Volume 10, Number 2, May 1988, pp.10-11

In the News

Friday, January 22, 1988. Los Angeles Times. Section 1, p. 24. "Hammer Will Build Own Museum for Art Collection", by Suzanne Muchnic.

According to this newspaper article, industrialist Armand Hammer has broken a 17 year old promise to give his art collection to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). Anonymous sources close to the museum suggest that Dr. Hammer had made requests which the museum considered non-negotiable. Yet in a letter to the museum, Dr. Hammer stated that LACMA lacked the necessary space to "allow a coherent, full display of my collections" and he had therefore decided to construct a building which will serve this purpose.

Hammer's plans were revealed at a press conference held at the site of his proposed art museum. The site now houses the headquarters of Hammer's Occidental Petroleum Corp. Edward Larrabee Barnes, a New York architect has designed the 79,000 square-foot building which will house the Armand Hammer Museum. The two story building with five underground parking levels will house a library, study center, auditorium, offices, book shop and art galleries.

Monday, April 18, 1988. Los Angeles Times. "Getty Trust to Make Landmark Grants", by Sam Hall Kaplan.

The article discusses The J. Paul Getty Trusts' new category of support for architectural conservation to be administered by the Getty Grant Program. John Sanday, the recently appointed program officer, is quoted saying: "Through our architectural conservation grants, we hope to make a lasting contribution to the preservation of the cultural heritage on an international level." He noted that there will be "special recognition by the Getty for local projects." Mentioned were the Frank Lloyd Wright Mesoamerican inspired concrete block houses in Los Angeles. Support will be on a matching funds basis.

Sunday, April 24, 1988. San Francisco Examiner. "Museums in The City shift focus", with the subheading "Trustees plan to buy 20th century U.S. art, move de Young works", by Nancy Scott.

According to the director of San Francisco's Fine Arts Museums, Harry Parker, the trustees plan to move the European collection from the M.H. de Young Memorial Museum to the Palace of the Legion of Honor and to acquire major works of 20th century American art.

Monday, May 2, 1988. Los Angeles Times. Section 2, p. 1. "Towering Frustration" subtitled "Many in Watts Wonder When Long-Delayed Renewal Will Be Done", by Lynn O'Shaughnessy.

Myrna Saxe, described as "the towers' latest conservator" is quoted as saying: "Everyone is working as fast as they can", but "it's not as fast as it's falling apart."

The article goes on to describe some of the technical and political problems associated with preserving "Los Angeles' most famous artwork", created by Sam Rodia over a 33 year period.

Additional keywords: Watts Towers, Simon Rodia