Already cool

I was relieved to read that the Los Angeles County Museum of Art had effectively shelved the Rem Koolhaas project. Frankly, board members seemed more interested in showing that they and LACMA were hip and cutting edge and, most important of all, could compete with the Getty.

I greatly prefer LACMA to the Getty. It is more accessible, and its street-level orientation allows it to be an integral part of daily life in the city. There are evenings for educators, jazz concerts for the public, and loads of free programs for kids. Even without the art, it is a true cultural oasis with something for everyone. Art, of course, is at the heart of LACMA, and I would have been devastated to miss years of traveling shows during the construction, not to mention losing access to the permanent collection.

The Getty is a great place for out-of-town guests. But it has the personality and feel of an airport or shopping mall. The corridors and stairs and larger-than-life architecture dwarf the art they were designed to showcase.

LACMA won’t win any architectural awards soon. But it’s a very serviceable complex. The money saved by keeping it would be far better spent on new shows, programs and acquisitions -- to allow LACMA to continue doing a great job, only better.

Sarah Arnold

Long Beach