Tim Walker’s enchanting worlds; let’s go to Copenhagen; an inspiring playlist

The beauty of collaboration

British photographer Tim Walker is known for his surreal, fairy-tale-like images, eclectic influences, and close collaborations with his crew—models, set designer, make-up artist, wigmaker, and others. Walker tells us why collaboration is so important to him and describes how it came into play as he created a series of images commissioned by Getty, 19 of which you can see in Tim Walker: Wonderful Things, a V&A Exhibition—Touring the World.

How the magic happened

A curator’s tour of Copenhagen

Stephanie Schrader, curator of the new Getty exhibition Beyond the Light: Identity and Place in 19th-Century Danish Art, is still feeling inspired by Denmark: she recently flew to Copenhagen to trace the footsteps of artists represented in the show. And she’s come back wiser. “I walked through the places these Danish artists had depicted in the past and came away seeing a little bit more in their drawings than I had before,” she reports.

See the Royal Danish Academy, castles, and more

The music of my life

On the occasion of her autobiographical exhibition on view at the Getty Center, artist Barbara T. Smith shares a playlist of her favorite tunes—from Elvis Presley’s “Jailhouse Rock” to the Doobie Brothers’ “What a Fool Believes.” As Smith tells us, “Music has played an important role in my artworks.”  

Listen to the playlist

In dialogue with LA

When Dawoud Bey & Carrie Mae Weems: In Dialogue arrived at the Getty Center this summer, Getty partnered with four nonprofits so that local photographers of all ages could engage with the exhibition’s themes of race, power, and American history. You can see the resulting images in another show, In Dialogue: LA on view at Band of Vices Gallery through June 17. And check out this related online talk on June 14. 

Learn more
 

Family Festival: Medieval Play

Sunday, June 11, 10:00 am, Getty Center

Take part in a fun-filled festival inspired by Play and Pastimes in the Middle Ages. Arrive in costume or create your own tunic; learn a courtly dance; sing with wandering minstrels; and meet Angel, a medieval-breed pony. Then play traditional games and storm the castle with foam swords and shields on Getty’s verdant lawns.
 
Learn more about this free event

Festivals of War and Peace: The Evolution of Jousts and Tournaments

Sunday, June 25, 11:00 am PT

Online only

The Age of Chivalry in Europe (about 1100–1600) was a time of almost constant warfare, but also of fabulous celebrations and courtly festivals. In tournaments, for instance, the most powerful noblemen displayed their personal fighting and riding skills while sporting dazzling armor. Historian Tobias Capwell discusses the fascinating history of these events.

Register for this free online talk

How are you creative?

On a recent spring day we asked Getty Center visitors how they stay creative. Alejandro Cañas Rangel (left) told us this:

“I really like listening to music and taking pictures.
I focus on shapes, colors, and something really abstract that grabs my attention and makes me feel powerful.”

Guillem Seuba Pablo (right) said this:

“I like to watch plants or animals to see how they survive in their environment. A cactus is really creative, for example. It has really creative shapes, really creative leaves, and those are just ways of surviving. Nature inspires my own creativity and the adaptations I make in my life.”