MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021 INSIDE: ART AND SCIENCE TEAM UP | PAUL WILLIAMS BUILDINGS IN LA | 20TH-CENTURY HERITAGE SITES PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021 17th-century Italy. We’ve moved forward on conser- Editor vation projects, conducted important research on Jennifer Roberts materials we’ve retrieved digitally from the Getty Library, and continued to reach school children with Designer new online classes and people of all ages, from all Jessica Robinson over the world, with online events. We’ve created new grant programs to aid LA Design Manager artists and arts organizations suffering financial María Velez hardship due to Covid-19. We’ve launched the next Pacific Standard Time, the interactive website 12 Contributors Sunsets: Exploring Ed Ruscha’s Archive, and a digi- Cicek Beeby tal Return to Palmyra exhibition, all while advanc- David Bowles ing work on numerous publications, podcasts, and David Brafman in-person exhibitions. We’ve also kept our grounds LeRonn Brooks and gardens well-tended and our facilities in top 20 28 34 Thuy Bui working order. Pacific Standard Time 2024 Six LA Landmarks Designed Strip Malls, Prisons, Freeway Maristella Casciato Throughout the closure, our Covid-19 task force Artists and scientists are by Paul R. Williams Interchanges? Virginia Heckert has devised ways to create safe work sites on our teaming up to address today’s Two Getty curators offer a What constitutes cultural Alex Jones campuses and planned for our eventual reopening. tough issues tour of their favorite Williams heritage in the 20th century? Elliott Kai-Kee As I write this, there are encouraging signs that we buildings Lyra Kilston can begin welcoming visitors to our galleries and Erin Migdol gardens in just a few weeks. (Visit getty.edu for the Carly Pippin latest reopening information.) Yousra Rebbani It has been an extraordinarily difficult year, and I Pietro Rigolo am deeply grateful to our staff, an amazing group of 3 President’s Message 17 Dog-Eared Michael Ruff dedicated, hard-working, creative people, and to you, How we’ve pivoted during the pandemic Education specialist Elliott Kai-Kee still dips into Valerie Tate little over a year ago, the world seemed to fall Getty readers, for the gracious support and words of his battered copy of the Iliad Katie Underwood silent as we abruptly left our workplaces in encouragement you have been sending. 4 News Jeffrey Weaver Aresponse to Covid-19. We set up home offices, Until I can welcome you back in person, stay safe, Exhibition of photographs by 35 LA artists, 18 Staff Profile Anna Zagorski shifted to remote work, saw each other only over be careful, get vaccinated as soon as possible, and remembering Daniel Greenberg, and other news Alex Jones first learned about Black art from his Zoom, and planned for when we could reopen the enjoy this glorious spring—one that has come none parents and grandparents Center and Villa. Little did we know how devastat- too soon. 10 Events ing the pandemic would become, or that deep social Virtual programs about architect Paul R. 40 New Acquisitions and political unrest would soon follow. Williams’s impact on the LA landscape, Archives of stage director Peter Sellars and the Despite these challenges, we’ve accomplished aphrodisiacs in Medieval Europe, and more Los Angeles Festival; European ceramic art from a lot this past year. We’ve moved toward becoming decorative arts curator Gillian Wilson a more inclusive organization, with training and 12 Exhibitions action on diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclu- Shows to see when we reopen 42 New from Getty Publications On the cover: Concept art sion (DEAI) that will improve our workplace and An artists’ book featuring works by 151 LA graffiti for Planet City, a research museum experience for everyone. Sixteen task forces Jim Cuno 14 My Research Project and tattoo artists project being developed are currently working with senior staff to deliver on at SCI-Arc by Liam Young Post-doc Cicek Beeby studies the surprising ways our DEAI goals. with Jennifer Chen, M. the ancient Greeks mourned their dead 46 Special Collections Casey Rehm, Damjan Jo- We’ve innovated with new digital projects and The life and times of a 16th-century imperial spy, vanovic, Angelica Lorenzi, ideas, increasing our reach to millions more people 16 My Getty according to his “book of friends” and John Cooper as part online than ever before. We’ve negotiated and rene- How did it go when K-12 teachers moved Getty’s of Pacific Standard Time. gotiated countless exhibition loan agreements and Concept image designed field trips into the digital sphere? David Bowles 49 Final Frame acquired artworks that enhance the diversity of our by Liam Young with VFX reports Before you go: a work by photographic artist Supervision by Alexey collections, including a major painting by Artemisia Susan Derges Marfin © Liam Young Gentileschi, the most celebrated woman painter of 2 | Getty Spring 2021 | 3 NEWS Getty Unshuttered, an arts education program at Exposition Park during the 1984 Summer Olym- Above: