THE NORTON SIMON MUSEUM-2

Anyone who has watched the Pasadena Rose Parade on television knows where the Norton Simon Museum is. As the floats negotiate the turn off Orange Grove onto Colorado Boulevard at the beginning of the parade, the museum with its curved corners and brown tiled exterior is in full view.

We had the pleasure of visiting the museum again last week. The Norton Simon Museum houses the most remarkable private art collection ever assembled. The collection includes European paintings, sculptures and tapestries as well as Asian sculptures, paintings and wood block prints, all collected by Norton Simon over a 30-year period.

A short film that runs periodically tells the Norton Simon story. He was a successful industrialist who, after many years of devoting his life to his work, “woke up” to the world of art. From this point on, he spent much of his vast wealth on the acquisition of art.

After viewing this informative film, we headed for the paintings of the European impressionists, Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Edouard Manet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. This being our favorite period, we dallied in front of each painting. I especially liked Vincent van Gogh’s “Portrait of a Peasant”, the peasant’s face lined colorfully to depict his exposure to the outdoors.

As a change of pace, we pushed through large glass doors to the vast garden area outdoors. We enjoyed walking the gravel path that circles a large pond with water lily pads floating on the surface. We’ll have to wait until springtime for them to flower. Our shoes crunched on the gravel as we strolled through the gardens. Benches along the way gave us a chance to relax and enjoy the view.

At the end of the garden next to the museum is a delicatessen-like food bar specializing in salads and sandwiches and other lunch items. A full bar offers most drinks. A visitor can order a glass of wine then settle into one of the umbrella-shaded tables with chairs.

I forgot to mention that even before we entered the museum, we paused to look at the sculptures on the lawn, the most famous one being the complex “Burghers of Calais” by Auguste Rodin. The grim faces of the burghers reflect their agony and concern. The statue commemorates an event during the 100 Years War when the French port of Calais was under siege by the British. Also, on the grounds are Rodin’s “The Thinker” with the weight of the world on his shoulders, and Henry Moore’s abstract “Reclining Figures”

From time to time special exhibitions are displayed on the bottom floor of the museum. At present, it is the art produced in the “Belle Epoch” or “Beautiful Era” in France between 1871 and 1914, in between wars. Memorable in the exhibit are the large artistic advertisements for shows done by Toulouse Lautrec.

Even the museum’s parking lot in its park-like setting with large trees and lawns is beautiful, artistic.

The Norton Simon Museum is only a half hour by car from Monterey Park and is well worth the trip. The Museum is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 12pm to 5pm. They are closed on Tuesday. Friday and Saturday, they are open from 11am to 8pm, Sunday’s 11am to 5pm. On the first Friday of every month admission is free from 5pm to 8pm.

Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors. Kids are free.

A view from the gardens with the museum in the background.

Another view from the gardens with the umbrellas of the "cafe" on the right.

The grim expressions mark Rodin's "The Burghers of Calais".

The first view of the Norton Simon Museum is the park like entrance

MONTEREY PARK AUTHOR PUBLISHES 4th BOOK – Seeking More of the Sky: Growing Up in the 1930’s:

Charles “Norm” Stevens, a 43 year resident of Monterey Park has recently published his 4^th book: Seeking More of the Sky: Growing Up in the 1930’s. This is the story of a young boy growing up in Inglewood, California in the l930’s. This was a time during the depression when unemployment was affecting many and the banks were closed, while the clouds of war were gathering in Europe. But he was lucky enough to be raised in a loving family, the power of that love reflected throughout his stories.

Stevens is the author of three previous books about his experiences during WWII:

An Innocent at Polebrook: A Memoir of an 8th Air Force Bombardier (Story of his 34 bombing missions from his base at Polebrook, England over Germany and France)

The Innocent Cadet: Becoming A World War II Bombardier (A prequel to the first, telling of his training in the U.S. before going overseas into combat.)

Back from Combat: A WWII Bombardier Faces His Military Future from Combat: (This book details the time from when he returned from combat in England until the end of the war.)

He is known to the readers of The Citizen’s Voice as the author of Travel Log Articles including “Cruising the Rhine and Mosel”,” Best of the West”, “In Search of Snow” ,  “From Paris to Normandy on the Seine”, and “Exploring New York”.  He is retired, having taught for 32 years, primarily in the Montebello Unified School District.

Those interested in purchasing an autographed copy of any of his books, may contact the author at 323-721-8230 or  Normstevens24@gmail.com.