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Visiting The Getty

John Paul Getty was the wealthiest person in America in 1957 and in 1966 declared the wealthiest in the world. His wealth came from the petroleum industry, but his avocation was as an avid collector of arts and antiquities. The J. Paul Getty Museum, commonly referred to as The Getty, is an American art museum in Los Angeles, California, housed on two campuses: the Getty Center and Getty Villa, where Villagers went last year. 

The Getty is widely known for three things: its gardens, its architecture, and its large art collection.  In fact, in 1983, after an economic downturn in West Germany, the Getty Museum acquired 144 illuminated medieval manuscripts that date back to the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

When John Merriam and I organized a trip with Pasadena Village including transportation provided by our van, I was thrilled. We had 10 villagers sign up. The Getty did not have a tour available, so we wandered around on our own.  Some of us walked in the beautiful gardens and watched ducks swimming around the water maze. The Getty is often touted for its beautiful views, but unfortunately the haze was such that we could not see the ocean. It was nonetheless a sunny and pleasant day.

I enjoyed seeing the Photography and The Black Arts Movement Exhibit with Jo Yeargin. Jo had worked in publishing at Ebony and Jet magazines, and she knew many of the people in the photographs. That made the experience of seeing this exhibit more meaningful for me, and as Denise Aronow said, “It was a walk down memory lane of the civil rights movement.” Sally Asmundson was struck by the extraordinary memories the photo exhibit brought. In an e-mail after our visit, BJ Ledyard wrote “It was a real treat. I enjoyed the whole day and could have stayed forever.”  

If you are considering going, you should go because in Spring 2027 they will close for a year for renovations.

Many thanks to Rick, our Pasadena Village driver and other drivers, Al Miller and Barbara Reilly.