Untitled (Car and launched in 2018 for teens, has inspired an exhibi- pics in Los Angeles; Untitled (Car and Dog on Dozier) Dog on Dozier), 1970, printed 2020, George tion of works by 35 emerging and acclaimed photog- by George Rodriguez (American, born 1937), which Rodriguez. Gelatin silver raphers, primarily Black, Indigenous, and people of displays a historic image of the iconic Latino car print. Courtesy of and color, with ties to Los Angeles communities. Like culture of California; and Viki Eagle at Union Station © George Rodriguez Getty Unshuttered’s young participants, the artists (2016) by Pamela J. Peters (American, active since have used photography to express their own identi- 2008), which dismantles the stereotype that Indig- Opposite: Viki Eagle at Union Station, 2016, ties and narratives. enous people are immobile. printed 2020, Pamela Organized by independent curator jill moniz, Getty Unshuttered aims to be a catalyst for teens J. Peters. Chromogenic Photo Flux: Unshuttering LA builds on her multi- to connect with one another and to amplify their print. Courtesy of and year collaboration with Unshuttered. moniz orga- art and ideas, online and in real life. At the Getty © Pamela J. Peters nizes exhibitions in her own project space in Museum, students have collaborated with educa- downtown LA and in museums and galleries world- tors and Los Angeles-based artists including Star wide. Her work centers on building visual literacy Montana and Rikkí Wright—whose work is featured to strengthen social engagement and deconstruct in the exhibition—to develop photography portfolios the influence that a dominant group exerts. Photo centered on social topics that resonate in their lives, GETTY MUSEUM PRESENTS Flux recognizes people who have been traditionally such as LGBTQ+ pride, Black identity, foster families, under- or misrepresented by Getty. religious tolerance, and hypermasculinity. PHOTO FLUX: UNSHUTTERING LA Among the works on view: Support Systems Photo Flux: Unshuttering LA will be on view in (1984) by Todd Gray (American, born 1954), created the West Pavilion of the Getty Museum when the in response to the ongoing institutional subjugation Center reopens to the public. • of Black men and used as a form of guerrilla protest —Valerie Tate 4 | Getty Spring 2021 | 5 NEWS NEW FUND FOR LA ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TEENS RESPOND TO TODAY’S “Los Angeles’s arts organizations Latinx, Asian, and Indigenous arts orga- MOST PRESSING ISSUES embody the diverse cultures of our nizations. Other supporters of the fund region and are critical to making us one are the Ahmanson Foundation, Vladimir Last September the J. Paul Getty Museum and the Content Specialist Tuyet Bach at the J. Paul Getty Museum; of the most vibrant, innovative, and & Araxia Buckhantz Foundation, Cali- nonprofit design lab Amplifier issued an open call for art from and Amplifier’s Creative Director, Aaron Huey, and Executive collaborative arts communities in the fornia Community Foundation, Ford students ages 13–19. A prompt, “In Pursuit of__.”, alluded to the Director, Cleo Barnett. nation,” says Joan Weinstein, director Theatre Foundation/L.A. County Depart- phrase “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” from the The winners thoughtfully addressed themes of social of the Getty Foundation. “We’re mirror- ment of Arts and Culture, J. Paul Getty Declaration of Independence, and teenagers were invited to tolerance, access to education, climate change, immigration, ing their commitment to collaboration, Trust, Rita and Tom Hanks, Jerry and reflect on their own lives, consider the state of the world, and and endurance in the face of Covid-19. Their artworks were coming together to provide what we Terri Kohl, Robert Lovelace and Alicia inspire others through their unique artistic expressions. displayed as large-scale projections in Los Angeles, Seattle, More help is on the way for arts hope will be meaningful support at a Miñana, the Andrew W. Mellon Foun- Teens from around the country submitted more than 1,500 Anchorage, and Washington, DC, and are currently featured organizations in Los Angeles strug- time when the very existence of these dation, the Music Man Foundation, the artworks, and a panel of judges selected 34 winners for their on community.amplifier.org. gling through continued closures and organizations is threatened. In the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, the Peren- thoughtful and creative responses to the prompt. The panel of “In Pursuit of__” is the theme of the third iteration of Getty’s economic challenges. Building on two process, we hope to help create a more chio Family Fund, Snap Foundation, and judges included artists Chip Thomas, Johanna Toruño, and Phil award-winning Unshuttered program, a platform and commu- previous relief efforts, Getty is now equitable and inclusive arts sector for Sony Pictures Entertainment & Sony America; photographers Arlene Mejorado and Chuck Grant; nity for teenagers to share and develop their passion for photog- collaborating with local and national the future.” Global Relief Fund.