Getty Museum offers art and culture in an attractive setting

ARTISTIC EXPRESSIONS-The J. Paul Getty Museum in Brentwood offers an interesting way to spend a summer afternoon. The Getty Center has acclaimed art exhibits and offers an unobstructed view of the city. And don't miss the Central Garden, itself a work of art. Visit www.getty.edu for details about exhibits. Summer is synonymous with outdoor activity, but the Los Angeles area also has much to offer indoors.

There's always something new going on at the J. Paul Getty Museum at Getty Center, as Clint Harper, a Moorpark College professor and Moorpark city council member, knows firsthand.

Harper and his wife, Sharon, visited the Degas exhibit in June, and have been to the Getty on several other occasions.

They have always enjoyed the visits, he said, and "the Getty's docents are very knowledgeable and always give excellent presentations."

In addition to its substantial art collection, on a clear day the Getty offers a panoramic view of the Los Angeles area from downtown to Catalina Island. The center's outstanding and interesting Richard Meier architecture incorporates the spectacular vistas, according to Harvey Kern. The Oak Park resident said he served as a Getty Center docent for five years, leaving when traffic on the 101 and 405 freeways became unbearable.

The J. Paul Getty Trust is an international cultural and philanthropic institution devoted to the visual arts. The trust includes the Getty Conservation Institute, the Getty Foundation, the J. Paul Getty Museum and the Getty Research Institute.

The J. Paul Getty Trust and Getty programs serve a varied audience from two locations: the Getty Center which opened in 1997 in Brentwood and the Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades. The villa reopened to the public in January.

The museum's permanent collection includes examples of pre-20th century European paintings, drawings, illuminated manuscripts, sculptures and decorative arts and 19th and 20th century American and European photographs.

Unique art and photography is displayed in chronological order in four separate buildings surrounded by a courtyard, Kern said.

A path traverses a winding stream in the 134,000-squarefoot Central Garden, designed by artist Robert Irwin.

When it opened in 1997, the center was known for its overpopulated parking lots and difficulty in getting reservations. But "the huge crowds that attended in the early years have dissipated and it's a very pleasant experience now," said Kern, adding there are also special days for families and activities for children.

The museum experience isn't solely visual. The Getty features hands-on events, concerts and entertainment for visitors of all ages.

A Family Festival on Aug. 5 will explore artistic and personal collaboration inspired by the cur

rent exhibition, "Rubens and Brueghel: A Working Friendship."

Guests will be invited to discover how local storytellers and musicians come together to forge new ideas and put together performances. Participants will also have the opportunity to make collaborative art projects at workshops with others and discover how creativity finds inspiration through partnership.

A free concert series for children and families is scheduled in the Central Garden and will feature some of the best children's musicians from across the nation.

Family art sessions and ArtQuest events enable visitors to create works of art inspired by objects in the museum's collection in a drop-in workshop.

The entertainment isn't aimed just at children and families, though. Lectures, conferences, courses and demonstrations are also held at the museum.

The Getty features live music and a cash bar once a month on Friday evenings between 6 and 9 p.m. with the Fridays Off the 405 series. The next event is scheduled for Sept. 8.

Visit www.getty.edu for details about these events and many others. The main museum is at 1200 Getty Center Drive in Brentwood, right off the 405 Freeway.

The center has both an upscale restaurant and cafeteriastyle dining with indoor and outdoor seating.

"We have not visited the Getty Villa since it reopened but it now has a spectacular collection of Greek and Roman art in a beautiful setting," Harper said.

The Getty Villa is an educational center and museum dedicated to the study of the arts and cultures of ancient Greece, Rome and Etruria. The Villa is at 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades.

Visiting either Getty doesn't cost anything aside from a $7 parking fee. The Getty Center is closed on Mondays and some holidays but does not require reservations. The Villa closes Tuesdays, Wednesdays and some holidays and all visitors must have advance, timed tickets. Family activities are free.