Spring 2007
Faculty Travel: Jon Andrews
A small group of University administrators, faculty, and staff flew to Los Angeles,
California, to see a couple of productions and some artwork of the city. As we stepped
off the airplane at LAX, we were greeted with plenty of sunshine, palm trees, and traffic.
After settling in, we rested and then took in a few sites.
The next day we met with Rassie Harper, a friend of the University, influential in bringing the concept for Living Gallery across the country. He led us through the maze of artwork recreations, many of which he constructed, and told of the creative energy and care he used to bring the masterpieces to life. It was a blessing to meet with this talented servant of God.
After lunch with Rassie and his wife Connie, we headed out to Laguna Beach for the Pageant of the Masters. Several local artists displayed their work outside the amphitorium, and we had the opportunity to enjoy the variety of pieces as well as talk with a few of the artists about their work before taking our seats. This secular production inspired Rassie and others to stage a similar event in their local church, and eventually to pass on the idea to the University. The display with over three dozen pieces of life-size artwork filled with live models was impressive, with pieces ranging from Van Gogh paintings to Bernini sculptures.
We spent a good portion of the following day walking through the halls and gardens of the Getty Museum. This collection contains hundreds of old and new art pieces housed in an architectural masterpiece. The spacious galleries and breadth of work made for a pleasant visit. After catching an evening performance of the Broadway musical Little Women at the Pantages, we headed back to Greenville the next morning, leaving friends, palms, and LA traffic behind.