The Los Angeles Central Library - a research repository and a gem of art and architecture

The city of  Los Angeles has many faces. Some people see it as a cancerous urban sprawl, with awful

rush hour traffic, bad air, and crime. For others it's the glitz of Hollywood, the metropolis of business. It is all these things, but the city, including its neighboring areas, is also one of the most important cultural centers of the world. What?! I hear some people call. Yes, and I repeat it: Los Angeles is one of the most important centers of art, architecture, music, and literature. It has some of the most interesting and amazing museums, theaters, and art galleries. If you do just a little of research, you'll find out that many of the world's most famous writers, musicians, singers, sculptors, painters, and other artists have at one time or the other called Los Angeles their home. So, move aside San Francisco and New York! Just kidding.

Of course, the negative sides of Los Angeles do exist. It is a sometimes ugly urban sprawl and anybody who is forced to drive on the freeways during rush hours knows the challenge. And let me tell you, when I first came to Los Angeles over thirty years ago, I told myself that the one city I never wanted to live in was Los Angeles. Well, famous last words. I changed my mind and here I am.

There is a secret about Los Angeles. Well, it's actually no longer a secret. In the midst of cars, gasoline fumes, skyscrapers (some of the world's most beautiful, by the way), and clogged freeways, you find amazing treasures. In two of my last posts, I wrote about the beautiful Huntington Library and gardens in Pasadena.

Today, I want to show you another treasure--the Los Angeles Central Library downtown with one of the most extensive collections of books, maps, and works of art. It's not only a repository of literature, art, and culture, but an architectural landmark. It has been designated a Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument. And I have to admit (and hang my head in shame) that after living here for over two decades, this is the first time I have visited the main library. I've never been without a library card but I have always frequented my local library in Santa Monica. The main reason was that driving downtown and parking there can be such a hassle. But now, that we have a new train line that connects Santa Monica with downtown L.A., the journey is a breeze. And the last station of the newly opened Expo line is just a couple of blocks away from the library.

So yesterday, I embarked on the adventure and here are some pictures.

The new train! Expo Line Santa Monica to Downtown Los Angeles

Left: View from the train

Most of the descriptions below are from the walk-in tours you can either to take on your own or with a docent.

And here it is: Main Entrance from Hope Street

The main building, called Goodhue Building, designed by the architect Bertram Goodhue

The main lobby with the rotunda, wall paintings, and chandelier

The chandelier is made of cast bronze and weighs one ton. The murals above were painted by the magazine illustrator Dean Cornwell.

There are three sculptures by artist Lee Lawrie. This marble figure symbolizes what the Library represents. In her right hand is a book with quotations in five languages. In her left hand is a torch which represents civilization's power over land and sea. The crown contains a miniature model of the Library--two angels for the City of Los Angeles and the bear and star for the State of California.

The two pictures above are from the Tom Bradley Wing. In 1986 two arson fires destroyed 400.000 books and damaged 800.000. 95 percent were saved. After the fire, the library was restored and underwent a major renovation and improvement. One of the additions was the Tom Bradley wing (named after the former mayor of Los Angeles). The three chandeliers above are made of aluminum and fiberglass and weigh 2.000 pounds each. They represent the three themes: the natural world, the man-made world and the spiritual world. (I wouldn't want to stand under them during an earthquake!)

And here is one of the library's reading rooms

How many of you remember this? I do! When I did research in my early college years, that's how we found the books, by going through the card catalog, often very tedious and painstaking work. Nowadays, this is merely a nice memory as we breeze through the search engine on our computers!

Above an early map of Santa Monica

The three pictures below show just how carefully crafted and artistic every room is. So much care went into the building and the renovation. 

 One of the many beautiful ceilings

Right next to the library are the majestic skyscrapers that make out the Los Angeles skyline

I hope you enjoyed the short tour through one of the pearls of Los Angeles. If you want to know more about the library and its history: https://www.lapl.org/branches/central-library

Huntington Library, Pasadena, California - go on a treasure hunt!

One of my favorite places in the southern California area is the Huntington Library. "Library" is almost a misnomer, if you think of a regular public library. The Huntington Library is a vast landscape with gardens, museums, coffee shops, pavilions and more. It's almost impossible to see everything in one visit and once you are there, you will want to come back for more. The first time I visited this amazing place was with my good friend Shawn Gadberry and we focused on the valuable paintings, some of the gorgeous gardens, such as the one devoted to Shakespeare.

The Picture Gallery

Pinkie by Sir Thomas Lawrence

The Blue Boy by Thomas Gainsborough (the painting, of course)

                                                                                        

One of the many gorgeous gardens

The Bard

After all this food for the soul and spirit in this exciting environment, we also needed food for the body. The Rose Cafe serves the most delicious and very extensive English Afternoon Tea.

I'm glad we saw the art and the gardens before indulging in this spread. We may not have made it afterwards!

Photos courtesy Shawn Gadberry.
More to follow!

Want to see some great photos?

Today, it is my honor and pleasure to welcome my sister-in-law, Dorothy Lyner, to my blog. I just discovered, a few months ago, that she is a wonderful photographer. Where were you hiding, Dorothy? The few photos here are just a sample of some of the work she did. At the end of the interview, you’ll find links to the website with her pictures. So, without further ado.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Dogwood

I was born and raised in southern California.  I have spent the last many years living in the Atlanta area.  I work as a legal assistant and spend all free time either taking pictures or studying photography. 

