California
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July 18, 2022
The myriad adventures that characterized the California High School Summer Program on Saturday spilled into a whole new set of adventures on Sunday! Some students rose early for the 7:15 a.m. Extraordinary Form Mass in Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel, while others attended the Ordinary Form at 9:00 a.m., after which it was time for a brunch of breakfast burritos, sausage, bacon, and potatoes in St. Joseph Commons.
In short order, the whole group would be boarding buses for a trip to Los Angeles to see the artistic treasures of the Getty Center Museum, and then to take in a Wagner concert at the Hollywood Bowl. But first, study hall! Students made their way to St. Bernardine of Siena Library to prepare for today’s first class on Euclid’s Elements. After that, it was off to the buses, with students split up into the same groups in which they explored Santa Barbara, with a prefect to lead them through the experiences.
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Good conversation, logic games, and free reading made the 60-mile drive to Los Angeles pass quickly. Pulling into the Getty parking, students disembarked, gathered into their groups, and set off on the museum’s tram. Looking out the windows, a few programmers excitedly watched as the 405 Freeway and it shrunk to a model track full of matchbox cars, the hills beyond and their houses suddenly appearing like dioramas in the distance. A sense of wonder was mounting.
Groups dispersed throughout the Getty’s varied complexes and hallways, searching for the works of art that Dr. John Nieto had spoken about during his lecture, or exploring pieces that were entirely new to them. Observers stood patiently before marble busts, soaking in the careful attention to detail that brought white stone into striking life. Bronze-wrought statues, too, captured the attention of students, depicting scenes of myth with striking poise.
In the upper levels of the Getty’s complexes, paintings from a wide range of times and places took students’ breath away. From early Church art to careful studies of myth and antiquity, the passion of the human mind broke through the canvases. In another section, illuminated manuscripts from the Medieval period brought scriptures and ancient texts to life with ornate figures. Outside, students admired magnificent views of the L.A. skyline.
Eventually the groups reunited at the tram, which brought them back to their buses. Just before they arrived at the Hollywood’s historic amphitheater, however, they stopped at a nearby park for a picnic dinner of sub sandwiches. Soon, they were on their way to the Bowl, but only after pausing to serenade fellow programmer Sophie F. with a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday.”
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The group nearly filled an entire section of the Hollywood Bowl’s seating as it readied itself for the L.A. Philharmonic’s performance of Die Walküre. Students shuffled around to get comfortable, and some ran to grab ice cream and popcorn. Soon, the opera began! World-class musicians performed with tragic intensity the story of Brünnhilde and Wotan, a Valkyrie daughter who betrays her divine father for the sake of defending two lovers. The students leaned in, taken by the tragedy, and as the opera concluded, met the performers with applause.
Groups then rallied to their buses, talking animatedly about the day before setting off. Passengers prayed the Rosary on the way back to campus, where students quickly retired for the evening, while visions of Valkyries danced in their heads.
As of this writing, the programmers are now trying their hand at Euclidean geomtery for first time. Be sure to read this afternoon’s post to see how it goes!
