Photo by Garrett Davis/Capture Imaging | College Night at the Getty Villa on November 13, 2013, in Malibu, California.
The Getty Villa is hosting its annual College Night event for students to mingle and immerse themselves into Greco-Roman culture. The museum invites every student over the age of 18 to participate in an evening offering free food and educational and cultural activities. The event will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 12 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Photo courtesy of The J. Paul Getty Museum
This year’s theme for College Night is the enduring connection between humans and animals, according to its promotional poster.
“We are focusing on animals as human and divine companions and enemies as symbols of higher meaning,” said Shelby Brown, senior education specialist at the Getty Villa Museum. “We also focus on the many ancient animals who were hybrids.”
By taking a closer look at the roles animals played in the past, students will be able to develop a deeper understanding of the importance held by animals throughout time, Brown said. Talking about the animals of today in relation to the animals from the past is an exciting combination.
Brown said animals have always held a special place in people’s hearts —even thousands of years ago — as symbols, pets, friends and endangered species.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging
Guests can look forward to activities such as making olive wreaths from the Villa’s own olive trees, seeing pop-up comedic performances, taking pictures at the photo booth and getting a mythological creature tattoo, Brown said.
Students will also be able to use their artistic abilities, as they will have the opportunity to design their own protective amulet with clay, ink their animal companion onto canvas bags and buttons, and explore the art of illusion, Brown said.
“Everything will be ancient-themed, and there’s no way not to learn something, but it is in a relaxed and light-hearted context,” Brown said. “We also have lots of different activities for different tastes.”
There will be free food starting at 5:30 p.m. with short museum tours that run every 15 minutes from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Brown said students will have the chance to go on a thrilling tour involving a Roman-Egyptian mummy buried with a mummified bird. College Night will also feature a haruspex, a liver-reading priest who tells fortunes.
As the organizer of the event, Brown said all of the staff at the Villa are eager to represent the museum and make this College Night be a memorable experience for all of its attendees.
Free tickets are available for reservation; each individual can reserve up to six tickets. Upon arrival, students may be asked to show their student ID, and as a kick-off treat, students will also enjoy free parking.
In order to get the most out of this experience, the Getty Villa encourages students to dress up in their best ancient Roman attire.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Miller/CapturE Imaging
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Email Phyllis Yu: phyllis.yu@pepperdine.edu