What got you interested in photography? What inspires you to take pictures?

Over Lake Allatoon, GA

You know, initially, when I knew virtually nothing about photography, I would be driving down the road, see an old isolated barn in a field and say to myself, “What a fantastic photograph that would make.”  I would not be able to get the thought out of my head.  I was not taking pictures at this point. This happened to me a number of times in different circumstances and it finally dawned on me that I needed to pick up a camera; that indeed I wanted to capture those images that I was seeing – regardless of what it was going to take.

Civil War Reenactment

Do you take any classes? What kind of training/background do you have?



Summertime Leaf

I took a couple of classes  at a well known photography store/school here in Atlanta, Showcase Camera, http://www.showcaseinc.com. This was where I was taught the basics. I knew virtually nothing about photography when I took their classes and they were a perfect launching point for me. I belong to two successful photography clubs in the Atlanta area, Decatur Digital Photography (www.meetup.com/Decatur-Digital-Photography-Meetup) and Southeastern Photography Society (SPS) (www.meetup.com/SPS-Meetup). I gain more from belonging to these clubs than can be imagined. There are constant lecutures by such notables as Larry Winslett and Michael West, workshops, competitions and shoots with plenty of opportunity to learn about the many aspects of photography. There are pro photographers available to speak with as well as every amateur level photographer in existence. I have also taken an online course in the editing software, Photoshop Elements. I have found there is an unending volume of material online: blogs, free tutorials, and classes for a fee.

Waterfall at Callaway Gardens

What objects/subjects are you most interested in? People? Nature? Small objects? Wide vistas?

Chateau Elan  Braselton, GA

I had to think about this one for awhile.  There are so many aspects of photography you could spend years studying one faze alone and honestly I love just about all of them.  Initially I thought I was interested primarily in macro photography.  I was fascinated with close-up images and for many months simply could not take enough photos of this type.   Capturing the minute details of subjects such as flowers and insects can produce amazing pictures.  More recently I have been learning about off-camera flash.  I love the dramatic 3-D images this type of photography can yield.  It is a very different approach and I have been learning a tremendous amount about light and how you can manipulate it to produce incredible pictures.  I am also interested in landscapes, animals, and candid portraiture.

Do you develop your own pictures? 

View from Inside Westin Hotel Downtown Atlanta, GA

No, I have never worked in a darkroom.  I find it to be quite a challenge to master the editing software that is out there.  I have Photoshop Elements and Lightroom 3.  I have only recently delved seriously into Lightroom.  I can’t think of a single photographer that I know that does not use Lightroom so I am a little behind the times as far as this program goes.  I also recently acquired the Nik Software suite which I am currently learning how to use.  For all the wonderful Ansel Adams darkroom stories I’ve heard my understanding is that with the proper understanding of these programs you can duplicate what one would do in a dark room.

Do you prefer black-and-white or color? Why? 

I have primarily been shooting in color.  More recently, I have been drawn to black and white.  I am particularly intrigued by the dimensions to be explored in the area of shadow.  Every degree of light can be found in a shadow – from a very soft rendering to one that is crisp and sharply defined.   There is a lot to learn in this area and many creative options to be found for a photographer. 

Any photographers/artists that you feel have influenced you and/or inspired you? 

Where do I begin? Here are just a few:  David Hobby (http://strobist.blogspot.com/), Vincent Versace (http://www.versacephotography.com/index.php), David du Chemin http://davidduchemin.com/), David Ziser (http://digitalprotalk.blogspot.com/),
Sarah Gardner (http://www.sarahgardnertextures.com/), Mike Moats http://www.tinylandscapes.com/.

What kind of equipment do you use? Camera, filters.

I currently have a Nikon D60. This is one of Nikon's most basic DSLRs that is no longer made. Although the least expensive, I am an "amateur" and this camera has allowed me to apply myself and learn the basics. I am in consistent awe of the cameras that are available out there and what they are capable of doing. I am looking to upgrade at the end of this year. In the meantime though, believe it or not, there is still ample subject matter for me to study and practice on. I have two lenses currently: the Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G AF/S ED VR II Nikkor Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon DX-Format Digital SLR Camera and the Nikon 40mm f/2.8G AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR lens.

My wish-list: Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.4G SIC SW Prime Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras , Nikon 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED AF-S DX Nikkor Wide-Angle Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras, and the Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens.

I would love to be able to capture those expansive scenes with a wide angle such as reception halls or architecture.  Recently, I also acquired a basic flash (Yongnuo YN460-II) and umbrella (Westcott 43”).

 

Anything else you want to talk about? 

I have a great deal to look forward to and am excited about the future. 

Where can you be reached if people want to get in touch with you? Website? Blog?

I can be reached at dlyner33@yahoo.com.

I have a Flickr stream:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/25753243@N05/

I also have a website: www.goldenambiance.com

Thank you, Dorothy, this was interesting and enlightening. The  photos are absolutely fabulous. Unfortunately, I can only show a few here on this post, but I hope the visitors to my blog will hop over to your website and Flickr  (see link above) and feast their eyes on these great pictures!

And you are all welcome to leave a comment. You can leave a comment as "anonymous" if you don't want to sign it. If you do that, then please write your name in the comment.

Happy Viewing!