Getty Villa
Malibu
August 9, 2014
We went to the Getty Malibu campus this time, primarily to see a special exhibit of Byzantine art, “Heaven and Earth: Art of Byzantium from Greek Collections.” We had seen that exhibition described in the LA Times some months before and noticed that it would close on August 25 so wanted to be sure to see it before that date.
The Malibu campus is similar to the Sepulveda Pass Getty Center in offering free admission but charging for parking. Parking at the Malibu campus costs $15. There is one additional requirement here: visitors to the Malibu site have to make advance reservations and print admission tickets, even though there is no charge for those tickets. Unless the driver can show admission tickets, cars are not allowed to drive up the hill to the parking garage. Admission is time regulated, to control the number of visitors and more importantly the number of vehicles. Other procedures may apply for those arriving by public transportation, but that is not a viable option for us bringing Margaret. For parking and public transport options see the museum website: Getty parking and access.
Traffic was heavy on Pacific Coast Highway this time, and I am sure that is a chronic problem. The museum can only be accessed from PCH heading north if one is arriving by car; left turns from PCH south bound are not allowed, nor can one access the museum from other neighborhood streets.
The building and grounds are a treat in and of themselves. The Getty Villa is based on a villa at Herculaneum which was buried when the Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D. and has only partially been excavated. One can stroll the arcades to the south of the main museum building and enjoy the plantings in the garden. On prior visits we have always enjoyed the fountains and a large reflecting pool, but we found all of those features drained and dry on this visit, due to the severe drought.
There is one little known feature of the gardens. If one stands on the star in the pavement in the middle of the semi circular benches in the central garden area and speaks toward the benches, one can hear an echo back. We could not make this work for Margaret, but Bob was able to make it work as we have done in the past. We are guessing that it is a trick of height; one must stand rather than be sitting in the wheelchair. Bob then demonstrated this to a visiting Italian couple, and they were thrilled.
We had lunch at the museum café. The food was quite tasty. The prices were a little on the expensive side and the selections were limited. Margaret wanted a quesadilla – remembering the Sagebrush Cantina lunch from our last visit, maybe? – but she made due with a cheese and fruit plate that we both thought was quite generous. In addition to the café, there is a coffee cart available which sells some sandwiches, and there is a picnic area to the north of the museum building for those who wish to bring in food.
The Byzantine exhibit spanned over a millennium, from the time of Constantine in the Fourth Century A.D. to the fall of the empire to the Turks in 1453. It was dominated by religious art, including, among other things, some large and spectacular icons. Some everyday items were also included, such as serving bowls, combs, and oil lamps, to name a few.
After we saw the Byzantine exhibit we went to another gallery on the second floor which had a special exhibition of ancient glass, “Molten Color: Glassmaking in Antiquity.” This exhibit opened in 2010 and is ongoing. There were pieces made with a variety of techniques, including some pieces made as long ago as 2500 BC.
We also strolled through some of the museum’s permanent collection. Margaret was tired, so we did not stay long, but we did go in to see the bronze sculpture known as the Victorious Youth, which has always been a favorite of ours, and we saw the Lansdowne Heracles statue, also a favorite.
Wheelchair access is easy throughout the museum. Wherever there are stairs, there is always an alternative of ramp, elevator, or wheelchair lift.
Note: some of the photos used above are from last year’s visit; the photo of Bob and Margaret by the bronze statute of Tiberius was from this most recent visit.