Visiting Getty Center

Following the opening of the Getty Center, and all the paeans and hosannas already bestowed, I would like to add my own observations. There is a marked shortage of restrooms: There are none anywhere on the upper level. There is only one set on the courtyard level at the entrance. At the lower level, there is one set of restrooms in the west pavilion. The cafe and restaurant have their own.

Pity the poor visitor who finds himself/herself upstairs or downstairs within the maze of rooms in the south pavilion, who has to find his/her way out and make it in time back to the entrance hall, where, inevitably, there is a line of waiting women snaking outside the facility (there was no line for men the two times I was at the center).

There are no trash cans in the exhibit pavilions. The result is abandoned plastic bottles, assorted drink containers, abandoned maps, information guides and assorted debris strewn about.

CHARLES VORSANGER

Pasadena

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Some of the happiest hours of my life have been spent in art museums the world around. Each collection had its own magic to offer and the new Getty is no exception. Unfortunately the Getty charges a high price: risk of life and limb!

The problem begins with the hopelessly inadequate tram, which is swamped by the current attendance figures. To handle the overflow, the museum has hired a bus service. The problem is that while the buses can drive up the steep and winding road, there is absolutely no way for them to turn around. So the bus driver has to back down the road (with only a very low retaining wall and no guard rails whatsoever). If the bus driver makes a mistake or the brakes blow a gasket, then 50 people at a time could be thrown down the hillsides. When our driver finally reached a side street so he could turn forward for the rest of the descent, our entire bus load broke into applause for his having made no errors and for saving our skins.

I enjoyed the Getty, but was it worth risking life or limb? No way!

BENJAMIN B. CROCKER

Rancho Mirage

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Reading the various articles in The Times regarding the opening of the Getty Center, I noted the tone ran from a dislike for the architecture to strong distaste for the exhibits’ use of technology and/or the Getty’s own presentation of the center’s development. But, hey, how about more appreciation for its mere existence? I feel so fortunate that a Getty decided his money should be spent in this way. How can I mind if the Getty chooses to promote itself in its opening exhibits? Can we really get worked up about it? Without people like the Gettys, the public would have one less substantial place to learn about art, and wow, it’s free.

I can’t help but say thank you, thank you, thank you. We need all the art we can get.

P.S. Anyone out there in Orange County who wants to do the same, please do. We’re starving here too.

JOSIE McCAUSLAND

Orange