A group of SIATech Moreno Valley Independent Study High School (MVIS) students had the privilege to visit the Getty Center in Los Angeles in May 2024. The Getty Center was established by the The Getty Trust and funded by the riches of entrepreneur J. Paul Getty.
After being welcomed by the Getty Program Coordinator, students were led on a tour of the Central Garden. The 134,000-square-foot garden was designed by Robert Irwin, whose theme statement for the landscape architecture was: “Always changing, never twice the same.” It was a chance for students to rest, relax, and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature.
A walkway crosses over a stream and winds through a variety of plants, gradually descending to a plaza, where bougainvillea climbs through umbrella-like trellises sculpted of rebar. The stream cascades over a stone waterfall into a pool containing a maze of azaleas.
The next trek was to the West Pavilion to view the many impressionist paintings on display, with special attention to see “The Irises” by Vincent Van Gogh.
Students were also taken aback by “The Portal of Rouen Cathedral in Morning Light” by Claude Monet. They appreciated the layering and textures involved in the painting of these masterworks.
The trip culminated in the South Pavillion by viewing the various carved marble busts and bronze statues. The details of these works astonished students, with much time spent admiring the details of “Bust of Belisarius” by Jean-Baptiste Stouf, including the very accurate depiction of his teeth of other structures inside his mouth.
The excursion was completed with students engaging in a task that asked them to imagine themselves as fellow successful entrepreneurs. Students discussed and wrote about what trust or foundation they would establish with their vast earnings. (The students especially loved the part about having three billion dollars!) Many of the foundations they dreamed up included humanitarian efforts such as supporting hospitals and homeless shelters.
Though there was not enough time in one day to see the entire collection at The Getty Center, students enthusiastically expressed their desire to return. MVIS plans to revisit this incredible cultural treasure again soon.
Thank you to SIATech CTE Teacher Roger Reinecke and other SIATech staff for guiding students on this field trip.
