The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” -- St. Augustine

Friday, September 7, 2012

The J. Paul Getty Museum Getty Center - Los Angeles, California

(Photo provided/Getty Center)
Destination: If you’re about “to motor west,” consider a stop to see the J. Paul Getty Museum Getty Center.
If you’d like to go to Mass before your visit, about a mile away is St. Martin of Tours Church (11967 Sunset Blvd.), where Masses are 7 and 8:15 a.m. weekdays; 5:30 p.m. Saturday; 7:30, 9, and 10:30 a.m., 12 noon and   5:30 p.m. Sunday.
Why to go:  Drawn primarily from the Getty permanent collection, the exhibit includes Medieval Bibles, missals, choir books, breviaries and psalters (Psalm books), many illuminated with vivid pigments and gold. According to a press release, the exhibit explores three aspects of religious life: both public and private devotion, and devotional literature.
Access: Strollers and wheelchairs are available at the center; baby backpacks aren’t allowed. And keep in mind, there are two Getty facilities and this exhibit is at the Getty Center in LA. Both are near the San Diego Freeway (I-405), so check for roadwork detours before you go. Public transportation is also available.
Admission: Free, but parking is $15. Hours are 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday (through Sept. 21) and Saturday.
(Grand) Kid friendly:  Prepare for your visit by checking the website’s tips for families before you go.
Info: Address: The Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90049.  Phone: 310/440-7300. Web: www.getty.edu
- Compiled by Sharon Boehlefeld
Send your Catholic destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org


Editor's note: The exhibit of religious art that inspired this Destination, “The Art of Devotion in the Middle Ages,” has long since closed. The museum required that we remove the art illustrations two years after we were given permission to publish them, but we've left their descriptions in the article. We also have removed exhibit-related special events.