The Gala reception at the Getty was a delightful way to officially usher in the conference. While all the exhibitions were open for viewing, the highlight was undoubtedly the open house at the Getty Research Library. Curator Andrew Perchuck personally escorted us to the Special Collections room where we were treated to a selection of Getty curator favorites, including an accordion book of photos and poetry by Chuck Close, a scroll of watercolors and text by Sonia Delaunay, and some exquisite 16th – 18th century books and scrolls depicting alchemical and metaphysical processes. Rare books curator David Brafman gave us an enthusiastic impromptu lecture on the role of frogs in early alchemy, the earliest spherical color charts that were inspiration to Kandinsky and Albers, and the idea of artist as alchemist and vice versa.
Upstairs in the Travertine palace, guests enjoyed a down home fare of lasagna and Caesar salad, wine and beer, and mini brownies and lemon tarts for dessert (don’t act like you didn’t want to know what we ate!).
