Art and intrigue at the Getty

I have been a Getty aficionado for years, following the museum from the beautiful Roman villa in Malibu to the architecturally stunning edifice overlooking Los Angeles. I was stunned to read of the events surrounding the resignation of Getty museum director Deborah Gribbon [“Director of Getty Museum Steps Down,” by Louise Roug and Suzanne Muchnic, Oct. 19].

When J. Paul Getty left his fortune in trust to continue developing the Getty collection, I had hopes that one day Los Angeles would have one of the premier art collections in the world. However, with Barry Munitz at the helm, I see no hope of this happening. He and his self-appointed cronies on the board of trustees clearly have agendas in mind that don’t have anything to do with developing the collection.

Margie Roblin

Simi Valley

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Reading Christopher Knight’s account of the shakeup at the Getty gave me that “Shouldn’t I care more about this?” feeling [“Is the Castle Under Siege?” Oct. 20]. Then I remembered the traffic, parking and maglev ride that are part of the Getty experience. The center that’s quite above it all. So why should I care about an institution that can’t dip more than a toe into the city?

Wes Joe

Silver Lake

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The turmoil at the Getty comes as no surprise to those of us who experienced the leadership style of Barry Munitz when he was chancellor of the California State University system. Munitz came to CSU without prior experience in the education sector, just as he later jumped to the Getty without prior experience in the museum sector.

He believed that his way -- the way of a ruthlessly successful corporate executive -- would transform higher education, just as he now believes it will transform the Getty. Instead, the main legacy that Munitz bequeathed upon us was dissention and deteriorating morale. Now, apparently, he is bequeathing the same legacy on the Getty. How sad that one egotistical individual can wreak such havoc on two of the jewels of California’s cultural enterprise.

John Olmsted III

Fullerton

The writer is a professor emeritus of chemistry at Cal State Fullerton.

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Bravo, Barry Munitz, for making the Getty more than just a depository of art but rather a trust that really improves society through its grants programs. Knight’s statement that the art museum is in the public eye and the grants are not is laughable. Why does the Getty need to own all the art it displays? Rent it! Actually, I think more “poor” people will see the Vermeer in Steve Wynn’s resort in Las Vegas than at the Getty. Munitz is moving the Getty in exactly the right direction to spread the wealth to the educationally and culturally deprived.

Steve Oppenheimer

Northridge

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“OK, where’s the art?” That is the question. The Getty Museum site is an embarrassment of riches but the most enduring part of it is the cactus garden. I can go to Phoenix for cactus! Where is the art, where is the art? I am sure that Deborah Gribbon got tired of being asked, and asking, the very same question.

Jeff Gershoff

Topanga