June 9 2013

Don Juan in Tech Rehearsal February 2013. Photo: Manuel Rotenberg. Dancers: Max Tchernychev and Stephanie Maiorano. Back into that dip motif I am so fond of.

Don Juan in Tech Rehearsal February 2013. Photo: Manuel Rotenberg. Dancers: Stephanie Maiorano, Max Tchernychev, Chris Jovilar, and Joseph Hochschild. This is the middle of the section where all three men dance with Don Juan's "ideal." It was always a little tricky in rehearsal because this particular movement phrase came after a natural musical break. When the music came back in, it was a bit rubato and not particularly rhythmic. Stephanie had to initiate the movement and the men followed her. But the couldn't really listen to the music. They just had to wait for her to start.

Daily Stuff: Stayed in LA last night so I could visit the Getty Villa. Woke up at a reasonable hour and then braved the LA traffic. The Villa is located in Malibu. So had to cross the city. As luck would have it, very light Sunday traffic. Malibu was lovely (if a bit overcast). Noshed on some Taco Bell tacos at a convenience store directly across from the beach. Nice view. Called the Getty to see if I could arrive before my reserved time and they said "Yes!"

For those of you who don't know. The Getty is an amazing FREE place to go see art works and the craftsmanship of the creation of art in LA. It has two amazing venues. The larger museum is at the Getty Center. It has a large collection that features mainly European and American painters, sculptors, photographers and decorative artists in an architecturally impressive complex. The Getty Villa (seen above and below) is an altogether different experience. It is modeled after an ancient villa such as might have been beneath the shadow of Mt. Vesuvius, before it erupted. And it features Ancient Greek and Roman works of art.

Because of it's unique design, you are constantly "invited" to wander into various gardens as you drift through the various galleries. I found myself thinking that, so long as there was hot and cold running water, I could get used to the lifestyle. Normally, the BMOC of the collection is the Lansdowne Herakles. A nice hunk of marble.

The guided tour explains that there are sections of the statue that were "repaired" as was the custom in the early days of excavation and exhibition. Nowadays, we wouldn't add a part of a leg or arm, but back then they did. And for a while, modern conservators removed the "repairs." But then it was decided to replace them to keep in the "spirit" of the original restoration. Interesting that there is one part of the statute that was never restored. :)

But now along with the usual collection, they showing an exhibition of the art of Ancient Sicily. And Herk's position has been usurped by this chap.

Statue of a Youth (or the Mozia Charioteer). That's him (above and below in stock photos form the British Museum). The electronic guide called him "the finest example of ancient classical sculpture in the world." At first, I didn't quite get it. But as you walk around him and take it in, you get it.

The figure and the "draping" of the "fabric" are extraordinary. These pics really don't do it justice.  It really looks like you can "see" skin and muscle under the most transparent diaphanous tunic.

So here is the deal. It is FREE. FREE. FREE.

So if you profess to be an art lover, make sure you go before August. Because that is when he goes away.

Here is the link, remember it is at the Villa not the Center. http://www.getty.edu/