After a busy week including a WESCO Interhigh conference, I flew to LA to kick off Spring Break. I have never spent time in LA before and there was a lot I was hoping to see. I stayed in the charming beach neighborhood of Santa Monica and went out on the famous Santa Monica Pier on Friday morning. After that I drove to the Getty Museum which is up high in the hills on the NE side of LA overlooking the whole city and out to the ocean. The collection is housed in several buildings on a large, beautifully landscaped campus. Exploring the grounds, seeing the sculptures, delighting in the plants, especially the succulents, and appreciating the architecture was as interesting as the artwork inside. I enjoyed the Magritte, Rodin, Giacometti, and Marini sculptures. I liked seeing van Gogh's Irises, and Monet's Wheatstacks and Cathedral as well as taking in the views over the city. The Getty collection also includes The Villa which is a 30 minute drive west towards the coast and Malibu. I drove through the Pacific Palisades area that had been devastated by fires last year and much of the area is yet to rebuild. The Villa was built in the style of an ancient villa in Pompeii, Italy and houses ancient Greco-Roman art. The grounds are exquisite and the art collection is extensive. I am so glad to have visited and I hope to come back one day.
Since I was in Malibu, I decided to check out all the famous spots including the Malibu Pier and beaches. I also stumbled upon the Adamson House which is part of the California State Parks and is a beaux arts mansion on the water near the Malibu Pier that has lovely tile work and architecture. The beaches range from right along the road to cliffy sections with big views. The one I went to, Point Dume, included a cliff part that overlooked a rocky area where tons of seals congregated. Finally, I drove back to Santa Monica and found it to be bustling at night with high energy, tourists, little beach shops, rowdy bars, and a neon-lighted amusement park on the pier. It was quite a fun scene.
Rene Magritte - Delusions of Grandeur
Alberto Giacometti - Standing Woman I
Auguste Rodin - Christ and Mary Magdalene
Vincent van Gogh - Irises
Claude Monet - Wheatstacks, Snow Effect, Morning
Marino Marini - Angel of the Citadel
Elisabeth Frink - Horse
Henry Moore - Draped Reclining Mother and Baby
Fire in downtown Pacific Palisades
The Getty Villa
Adamson House
Point Dume State Beach - Malibu
Fire along the beach homes in Malibu
Santa Monica Pier
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