poppies are done giving their all, the dahlias take over for the remainder of the summer . In November, dogwood trees are transplanted into the garden to show off their white bark. Because of our mild winters in LA, the desired intensity of the tree bark can only be maintained for about 5 seasons before they are chucked out and newer trees are brought in to replace them. The Getty doesn't donate their unwanted plants - they just dispose of them unceremoniously. I disagree with this wasteful method, but hey' its their property.
If you happen to visit The Getty during the evening, you will have probably spotted a deer or two. The deer are considered a pest, because they see the the garden as one giant salad bowl. So The Getty has employed security guards to patrol the garden at night to ward off the gangsta dear. They also make heavy use of Deer-Off and Not-Tonight Deer products. And yes, you really can purchase those products.
The Getty and the Getty Villa are connected by 750 acres of undeveloped land. To keep the hillsides from becoming overgrown and thus becoming fuel for fire, The Getty hires 56 goats to eat the overgrown weeds and maintain a firebreak.
I don't necessarily agree with all their gardening methods, but I must admit the final effect is usually stunning to behold. And Mr. DeHart's job is all that much more challenging because Mr. Irwin regularly drives up from the San Diego area to ensure that his vision is realized in the garden that he designed. Designing a garden is so much easier than maintaining it, and Mr. DeHart, his staff, and the goats all do a wonderful job of doing so. For that alone, I recommend visiting The Getty.
Admission is free and parking is easy and plentiful, but if you want to ensure a spot, make sure to RSVP online before your visit.
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The Getty is an amazing place! Why? Well... it's free, with exception of the $8 parking fee. Gorgeous architecture and beautiful gardens. The gardens are so serene that you can take a nice afternoon nap as you rest from walking around the exhibits. The BF and I also went on a tour which was interesting and fun. Great place to take photos! I love the natural lighting and warm indoor lighting.
i love it here.
good place for a picnic. honestly i don't go here for the permanent art. sometimes i go for exclusive exhibits. mostly it's the environment, the view, architecture... good nap time while i lay on the grass.
bring your own food. or eat first before you do your walk. for 8 bucks it's worth it for the relaxing day it gives you.
Amazing grounds. I love sitting on the lawn and watching children running to their parents to be caught and flown around.
Beautiful architecture and gorgeous views of the city.
Personally, I am in love with their Decorative Arts section. I could sit and stare at the French Renaissance pieces all day long. I have a thing about fabulous chairs.
I don't think anyone really comes here for the art. The design is simply astounding. Rarely do you get the 'feel' of modern architecture nor understand your place within a space like this. Bring a date. Bring a Hangover. Bring any reason to get you out of the hustle/bustle of LA life. When the big one hits [not the date, the earthquake] this is where I want to be standing.
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For a museum that doesn't charge admission (except $8 for covered parking), they do a good job keeping the entire place clean, neat and beautiful. The staff are very vigilant, I must say. They are quick to attend to your needs, answer your questions or watch out for everybody's safety.
Expect the usual art like paintings, statues, artifacts, etc. But, there's so much more to see and enjoy around the museum premises. There's different views of LA and a beautiful maze-like garden. Our kids were too young for the different arts indoors but they enjoyed a brief visit to the family center with unique manipulatives. They enjoyed the many different pathways throughout the museum grounds, too.
Last visit: 05/08
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The Getty ranks high on the Things To Do in LA list.
Browse art and become a cultured individual for FREE, well almost ($8 parking). I am a night owl and tend to get started on things late in the day so I love that this spectacular museum closes at 9PM on Fridays and Saturdays. The art isn't half bad and the city views are breathtaking in daylight hours but more so at night, I think. It is a unique experience to visit a museum after dark. Also cool when it's raining! They have umbrellas for use to get from building to building when that is the case.
I like to check the Events Calendar on the website from time to time to change up visits like Fridays Off the 405, a monthly evening event that hosts live music and a cash bar at the museum.
