m a y . 2 0 2 1

finally!

    getting ready for the world to open ... open ... open! 

    for cinco de mayo I was supposed to participate at work in a virtual proximity event with our site admin group, but the project box was never delivered, so I had to sit and watch as everyone else assembled pinatas!  I got great ideas for making them in the future, but it was less than satisfying not being able to participate.

    for mom's day I made tasty eats and got to text with my baby!  

    as my two week post-second-shot waiting period was ending, my friend Barbara asked me to go to a play-reading at Montalvo, one of my most favorite spots in the silicon valley.  we watched Love, Loss and What I Wore which was directed by one of our common theatre friends, and I knew one of the 6 women who were the performers.  plus it was a funny, thoughtful, poignant script that I'd never seen/heard before. we had boxed appetizers and wine on the lawn in our group pods, and it was a lovely evening out all around!  finally, getting out and about and watching live theatre after more than 14 months!!

    also attended the Spring concert I would normally have played in, but instead went as an audience member while Janet played French horn and trumpet. in the photo below she's next to the fence, far right. it was glorious being at a live event, though it was a little breezy, and cooled off very quickly.   afterwards Janet and I went out for appetizers and wine at her fave eatery, and we caught up after several months of not seeing each other. I finally gave her all her Christmas and birthday presents, one of which was this afghan that I made especially for her.

    toward the end of the month I participated in another virtual painting session, and made this serene scene.  

"A Country Road through Irises and Jacaranda" 

 

    on Saturday of Memorial Day weekend I made a one-day turnaround trip to la la land for a couple of artistic-themed tours. I was able to park a few blocks away - the pandemic has a number of lots/garages closed on weekends I guess - and walked through Chinatown and over to the historic Union Station train terminal. 

A Chinese Association building, or gathering spot

The Alameda is part of Historic Route 66

this Post Office was built expressly to handle the mail that arrived by trains two blocks away

the train station was specifically located to be near the town's plaza, a central community gathering spot

 

    I walked about 9 blocks, or four-tenths of a mile from Chinatown to the beautiful, newly renovated building.  at the time it was built in the early 30's, the architectural styles used locally were Spanish Colonial and the new style of Art Deco.  those influences are still present, and were restored faithfully.  

it's unknown whether the bell in this decoration was a symbol of
California's Missions, or if it was for the ever-present signals of trains arriving

it was because of the Oscars event that I knew the station was ready for viewing, and checked the Conservancy website and found that they were offering tours

just inside the west vestibule is an original Information Center; it is the remaining one of the two that had originally existed.  the new and modern transit services that are used daily can be seen in the background

the bar and restaurant that were here pre-pandemic (but not currently) are cleverly named Traxx

looking back from the waiting room, to the entrance and the information center.  the marble tile work in the floor was designed to subtly move passengers to their destinations

when trains were the major form of transport, restaurants were co-located to feed weary and hungry travelers after their long travels

I loved this scallop motif

this modern creperie adapted its style to complement the beautiful surroundings

this area was blocked off from regular traffic, but those of us on the tour got to go past the ropes; my tour companion was Elise, and our docent was Randy

Randy and Elise following the direction of the tile design

built during the depression, some costs were cut and more elaborate ideas were eliminated, but there were still gorgeous design elements that were completed.  these were the many ticket windows where travelers purchased the tickets provided by the three major train lines whose trains connected here.  they were the Union Pacific, the Santa Fe and the Southern Pacific

because we were behind the ropes, we got to see behind the counters, which were just as well designed as the front.  this is all original, well constructed, solid wood and marble.  seems to have been meant to last many lifetimes

the original timetables board, with data from some time in the '60's

before cellphones provided exact time from satellites, clocks were present everywhere to keep passengers and trains running on time.  this is one of several that we saw on the tour

this was a fun trivia fact - these transitional shelf/barricades are not original, but were instead made as props for a movie and are still in use because they are so functional.  and the movie ... was Blade Runner! 

the motif of the Moorish Star can be seen everywhere, in tile and marble floor and wall designs, and as windows in these gorgeous double doors

I couldn't tell if this was a functional entryway, but I certainly liked the intricacy of the metalwork

announcing the trains was an important function that happened many times a day, and still does.  why not make the speakers that bring the announcements decorative

these clever metal brackets were designed to look interesting and hold the cords that retracted Venitian blinds.

I saw several of these iron grids covering various controls; this one is covering a thermometer bulb

I wasn't able to read all of the renovation posters that were available to view in the waiting room, but I did snap a picture of this one about the Harvey restaurants; I first learned about them in my teens from watching the Judy Garland movie Harvey Girls

these are just a few of the many sturdy leather seating units that used to completely fill this waiting area.  they are low enough that people with short legs don't have their legs dangling from their knees! 

another handy timepiece, keeping passengers in the waiting room abreast of the time

this was the seat I used briefly, waiting for the tour to start.  it was very comfortable

decorative grillwork covers the window that looks out onto the south patio

a better view of the south patio; we'll wander out here at the end of the tour

but first we'll see the north patio

this was another area used for the Oscars production.  several of the trees still had the light strands that had been installed for that event

such a lovely spot to stroll between train connections, especially if you were escaping wintry weather in northeastern locales

strolling back inside

we're in the newer part of the building now, but floor and other elements were designed to compliment the tilework and decor in the original parts of the building. 

