MovieChat Forums > The Art of the Steal (2009) Discussion > Barnes himself approved possible move to...

Barnes himself approved possible move to Philadelphia


According to Bernard Watson, chairman of the Barnes Foundation:

Indeed, not mentioned in the film is that Paragraph 11 of the trust indenture itself anticipates the possibility of a move of the collection to Philadelphia:

"Should the said collection ever . . . become impossible to administer the trust hereby created concerning said collection of pictures, then the property and funds . . . shall be applied to an object as nearly within the scope herein indicated . . . such application to be in connection with an existing organization . . . in Philadelphia, Pa., or its suburbs."


Read Watson's letter to the Philadelphia Inquirer
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/currents/86738677.html




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"become impossible to administer the trust"

That was never the case.

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[deleted]

More to the point. He wasn't vehemently opposed to moving the collection if circumstances dictated it.

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But the circumstances don't necessitate a move.

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The needed allocation was made by the state of Pennsylvania but concealed until they could give it to the Pew Trust instead of Lincoln University. The money was available to have kept it independent.

Barnes' will said the collection wherever it ended up should be kept for its intended purpose. Which was an educational teaching situation for artists. Not a tourist attraction for gawkers who go there to buy a t shirt and brag they did the place in a 30 minute bus tour stop.

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Just because a person is not an artist or a student of art, does not mean that a person cannot appreciate it or even be moved or inspired by it. It's a good thing that is so, or more artists would be painting for a hobby and not as an occupation.

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The art was Barnes'. If he only wanted it shown to albino Bulgarians, that was his right.

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AMEN, MrsRhettButler!!

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Your going to take the word of the guy that wanted to move the collection? And rely on his editing of the Barnes will?

Anyway, you missed the point of the movie. The trustees bankrupted the collection ON PURPOSE so it would have to accept outside money.

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