Life in the Getty (darling!)

On Friday Austin took me to this incredible art museum just outside of LA called the Getty, which I highly recommend for all of you who are that way inclined! The actual building is a wonderful space to explore, in many ways it reminded me of the museum of Scotland in Edinburgh (which many of you will know is my favourite building), with it's fantastic light and inspiring interior architecture. The Getty sits high up on the hill over looking the city of LA and it is worth a visit just for the views and the gardens alone.

They've just installed these funky wee computers that you wear around your neck and to operate them you just have to touch the screen in order to get information about the various art works. Everytime you go into another room the computer immediately knows where you are...arty brother is watching you.

I was particularly interested in the exhibition on "violent art" that was showing; there were quite a few illustrations from the time of Christian persecutions in Europe depicting the fate of the martyrs. It struck me that we are always protesting about the ever increasing violence on the television and yet in the earlier centuaries some of the most gratuitous violence was on display in the public areana for all to see, no censorship or age restrictions in those days!

I also really enjoyed seeing the impressionists. It was great to see famous works like Van Goughs Iris's and a beautiful Manet painting depicting an interesting political view of the French revolution that I thought was quite striking since it reminded the viewer that the revolution did not come without it's cost.

I would have camped over night if we'd been allowed, I just love being able to engage with good art, it makes me feel so alive...we passed on the camping but did return the next day for more of the same!