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Take the architectural tour. It's the most interesting thing about the place.
And while the permanent collection is narrow and meh, the ever-changing photography exhibits are always noteworthy. Kudos, Curator!
Best to go the day after it rains. Then you can actually enjoy the view.
And one last thing ... if you ever go there, and it's raining, they provide these awesome golf umbrellas for you to use. But don't "accidentally" take it to your car. Because security WILL follow you and confiscate it. (I'm just saying ....)
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A perfect date place. The cheapest spot you can go to without sacrificing class. At 8 bucks for parking, free admission, art by a bunch of dead guys, spectacular views of the city, and plenty of prime hidden pockets throughout the premise for making out...what's not to like?
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I like all of maybe two (2) pieces of art in this museum. So why the five stars? Four reasons:
One: The mono-rail. Anything with a monorail = Extreme Happiness. The fact that they are perfectly timed and there is the risk that they may CRASH makes it just that much better.
Two: Amazing Landscaping. AMAZING. My first trip there was just after they first opened and nothing had matured enough and you just wandered outside completely blind from the sunlight brutally reflecting off the walls. Now, that bizarre terraced garden that I could never figure out has matured quite nicely and the views and the...and the...Well, I won't bore you.
Three: Pretty interesting architecture for a museum. I love that the building itself really uses the weather and light of it's location to an amazing advantage. The multiple buildings make navigation of the museum something of a pain, but why are you looking at the art anyways? I already told you that the art was a minor atraction. The thing that I appreciate the most is that in building a place to house art, they created a piece of art out of the building.
and, Four: Wonderful umbrellas. I stole one once on my birthday. As I recall, I had just moved to SoCal, knew nobody but my sister and one day she picked me up, reminded me that it was my birthday, my 19th, packed me into the car and announced she was taking me to the Getty. We wandered around, and as we were leaving my sister placed her hand on my arm and said "Daniel, today is your 19th birthday, today is the day you become a real man. A man's man...now should we steal this fabulous umbrella?" No wonder I'm gay. My first act as a man's man was to steal a fabulous umbrella. Anyways, one umbrella lasted me five years, from SoCal to Nebraska to New York to France and then to Boston where, tragicaly, it was stolen from me during diner at Aquitaine. People would ask me where I got such a fabulous umbrella and I would reply gleefully "I stole it from the Getty!" Now people are asking some asshole where he got such a fabulous umbrella and he's probably responding "I stole it from some asshole at Aquitaine!", just as gleefully as I once did. Ah, well. Poetic justice.
If I still lived in Los Angeles I would probably appreciate the Getty much more than I do now. Since I don't, I find it a pleasant diversion, but little more than that. Since that's really all I need it to be, five stars.
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beautiful architecture and grounds to stroll around in on a lovely day in california, but be warned it's more walking around versus going to see exhibits--i found them to be very spread apart. but it's absolutely gorgeous and definitely worth visiting! =)
I've been here three times, and it has not failed to take my breath away. The view! Each time I've been, I could see Catalina. The architecture is dazzling. It took 100 trips to haul all the marble from Italy. Imagine that. And of course the art... I was excited to see van Gogh's Irises. I expected a shrine guarded by ninjas with uzis, but it was the fourth painting on the left in a nondescript gallery (protected by plexiglass of course). Just seeing it gave me chills and gooseflesh. I've seen photos, but I never realized how much paint van Gogh used. The guide said the paint is not even dry, he used so much. And the garden is stunning as well. There is a well-stocked boutique. There's a cafe and an upscale restaurant, and both are excellent. AND IT'S ALL FREE. Whenever I go, I think, Why don't more people come here? It's so beautiful and amazing. Did I mention it's free? Parking is $8 but that is nothing compared to what you will experience. God bless Getty for giving us all such a wonderful gift.
what a great place to check out the arts, the landscape, the views! and it's admission is free and parking is only $8...What a great cheap date...minus the drive out there.
