Jude Law and Chinatown

After the show, we heard that Jude Law usually came out and signed autographs and posed for pictures. Some people actually left the show a few minutes early to get a good spot to wait for the star. We walked out to screams from the crowd and Jude Law in the mix. I managed to get a few pictures of what I could see. One in our group did get an autograph on her program and others got pictures. We left the theater in high spirits though I think some might have wished that they would have been the one to get the autograph or picture. Oh well. It was a really great play.

The next day we went to the Frick Collection and then to Chinatown for lunch. Some of our group were a little apprehensive about a real Chinese restaurant but Micky was delighted. A few from our group left hungry but it wasn't because we didn't get enough food.

Hamlet on Broadway

We were most fortunate to have tickets to the hottest show on Broadway this fall. Jude Law was starring in Hamlet. I had seen a notice on the internet and ordered the tickets in July. We had student tickets but the sight lines were great and the performance was outstanding.

Jude Law was a complex and conflicted man in a bold contemporary interpretation. This production made the play seem like it was completely of our time and written in our time, yet still had the classic dialogue of Shakespeare. I always feel very fortunate to be in the audience at such an event. The famous "to be or not to be" was performed with a light snow falling against a black brick wall. Wow.

MoMa and Charis

After the morning walk to the illustration gallery

we continued to the Museum of Modern Art. I had a visiting professor lecture pass so I had one hour to lecture. We went through as much as we could and still saved some time for looking with out my voice. One of my personal favorite images at the MoMa is Monet's garden painting.

Monet was in his 80s when he did this painting. It is one of the rare objects that celebrates old age.

We went to the New York Figurative Academy

to visit Charis and her school. Here she is showing some of the students some graphic design work she recently had printed. We had a nice visit and it gave the students a chance to see a New York art school.

New York City 2009 ....continued

The fall trip to New York continued with the Thursday evening performance of the Barber of Seville at the Metropolitan Opera. It is such a treat to visit the opera. It is like visiting a new world for the students. The next morning we walked to Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick's Cathedral and an illustration gallery. The new art army recruits were in good spirits even though it was rainy and cold. There were some really interesting works at the illustration gallery.

Met again.

The nice thing about the Met is that you can have a few minutes in another culture through the paintings. Take this Giovanni Bellini Madonna painting. If you check out the beautiful color in the background it transports you to Northern Italy soaked in blue. I've missed this painting on many of my early trips to the Met and it is one that you find in the books on highlights on the museum. Slow down, look closer.

It is amazing how lively the students become once you hit the street again. Even in the rain.

More Met.

I always try to save time for our travelers to look for themselves in the museum. I enjoy the time to find new things or discover something I have never really seen after 35 years of visits to the museum. A piece that I enjoyed this year, is this little painting by Sassetta painted in 1435. It is called "The Journey of the Magi". Sassetta is a Sienese artist that you have to spend a little time with to enjoy his charm. This work feels like a children's book illustration. I love the naive quality of the little procession. He really pulls you in with the details in the birds and the soft light.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

On the morning of our first full day in New Your City we walked to the Met. It is a hearty walk from 57th and 9th Avenue to 82nd and 5th Avenue. We always go through Central Park. It hadn't rained but looked like it could. We did a walk through at the museum as a group that lasted three hours and thirty minutes. This was one of the paintings we lingered to see. It is Rembrandt's self portrait and inspired introspection and painterly paint. The Met guarantees great paintings but it usually guarantees wearing you out.

Newest Recruits in the Art Army

The Art Army had new recruits in New York last weekend. It was the annual BLC Art trip. This is on the first night in Times Square. I like how they have blocked traffic somewhat in the center of Times Square. You have less of a chance to get hit by a cab. There is a strange fantasy to being in Times Square. It is touristy, loud, brash and purely visual. I still can't resist it. The New Yorkers that I have talked to over the years don't even go there for what ever reason, but I approach it like the travelers that I bring along. Like it is the center of the universe.

Hollywood as Babylon

On the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland is a strange new shopping mall complex. It is almost like one of the old movie sets. It uses the motif of the real Babylon. The figures of ancient near east gods and a gigantic scale mark an area for restaurants, shops and fountains.

Besides this landmark there are just a few theaters the Grauman's Chinese theater, the Egyptian theater and some souvenir shops.

I find it interesting that Hollywood uses Babylon as its symbol. One would think that would be a negative reference to a pagan empire that conquered the world and eventually fell. Maybe it's accurate.

The Boulevard of Broken Dreams

One of the pathetic things about Hollywood is the seedy, small town feeling in the neighborhood around Hollywood Boulevard. Even the characters that want to pose for money show how sad this dreamland has become.

One good thing we experienced on the boulevard was the band Vinyl Soul. Their music rose up above the ordinary and were one of the best street bands I have ever heard. I have since found them on youtube. Check out their album, "City of Angels".

More Venice Beach.

Even though the L.A. trip was only basically a long weekend, it had an impact on my mind set.

I enjoyed this "freakshow" sign for Venice Beach. It seemed to fit. Though the boardwalk was like an art fair or carnival atmosphere.

Here Julia poses with a tribute to Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night.

