It’s Built. Will they come?
Fourteen years and a billion dollars in the making. One of the world’s great art collections. Location, location, location! But what most fascinates Southern Californians about the new Getty Center, opening today in Brentwood? The 1,200-car capacity (for a mental picture, compare to South Coast Plaza’s 10,804 spaces), reservations-only parking garage. When last we called, there was a nine-minute wait to check parking availability. So, Orange County, have you reserved your spot?
Darryl Curran, chairman of the Cal State Fullerton art department: “Unfortunately, I didn’t make a reservation because I thought sure I’d make it to the A-list black-tie opening. My invitation must have gotten lost in the mail. I understand you can go to the Holiday Inn down the hill, and they have a shuttle going up, which actually sounds like a better way to go.”
Charles Martin, chairman of the board, Orange County Museum of Art: “I’m out here in the Orange County suburbs and have not been invited to the Getty, but I do expect to park in the public parking lot just like everybody else. Let me add that I’m delighted to see the fulcrum of the art world moving West.”
Mark Singer, Laguna Beach architect: “No. I’ll be arriving by helicopter, assuming there’s a helipad. Actually, my wife is scheduled to go see it soon, and the local AIA [American Institute of Architects] chapter is scheduled to see it in early January, so I may just jump on the bus with them.”
Peggy Ripley, assistant manager, Aaron Brothers Art Mart, Costa Mesa: “A 1,200-car garage at a public facility? That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”
Naomi Vine, director, Orange County Museum of Art: “Oh, yes, my parking space is reserved. I’m thrilled that the Getty is making such a major investment in visual arts at this moment in human history. We will all benefit from the research, conservation, collecting, publications and exhibitions that will come out of this important new facility.”
Jean Stern, executive director, Irvine Museum: “No, but I do think it’s a very good way to limit attendance to the people who really want to seek out the art. They make a commitment to be there, not just casually drop by. On the other hand, we’re in the position of trying to attract visitors. We’re not turning them away just yet. And we have plenty of free parking.”
Wade Roberts, garden director, Sherman Library & Gardens in Corona del Mar: “We have our reservation [on March 12], but we’ve been working on [getting] it for several months. We felt lucky to get in. I’ve read about the landscape aspects of it, about the numbers of trees, the irrigation system, the maintenance program. I couldn’t believe that someone could accomplish what they did, and I’m anxious to see it in place.”
Wyland, mono-named multinational whale muralist: “No, I don’t have a reservation. I have an assigned parking space in front of the main entrance so that people who are coming and going will actually have to walk around my car. This is my contribution to the Getty. I think it represents the best of late 20th century installation art in as much as I can change the exhibition simply by coming and going. And, too, it’s inconvenient and forces viewers to think about me.”