a throwback piece - for show and unused according to the docent - from bygone eras

a modern mural depicting some of the patron saints and angels of indigenous and transplanted peoples that make this the place of the angels, Los Angeles

I really liked this illuminated photo trip-tych of one of the train bores

also in the newer section, the eastern end of the station, we stroll up to the beautiful street transit hub

another timepiece, modern but still complimentary to the rest of the station's decor

I loved this marvelous mural representing many of the cultures that helped to form this region, state and nation

I really liked this tile mural that represents in one image the transition from first discovery to present day LA.  to represent Hollywood, that's Carole Lombard sitting on a suitcase, as if waiting for a train

this giant aquarium and the designs in the floor tiles represent the LA River and the plants and fish that live there

this art piece is called the Golden Mountain.  when the Chinatown neighborhood was taken through eminent domain and this station was built, many of these artifacts were dug up along with the peoples' lives.  may we never forget the price that is paid for progress at any time in our rush for modernity

this seems more like a park but it is one of the pathways between the trains and the street transit

this is on the underside of one of the overhead paths.  

not only does the eastern wing compliment the older western side, but the parent company office building (with underground parking) coordinates well too

this is the eastern main entrance to the station

we quickly backtracked the way we came, back to the western section, and stepped out onto the southern patio.  this large pepper tree has been growing here quite a while. 

our docent told us that during Christmas-time, a large tree usually stands in about the area that is surrounded by these barricades

walking from the Information booth, through the port cochere with the south patio on our left, we reach the restaurant that was advertised inside.  this restaurant has been closed since before the pandemic, but it is still set up as if it's only closed for the day.  the next three pictures are looking through the front window.

a little further down this passageway is another shuttered destination...
the Streamliner bar which had a beautiful patio

 

    our tour guide brought us back out to the original front of  the station, so we could make our ways back to our cars.  I followed the path out to this sundial - carrying on the theme of time passing - and snapped the three phrases surrounding it:

 

"vision to see"

"faith to believe"

"courage to do"

I stepped back to capture another of the Moorish Stars and the length of the pathway

    ... and one last look at the glorious Art Deco and Spanish Colonial Union Station L.A.   so glad I made this special trip to see this unique destination

 

    I drove for about thirty minutes up to Glendale, to the famous Hollywood cemetery called Forest Lawn, where they have many famous buildings used for celebrity weddings and funerals, and where I wanted to see a special stained glass exhibit at the Museum.

    But, not to forget the purpose of this holiday weekend, at the entrance to the cemetery was a star spangled display honoring our nation's fallen.  may we Never Forget Them. 

 

I took these next two pictures for my little water baby.  

 

"joy of the waters"

"dreams by the sea"

...and this one for my sister:  "the herder"

...and for me, a famous storyteller: "mark twain"

in 1971 an earthquake toppled a reproduction of the famous David statue, the destruction is shown in the photograph.  the head and a foot are here and are known as "David in pieces"

 

    Once through the first part of the museum, I come to the area that was the reason for my visit.  Judson Studios is the oldest family-owned stained glass studio in America, and has created many famous works of art.  this is just a small representation of that art.  

 

    This is one of their largest works, in a church in Kansas.  you can tell by the size of the sanctuary that the glasswork is immense!  and the face of Jesus is a sample of the detail that was used throughout the work.  GLORIOUS! 

this is a precious "blue angel" created in the style made famous by Tiffany in the early 20th century

 and more modern fused glass in "the muralist"

and for this tribute to "Kobe"

a unique memorial to a lost loved one

a watercolor painting of a proposed glass dome: "charity"

 

the Studio also worked with Frank Lloyd Wright and you see those influences in the following pieces

this is a very modern crystal-encrusted bulldog ... so cute! 

the technique of fusing glass opened up a wider range of art projects that the Studio was able to create

"Apollo in algae"

"the dome of light" in Taiwan

this was really cool, and I took these pictures for my sister who attended the Academy.  Judson worked on the original installation in 1960, the year I was born! 

and they are working on the restoration that is going on now! 

these lanterns were inspired by Gaudi's amazing works in Spain, including the Sagrada Familia.  I had to snap this angle with the face of Jesus, and shining His light over us. 

back outside, and a view of the valley below

The Cathedral of the Crucifixion/Resurrection

two beautiful stained glass windows inside, on the way to the main attraction

after waking early, flying south, walking two-plus hours on a tour, driving in LA traffic, walking through the museum, it was delightful to sit in this quiet, dark auditorium and reflect on this enormous representation of the crucifixion.

   

 

    I drove slowly out through the winding roads of this hallowed place of rest.  there was a lot of construction, and a lot of people stopped by the roadside to lay flowers, so I also had to watch and be careful.  my map app took me the fast but city street route back to the freeway back to LAX.  I dropped off the rental car and hopped the shuttle back to the airport, in hopes of grabbing an early dinner.  I hadn't eaten since the croissant and coffee I had before my flight.  the restaurant near my gate was closed, but I was able to get a personal BBQ chicken pizza; and the bar next to my gate was open and the bartender made me a delightful tropical rum drink ... just what I needed!  

    while I was stuck next to a middle-seat-hog squeezed up next to the window on my first flight, on my return flight we had empty seats, and I was able to sit and rest comfortably with no one in "B" to make me miserable.  the taxi ride home was almost an e-ticket, but I got back safely, and dropped off to sleep fairly quickly.  it was an exhausting but incredible day!