Wednesday, April 4, 2001

Limit: 47 people

This tour is wheelchair accessible

The Los Angeles area offers the unique opportunity to visit three major public library art departments at highly different venues within a 25 mile radius. On the west side, the Beverly Hills Public Library is located at the edge of chic downtown Beverly Hills in a postmodern Civic Center complex that includes the police and fire stations, designed by Charles Moore and the Urban Innovations Group in 1990. The library serves a large clientele of collectors, appraisers, and dealers.

Northeast of L.A. in Glendale, the Brand Library and Art Center is located in the historic former home of L.A. real estate tycoon Leslie C. Brand, an Islamic fantasy he called "El Miradero" (1902-04). Based on the design of the East India Pavilion in the 1893 World’s Exposition, the library, a branch of the Glendale Public Library, is entirely devoted to art and music and includes a large art gallery. An Armenian gourmet box lunch will be provided in the Brand Library courtyard.

The Los Angeles Central Library houses one of the principal art research collections on the West Coast, including many artist books. The National Landmark building (Bertram Goodhue, 1926) survived a devastating fire exactly 15 years ago in April 1986. With overwhelming public support, it was reborn in a stunning restoration and dramatic addition by Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer (1993). The landscaping is by Lawrence Halprin and includes an urban oasis with art work by L.A. artists Jud Fine, Laddie John Dill, and Mineo Mizuno. The Central Atrium is hung with large works by Therman Statom and many other art works integrated into the architecture are featured throughout the building. This all-day bus trip will include a guided tour of architecture and other points of interest along the way by Jeri Byrne, Fine Arts Reference Librarian, Beverly Hills Public Library.

last revised 3.19.01