MovieChat Forums > The Art of the Steal (2009) Discussion > Public vs. Private

Public vs. Private

posted 13 years ago by 2jdv
13 replies | jump to latest

This film convinced me of the exact opposite of what they were trying for, and I'm both an art lover and a liberal democrat (their viewpoint also). The central point is that Dr. Barnes' will and indenture stipulated a very limited access to his collection and that as such had the force of both law and custom. Perfectly true. But they also grant that his endowment could not cover the expenses. They go at great lengths to point out that the state and the charitable trusts could and were willing to fund the upkeep--but that in doing so they should continue to honor Dr. Barnes' wishes. Why? They want public money, whether through taxes or charitable donations, to fund a collection that would specifically exclude the public! What an absurd contention. If we're going to fund it, we have every right to see it.

[–] tcg-2 13 years ago

it kind of did that for me too. while there were certainly shady and back room deals, ultimately the move will make the art accessible to more people. How horrible!

[–] ShoeBuckle 13 years ago

Marion County proposed giving them money through a bond measure. I believe it was 50 million dollars. With that the same location and original rules of the trust could have been enforced. It was rejected instantly by the people in charge of his estate.

Instead the big fish ate the smaller fish. Dr. Barnes wishes were for the Foundation to be one primarily of learning. I believe that is why he gave instructions for Lincoln University to be involved. That is ultimately what is so sad. The university sold out for a small one time payment by the governor of Pennsylvania. I suggest you give the film a second viewing and review your thoughts.

How would you feel if you were Dr. Barnes? You purchased the items, you wrote the will. Maybe the government and outsiders should just assume control of everyone's items when they die, provided it's worth taking.

[–] nubbytubbybiatchesgalore 13 years ago

the new center will still be a center for learning. nothing has changed, except MORE people get to see and learn from the paintings without being actual "elitist" art students.

(and no, i am not saying that all art students are elitist, only that autodidacts and the democratic spirit of dewey's educational philosophy barnes believed in are best served by having as many people as possible learn from these paintings, which has been accomplished with this move to a new building, where the paintings can best be preserved and made accessible to as many "non-elites" as possible (which is, again, in keeping with barne's philosophy)

[–] 2jdv 13 years ago

Very well put. Your point about the collection serving as an educational center is exactly right, rendering the wailing of the elitists even more absurd.

[–] daryl-b-t 13 years ago

Dr Barnes lived in an era where people didn't appreciate the sort of art he was collecting. Perhaps he'd be proud to have the collection open to an appreciative public?

I do wonder at people hostility toward state run galleries. Where I come from the state gallery has many treasures that have been donated. It's a different world today.

[–] reynardtfox 11 years ago

The students at Lincoln were elitists? Laughable.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] reynardtfox 11 years ago

You do realize "I" is supposed to be capitalized? I suggest a brief return to elementary school.

[–] nubbytubbybiatchesgalore 11 years ago

you do realize this is the internet and not a master grammarian lecture course. i suggest if you want to be taken seriously, you find a suitable forum.

btw, you when you say "supposed", by whom is it supposed that i bother to capitalize the letter "i", and for what reasons? answer me those, oh ye unthinking blind follower of all things redundant. seriously, answer those questions.

(btw, i did not realize that "btw" is supposed to be written out as "by the way". but i'll let the internet know on your behalf. just include your email in the response so i can get it out to everyone. you know, just in case they want to take issue with your asinine existence as well.)

as for elementary school, i'd love to go back, but i'm busy with my ancient greek studies at the moment, and they don't teach that in elementary school. btw, ancient greek doesn't use capitalization. or periods at the end of sentences. or spaces between words. whywastetimesomoronswhohavetroublereadingcanhaveitmadeeasierforthemsaideverygreekphilosophertacitly.

as for you, i suggest your return to elementary school be markedly more than just brief. i'm thinking a full six year refresher for you.

but everyone on the internet thanks you for your terribly constructive contribution to the debate being had (oh so many years ago) on this thread.

and as a final check mate, "you do realize 'i' is supposed to be capitalized?" is grammatically incorrect. if you are asking a question, it should read "DO YOU realize...". you could have also correctly worded it "you SHOULD realize", since "you do" implies statement of fact, which is at odds with the question mark. your sentence literally makes no sense. in fact, it is such a terribly constructed sentence that an elementary student would literally be expected to know better.

wow, that has to be embarrassing for you. consider yourself schooled. and blocked.

eta - i found a link that might be helpful for you http://www.wikihow.com/Use-Question-Marks-Correctly

[–] BB-15 10 years ago

by ShoeBuckle;

"Marion County proposed giving them money through a bond measure. I believe it was 50 million dollars. With that the same location and original rules of the trust could have been enforced. It was rejected instantly by the people in charge of his estate."

By the time Merion Township and the County realized that they wanted the billions of dollars of art to remain in their area, it was too late. The Barnes Foundation Board was already working on moving the collection.

* Merion Township could have kept the collection.
- But the crucial decision by Merion Township was when Richard Glanton was president of the Barnes Foundaiton.
At that time Merion Township didn't want the Barnes Foundation to have enough visitors / income which the Foundation needed.
- Glanton tried to keep the collection at the same location by;
First raising money so the original building could be fixed and the paintings protected. He did this by touring some of the collection.
Second, Glanton planned to have a parking lot built so more people could come and see the collection which would bring in more funds.

But the neighbors of the Barnes building didn't want the traffic of a museum in their neighborhood.
The neighbors campaigned hard against the parking lot.
- And Merion Township rejected the parking lot proposal. That was fatal for Merion Township keeping the collection in their area.

Glanton tried legal tricks to defeat the neighbors but it was a lost cause because at that time Merion Township didn't want more visitors (such as in tour buses).
- The neighbors were going to keep the Barnes Foundation from raising needed money from visitor admissions.

So, Glanton was pushed out and that allowed the Foundations, the State of Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia to move in.
They came up with the money to protect the collection with the catch that the art had to be moved to Philadelphia.

Only after that did Merion Township and the County realize what an incredible blunder it had made by supporting the neighbors against Glanton. Then they changed the zoning and came up with the bond idea.
But again, the Merion Township and the County were too late.

BB ;-)

it's just in my opinion - imo -

[–] jimmysmitsimdb 12 years ago

2jdv "But they also grant that his endowment could not cover the expenses."

That was the point. By bankrupting the trust, the government and trusts could steal the collection. The movie was to show how they stole the collection step by step.

[–] reynardtfox 11 years ago

You obviously ignored the part that showed how the establishment was trying to steal his collection LONG before he passed on.

[–] 11 years ago

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