Solving a 200-year-old mystery; a quick art quiz; what does a mountmaker do?

Meet Tim Skornia

In the Getty Villa’s lab, he’s combining rare earth magnets, a few Amazon purchases, and the special skills of a mountmaker to develop a tool that could aid museums all over the world.

Read more
 

What does it feel like to solve a 180-year-old mystery?

“Like an actual unicorn was led into my office.”

After 200 years, the recently rediscovered illustration from King Louis XII’s prayer book has joined its partner and answers a question senior curator of manuscripts Elizabeth Morrison has had for years: “What are they looking at?”

Read more here
 

Making sculptures

Many of Getty’s exhibitions come with free courses and activities that further explore the art and artists on display.

Recently, Getty partnered with two nonprofits to hold a special sculpting class inspired by a visit to Camille Claudel. 

Hear what participants had to say about the experience
 

Voting with the ancient Greeks

What are the origins of the word “ballot”?

A) a small ball

B) a communal table

C) a type of ancient Greek dress

Find the answer here

and take a look at one of the earliest artistic depictions of voting on a wine cup from 490 BCE.
 

The Wallis 24/25 Season—The New Era Is Now

In 2024/2025 The Wallis is collaborating with some of LA’s most iconic organizations and artistic visionaries to bring both new works and reimagined classics to our stages.

Join us for an extraordinary lineup of programming representing the best of Los Angeles across theater, music, dance and more. Unlock savings if you buy tickets to at least three events.

Tickets now on sale at TheWallis.org
 

Memnon: Outdoor Classical Theater

Select Thursdays and Saturdays

September 5–28, 8 pm

Getty Villa

This epic tale from the Greek mythological canon has been overlooked for over a millennium. Until now.

With bold, vivid language and gripping dramatic conflict, Memnon tells the tale of a powerful Ethiopian king who journeys to the city of Troy to engage in battle during the Trojans’ darkest hour.

Purchase tickets here

How does Getty preserve its collection?

Sunday, July 14, 2 pm

Getty Center and ONLINE

Join us as we discuss the most proactive, holistic, and sustainable paths to the preservation of our collection. Hear professor Joelle Wickens share how her current work in the field centers social, economic, and environmental sustainability.

Learn more and reserve your free tickets

Making Scents of the Court of Versailles: French Perfume Workshop

Select Sundays, July 14–September 15, 11 am

Getty Center

Create your own perfume inspired by historical ingredients and scent combinations favored at the Court of Versailles in France. Discover how perfume’s popularity surged into and throughout the 18th century, fueled by the patronage of French kings and queens (like Marie Antoinette), and how artworks in Getty’s collections reflect this fascination with fragrance.

Learn more about this free program here
 

Ancestral Connections: Yanculia/Restoration

Saturday, July 20, 3 pm

Getty Villa

High school students from across LA present original stories that integrate text, movement, video, and music.

This is the culminating event of the Youth Theater Summer Intensive, a five-week program focused on theater arts, Greek and Mesoamerican mythologies, and themes from the exhibition Picture Worlds: Greek, Maya, and Moche Pottery.

Reserve your free tickets here
 

When a window frames a view just so…

From Get Inspired subscriber Ted Ligibel:

200 years of Shaker history: West Family Sister’s Shop (1814) taken from Old Ministry’s Workshop (1812) at Shaker Village in Pleasant Hill, Kentucky.

Taken with my Google Pixel 7a on June 14 at 9:40 am.

Have a window-framed scene “hanging” on your wall? Did you snap one somewhere else? Send us the photo! Include your name, camera used, location, and anything else you’d like to share at stories@getty.edu.