Chicago Vibe Alive

Posts Tagged ‘Malibu Getty’

If you go to Los Angeles you need to go to BOTH of the Gettys. I recently visited the Malibu Villa location and it was like going to another country. You have to make reservations prior so I went online and filled out the form. But, supposedly I needed to bring a print out of my “confirmatuion”. When I got to the gate they asked for my ticket. I told them didn’t have it and I thought I would be on their list. The lady proceeded to explain how I didn’t do what I was suppossed to and then asked if I was really from Chicago (saw my ID). The guard said she lived in Chicago for a bit and asked me to “prove it”.  I then had to lay down some Chicago ramblings: “So I get pastries cooked in a brick oven off Devon and California from a Georgian bakery, I like to stop by Morse Market when I’m in the area, if I want to feel like I’m in Jamaica or the islands I get a meat pie off Howard, I get my daily groceries at Harvest Time market on Lawrence and Rockwell,” I proceed to explain a Chicago dog after that was it. She got the hint and lets us through.

When You enter the Getty the layout is confusing, but then you quickly get a handle on things. The sculpture garden transports you to Italy in about 5 minutes of being there (if not too busy of a day). The pool, the greenery and black iron (I suppose) sculptures spread across an area a bit smaller than a football field.

Inside are amazingly preserved artifacts  from Roman and Greek cultures. There were two statues of Hercules – one from Greek culture and one from Roman. Other pieces to note are the extensive glass and coin collections. They provided some cameos etched in glass that you could view through a digitalized microscope camera. Overall, the food was great (true at both of their museums), not crowded and best of all you felt like you left the country.

Malibu was really crowded so my friend and I drove down to Venice Beach. I always imagined “Venice Beach” as what all of Claifornia and Los Angeles looked like when I was young.  It was everything I thought it would be: Great mix of people, green portions of short dense grass great for sitting, extensive clean sand beaches and great activities like handball, gymnastics, basketball, bikers, rollerbladers, funnel cake vendors, fortune tellers, all around. I really want to get a shot of the iconic handball courts. It was about 4 pm and the sun was going down creating shadows that were perfect. Only problem was I was too far back to get the exact shoot I wanted. Have to go back.

Last spot to mention was the LA Zoo. Very cool set-up for a zoo. All of the cages were placed outdoors and most of the inhabitants were birds. Got some funny shots with the black and white.  There was tropical foliage all over and the zoo grounds were kept very clean. Thinking about the Boston Zoo it is nice to know they are doing well. The seal underwater shoot is my favorite picture I have taken in months.

All black and whites are 35mm film and color are digital shoots. – Matt

Getty Sculpture Garden

View from the top of the Getty Malibu Villa entrance