| Show 'r sf ' She Salt SUNDAYDecember 28 1997 IK JACK GOODMAN : Page Section D akeSribmte "The Ice Storm" Best of the Year's Movies Page D-- 3 D-- 8 Grand and gorgeous it is the shining museum on the hill if The Getty's cafe commands a spectacular view of Los Angeles Harold Williams CEO of Getty trust calls the museum "a work of art in itself Weve got an anthology not an epic Robert Campbell contributing editor Architectural Record BY FRANK McENTIRE I SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE As an expert on architecture Robert Campbell may not think the newly opened Getty Center measured up to his inflated expectations He might agree however that getting to the Getty has epic qualities especially for visitors without parking reservations You plan the trip travel to the difficult-to-reac- h site view your destination from a distance the gleaming white buildings high up a hill board a tram and ride to the top disembark walk through textbook-perfec- t buildings and grounds experience stunning works of art ride the tram back down the hill and fetch a ride home tired but feeling valorous from the LOS ANGELES j J 20th-centur- y exertion The Getty Center housed above the tony Bel-Aarea of Los Angeles overlooking the freeway urban sprawl and the Pacific Ocean has been a media event as well as an art experience Some early birds (the Getty opened to the public 12 days ago) said they discovered the art serendipitously while gawking at the architectural wonderland they had heard so much about in the news The popular media have lavishly covered the design and construction Gettys billion-dolla- r budget the architect Richard Meier and his concommission of the century the struction ordeal and tawdry tidbits about J Paul Getty the late oil magnate and benefactor of the museum and trust that bear his name What really catches peoples attention is the size of the financial bequest that keeps this international arts and humanities operation afloat The Gettys $45 billion endowment (up from ir 14-ye- The Getty boasts impressive collections of illuminated manuscripts (top) and Renaissance paintings the $700 million Getty left to the museum) is twice the amount of this years national budget surplus As a legally designated private operating foundation the Getty must spend 4 25 percent of its endowment about $190 million on its programs for three out of every four years Thats a staggering amount in the hardscrabble arts and humanities world As Christopher Knight of the Los Angeles Times said Money might not buy happiness but it sure can buy a lot of really good art It can also buy prime real estate cutting-edg- e technology ($11 million was spent on networking and telecommunications for the new Getty Center) talented staff and illustrious board membeis Can Money Buy Vision? The Getty Center is the physical embodiment of its founders vision revised and shepherded by Harold M Williams He has served as president and chief executive officer of the J Paul Getty Trust since 1981 We wanted the Getty Center to be timeless and a work of art in itself Williams said because to the outside world the Getty Center makes a statement about what the Getty is at its core And what is that? A foundation dedicated to that prothe visual arts and humanities vides opportunities for people to more fully understand experience value and preserve the worlds artistic and cultural heritage Williams said That vision is achieved through a museum five institutes and a grant program Although most people will have direct contact with the Getty Center through its museums Villa in Malibu (including its faux Roman-styl- e that reopens in 2001 after renovation) its fledgling institutes are perhaps more important to the wider culture Michael Day a Brigham Young University See GETTY Page D-- 2 ournewlife Wedding & Gift Registry (4438) r presented by The Utah Sympho featuring Peter Nero PIANIST AND CONDUCTOR New Year's fve Beginning at 8 pm Six Hours of french Merriment Salt Lakes Premiere New Years bash is back and better than ever! This year the Salt Palace Grand Ballroom will be magically transformed into the festive sights What makes you an individual is your uniqueness your lifestyle your taste You know what you want Let ZCMI tell your guests ZCMI and sounds of the City of Light Peter Nero will be your musical host for an exciting tour of Paris and the exquisite dining and entertaining for which the French are famous UTAH SYMPHONY JOSEPH SILVERSTEiN MUSIC DOCTOR COPY jig i w wr nirt imiiriEmiC iffTmir ntn rr n iai |
