“Overdrive: L.A. Constructs the Future, 1940-1990.” is being featured at the Getty Museum Los Angeles from April 9 to July 21, 2013. The term ‘overdrive’ refers to the rapid growth of real estate in Los Angeles during the postwar years. It was a great contribution and willingness of its curators Christopher James Alexander, Wim de Wit, and Rani Singh. Thousands of visitors enjoy paintings, photography, sculptures, architectures, film, photography, and many more.
The exhibition is big, sprawling, and rich. It showcased plenty of work by the renowned and emerging artists. The art of urban landscape and diverse architectural innovations are put on display at the Getty Center, Exhibition pavilion. All pieces clearly showed the rapid growth of the Southern California after World War II. Different forms of art and architecture wonderfully depicted how Los Angeles evolved into the most populous and influential hub of industry, economics, and creative during 1940-1990. Drawings, photographs, models, films, animations, oral histories, and ephemera illustrated the complex dimensions of Los Angeles’s rich culture.
The show at the Getty museum portrayed all major topics such as politics, cars, aerospace, education, pivotal landmarks, religion, sports, shopping, public housing, movies, and more. The illustrator Carlos Diniz shined like a star in the exhibition through his outstanding contributions. The architect Ray Kappe displayed his unique work covering the era of 1970 and 1980. However, there were many lesser known artists and architects who contributed with their own unique and innovative pieces of art. The quality of drawings, designs, models, and photographs was remarkably high.
Modern architecture captured the attention of the visitors. It was backed by powerful institutions including the University of California system, television and movie studios and aerospace companies. The architecture of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics was very close to reality. The art pieces that earned praise included a drawing showing a wide cross-section of Jon Jerde’s Universal CityWalk and a picturesque view of A. Quincy Jones’ Annenberg School at USC. A model that captured my attention for a long time was of Anthony Lumsden’s impossibly smooth design for the 1984 Tillman Water Reclamation Plant in Van Nuys.
We must admire the great efforts of exhibition’s curators who illustrated the prosperous years of Los Angeles through various forms of art. This exhibition got worldwide recognition and people of all walks of life appreciated it. Indeed, these healthy activities in the city boost creativity and help planning innovative ideas.
