Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at 7:42AM Exhibitions: LA as It Was and Might Have Been
Los Angeles and its complex and compelling urban landscape star in a new exhibition at the J. Paul Getty Museum. Peter Alexander PA and PE, 1990 Acrylic and oil on canvas Unframed: 190.5 x 508 cm (75 x 200 in.) Courtesy of Pacific Enterprises © Peter Alexander.
By Michael Webb
Overdrive: LA Constructs the Future, 1940-1990, compresses half a century of the city’s growth and architectural expression into a few small galleries at the J. Paul Getty Museum. The sheer volume of information and exhibits could have made this show as congested and frustrating as traffic on the 405, at the bottom of the hill. Instead, it’s a joyful celebration of urban exuberance, an opportunity to make discoveries and be reminded of the rich diversity of this sprawling metropolis. Curators Wim de Wit and Christopher Alexander have made inspired choices, and they have grouped images, models, artworks, and videos within five thematic sections. The Getty’s design department collaborated with students at the Art Center College of Design to create a dynamic installation with plenty of open space for circulation.