In my opinion, the old Getty Villa is better. But to be honest, the food here is amazing. Try the cheeseburgers, seriously. Its beautiful, and new and white and its a really good place to take pictures, but I'm never really intrigued by the artwork or artifacts. I think the Hammer and LaCMA are better for modern art or something of that sort. Beautiful place though, definitely take a day to visit this place.
This is a lovely building, a beautiful garden, a good place to eat, and a mediocre art museum. I give it four stars not as a museum, but an environment.
Don't go here for the permanent collection, unless you aren't expecting much. There's no guiding idea behind any of it, the pieces don't hold together, and there isn't much worth seeing.
Do go here to walk around the beautiful building and fountains on the grounds. I love the gigantic front stairway with huge potted plants on the way up. And I love the stone the buildings are made of. It's beautiful, it looks different in different lights, and there are fossils of shells and leaves scattered throughout.
Do go here for the food. The cafe is pricey, but worth ever penny, and I think is one of the nicest places to take out of town relatives or really anyone you want to show a classy good time. The cafeteria is much less classy, but the food is just as excellent and less expensive.
Do go here for the beautiful landscaping. I love the little cactus garden, the front sculpture garden, the beautiful reflecting pond/fountain in the center, and of course, the main garden. Behind the Getty complex itself, the garden starts with rolling greens perfect for picnics and lying in the grass, then a series of paths through and around a beautiful, full and vibrant flower garden. There are arches, and roses, and cornflower and everything in between. There's even a little sort of lake at the center, to throw coins in.
The gift shop is ok, and the traveling exhibits can be really good sometimes (though they aren't free)
I actually really like the shuttle...you can see one of the tiniest vineyards in LA on the way up. :)
How does one rate The Getty Center?
As an ART MUSEUM it rates perhaps 4.0 stars. It has a few stellar pieces: a romantic portrayal of Venice, a superb Corot ,and one of my all-time favorites, "Young Girl Defending Herself Against Eros" by Bouguereau. And there is a Louis-15th furniture collection that is breath taking and surely worth the visit. But compared to the Chicago Museum or L'Emitage in Sankt Petersburg or even the Prado in Madrid, well, there is no comparison.
But as an ARCHITECTURAL EDIFACE it is sine qua non, truly without equal. I've always said "if I can do it, it's not art!" /lol/ And if someone had come to me and said, "should we build a monument on an LA hillside that is 100% monochromatic?" I'd have thought them nuts. The Getty Center makes me eat those hypothetical words. It's absolutely stunning, world class, something that would make the ancient Greeks proud. If someone was to visit LA and only had a few days, the Getty Center would top my recommendations list. And those Gardens! I go there every few weeks just for the stroll!
So I'd give the venue 5.5 stars! I'd give the art 4.0 stars. I've seen most of the world's celebrity museums and that's still 4.5 stars!
The Getty Center is a must see.
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I love this place. :) Particularly the super-human, larger than life scale of many of the architectural elements, kindov a modernist interpretation of gothic-man-is-not-the-center-of-the-universe sort of motif.
I enjoy strolling here -- particularly when the weather is extra smog free. :)
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The Getty is one of LAs best kept secrets. Hidden high above on the hills of LA off the 405, this is a perfect spot for city gazing, a picnic lunch, or photo shooting. The modern design is one of the best I've seen. Take a tram up the hill after you park in the lot below. You can take the art or architecture tour with one of the great docents. Fab! maintained gardens.
Enjoy the panoramic views of the LA downtown skyline and surrounding neighborhoods.
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The Getty is like Disneyland compared to the neighborhood playground. Families, friends, singles, couples and groups all enjoy a relaxing visit for just a few hours or for all day. The buildings and gardens are a wonder to explore, a true gift to all of us in Southern California. Children and adults love to stroll around the beautiful open architecture and look at the spectacular views of the city of angels.