Venice Beach

After the art museums, L.A. has some nice light and sand. The air wasn't bad and it was surprisingly cool on the beach. We walked from the Santa Monica Pier to Venice Beach. Let's just say it is a great place for people watching. And if you need smoking accessories or tattoos, then you've come to the right place. We were there for the drum circle.

I think I understand the Beach Boys a little better.

The Egyptian Theater

We had a chance to go to the Grauman's Egyptian Theater in Hollywood. The Egyptian was the greatest theater in old Hollywood. Around 1923. It has seen many makeovers and has been carefully restored outside and partly on the inside to imagine how a real premier would have been.

More LACMA.

After the Getty museums, the LACMA comes across more like a warehouse. The style is bland and monolithic. Much of the collection was closed, but there were a few masterpieces on view. One of my favorite modern paintings is Rene Magritte's "This is not a pipe". I love the irony and humor. Jenna couldn't resist a photo op.

LACMA

I was excited to go to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. They had a special Pompeii show that featured a garden fresco that I really wanted to see. I have really been smitten by the Roman garden frescos. The garden in art has been my theme for the past 5 years, so seeing these great works is inspiring. I love the finesse of these paintings, the layering and exactness. I have also seen Livia's garden in Rome several times so this completes my viewing of the Pompeii collection.

The setting like a set.

I couldn't help thinking that the Getty Center was like the set of an Antonioni film. Everything is in harmony with nature as art. The architect was Richard Meier. I have this quote from him:

"We are all affected by Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, Alvar Aalto, and Mies van der Rohe. But no less than Bramante, Borromini, and Bernini. Architecture is a tradition, a long continuum. Whether we break with tradition or enhance it, we are still connected to that past. We evolve."

In some ways this place is like an adult amusement park. Adult in that the mind is exercised, thrilled, engaged, and entertained. It can work for all ages, but most don't work at it.

Who wouldn't want to paint?

Here are a couple of details from the Getty Center. One is a Chardin still life detail from the 18th century and the other is a detail from James Ensor's Christ's Entry into Brussels from the late 19th century. Both are exciting painterly close ups and both could inspire you to become a painter if you aren't already. I think one is about the masterly qualities of light and form and the other is expressionism unleashed. Between the two, they give you some great choices and pinnacles to reach.

Friends at the Getty

The Getty Center houses a great collection and among the paintings were these by my old friends Vincent and Paul. When you come across paintings like these, it clears your head of Hollywood and the E Channel and the A list celebrities. It reminds you of the greatness of art and the goals of an artist.

On to the Getty Center

After a few hours at the Villa Getty, any self respecting member of the art army looks for another art museum, church or cultural experience and we were off to the Getty Center. Our GPS had a mind of its own, but we eventually found the parking lot and took the tram up the hill to the campus. What an incredible experience. This architecture is nicely integrated with the site and such a unified vision. A perfect compliment to the Roman villa. Once you pay to park your car, admission to the museum is free.

Jenna's leg was bothering her so Sherri decided to get a wheel chair to make her experience the most comfortable. The light is so intense they have umbrellas to use. The light stone makes sunglasses a must.

The view of Los Angeles competes with the art and architecture for your attention.

Three Graces?and the Villa

When I was at the Villa Getty I had a vision of the mythical three graces.  They appeared above a flowering bush in the garden.  

The birdbath fountain was also hinting to me to redo some landscape architecture on my lawn.  If only I could get the marble......

Unique people at the villa.

You can count on some interesting people at the Villa Getty.  This sculpture is of a harpy.  I don't remember seeing such chicken legs on a female figure out of stone.  Weird, but cool.  

The Roman Ephebe or youth,  is on long term loan from Naples.  It is actually a lamp that imitates the Greek style.  20-10 B.C.  Since it is original bronze, it is pretty impressive.

Of course the best are the two very life- like figures in the garden.

More from the Villa.

The Villa Getty is really the deluxe museum experience.  You can see what the Romans lived like, in a climate and architecture that is pure Hollywood-Roman.   I think even the Romans would appreciate it if they could come back.  The real details include an Egypto-Roman mummy portrait and a fresco fragment.

The real and the artificial merge for pure enrichment.

Even the copies around the grounds show a conceptual use of the artwork that you don't see in Naples, where the original sculptures are on display.

Villa Getty

The first art stop on the L.A. tour was the Villa Getty.  This museum is based on the Villa of the Papyri at Herculaneum as if it were new.  It shows the genius of Roman design and for anyone interested in historical recreations, this is the place.  

It houses the antique collection of J.Paul Getty and is an ideal place to experience the ancient past.  The Villa Getty only opened as it is, in 2006.  There is a rich collection of sculpture, fresco fragments and objects.  They also had some family friendly activities at two stations on Saturday.  This is a great example of how great a museum experience can be..... and the entrance fee is paying for parking, the rest is free.

The Art Army travels to Hollywood.

A small group of the Art Army went to Hollywood lately to check out the potential for future travels.

I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the breath of the Getty contribution to the culture.  While the entire L.A. art scene would be impossible to grasp in only a few days, there are clearly some awesome things to see.

The Villa Getty is a model museum and the Getty Center is a truly unique experience for art lovers and both are free!

The city of Hollywood is more of an illusion, but what would you expect.