The price is certainly right. Admission to the Getty Center is FREE--no tickets or reservations required for general admission. Parking is $8. Opening at 10am the Getty closes at 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays, at 6pm on other days.
I always enjoy checking the Getty calendar ahead of time to see what not to miss. Getty is the world leader in photographic collections and the eye opening exhibits always draw my attention. And I love to watch the children at the special Getty storytelling and art events.
If you have never been, please, take a couple of hours, drop by, stroll around, enjoy. If it has been awhile since your last visit check their events calendar and go, enjoy. See you there!
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Dear Richard Meier,
So when are we going to get married? Because I would be so good to you, baby. I promise I would have mac and cheese and fried chicken and ice tea and whatever else you want made fresh, by hand, in the kitchen, at all times. Plus I would cook it naked. Seriously, Richie baby, that ain't even all. I would keep the house so clean for you, and after I'm done, you can smack me on the ass and tell me to bring you a cold beer, cause I know you had a long, hard day at work. Then you can sit on the recliner and boss me around while you watch football, or baseball, or even Project Runway. And I promise to you sloppy bj's all night, just the way you like 'em.
All I ask, is that you continue to churn out such sexy buildings like the J. P. Getty Museum, cause Richie hon, your buildings get me SOOOOOOOOOO. GODDAMN. HOT. UUUUUNNNNGGGH!!!!
Yours truly,
Brandon
Seriously though, this place is a modernist oasis in the rank cesspool of trash and traffic known as Los Angeles. If I lived in L.A., I would be up there all the time. The view here is THE VIEW in this city, the air feels cleaner, and there are beautiful sexy European tourists as far as the eye can see. Yeah.
p.s. the art itself kinda sucks, BUT WHO CARES?!?!?
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"Going to work for a large company is like getting on a train. Are you going sixty miles an hour or is the train going sixty miles an hour and you're just sitting still?"
J. Paul Getty
This quote sums up the sensation you feel when you are at the getty center--every corner or every building built here was built for a purpose and to symbolize something, but what that symbolism is remains up to the viewer which I think makes any place dedicated to art absolutely perfect.
The majestic white walls of all of the buildings sitting on top of a hill in los angeles overlooking the surrounding areas brings you into a state of mind you wouldn't think possible in a city as busy as los angeles--you take a tram from the parking garage up to the center and it literally takes you out of your regular every day life and transports you to the world created by J. Paul Getty.
The trees are all planted in a perfect straight line so when you stand directly in front of them they look as if there is only one tree when in fact there are 10. The curves of the building represent the mountains and the ocean...You can tell that amazing amounts of thought and energy went into just creating these buildings which also have their own source of reusing and collecting water from rainfalls to a basin located underground. All of the materials used to create the buildings were excavated from the same area in Italy that the coliseum in Rome was built from which just shows how special this place really is. The gardens are a piece of artwork on their own with a maze of carefully selected flowers and plants I would pay the $8 for parking again just to come and have a picnic here or simply read a book--it is that beautiful.
Besides just the exterior of this place there are a number of small collections of artwork inside including a special photography exhibit about east la and paintings from artists such as picasso and monet, but going just for the views and to see the fountains and buildings is worth the trip alone. Make sure you take at least the architecture tour when you go because it will make you view the whole place in a whole new light and will help you appreciate the beauty that does and can exist in an otherwise crowded busy city.
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Welcome to your Utopian Museum!
At least it really seems like it. I feel like I should be wearing shiny chrome outfits and flying hover cars around this place. Where's George Jetson?!
My claustrophobia, which I don't have, starts to slip in as I wind further and further into the earth to find parking. I believe at somepoint I might've seen some troll-like creature run by and give me the finger.
The little tram to your perfect futuristic city is a fun, albeit, slow ride.
Once in I find the gardens and the art shows to be very high quality. And who can beat sipping on wine and looking left to see snow capped mountains, then looking right to see the sparkling ocean.
This place is truly amazing.