Archive for the ‘Cultural Property’ Category

The Barnes Foundation – “The Art of the Steal”

Posted by Gary Vikan on Monday, March 8th, 2010

 There is a powerful new documentary out there called The Art of the Steal (http://movies.nytimes.com/2010/02/26/movies/26artof.html). It’s the story of one of the art world’s most wonderfully odd characters, Albert Barnes (d. 1951), his fantastic collection of Renoirs, Cezannes, Matisses et cetera, which came to rest in a suburb of Philadelphia decades ago, and of the planned move of that collection to downtown Philadelphia in 2012.

Albert Barnes in the Barnes Foundation ca 1950

Albert Barnes in the Barnes Foundation ca 1950

The documentary has a very strong point of view, obvious from its title, and as a viewer you are certain to react one way or the other. Last Sunday morning I introduced an advanced screening of The Art of the Steal at the Charles Theatre here in Baltimore, and moderated a very lively conversation after the screening.

I think it would be fair to say that 80+% of those present agreed with the thesis of the film.

It will be shown at the Charles later this month.  And all over the country.

SEE IT!

Posted in Aesthetics, Art, Cultural Property, Museums | 1,164 Comments »

Ground Zero Museum Workshop – been there? GO!

Posted by Gary Vikan on Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

 

Photo: GV

Photo: GV

The tiny Ground Zero Museum Workshop – the “Biggest Little Museum in New York” – in the Meat-Packing District is so powerful that its staff has found it necessary to place boxes of tissue around the room for those who break down during their visit. Among the most moving juxtapositions is the one that includes a photograph of the clock in the PATH workers’ exercise room stopped at 10:02 and 14 seconds, the moment when the North Tower collapsed, and the clock itself. At 1000 square feet, this mini-museum can accommodate just 24 visitors at a time, who must schedule in advance for their two-hour slot. Unlike the experience at St. Paul’s Chapel, that at the Ground Zero Museum Workshop is thoroughly tactile and gritty, including plenty of dirt and seemingly random debris from the pit. In the words of its brochure: “3-D installations, complete with dirt, will make you feel as if you ‘were there’ when the images were taken….”

Photo: GV

Photo: GV

Visitors are even invited to touch a piece of glass from the Twin Towers. 

Photo: GV; Hand: GV

Photo: GV; Hand: GV

Posted in 9/11, Architecture, Cultural Property, Museums, Uncategorized | 539 Comments »

Should the Elgin Marbles go Back to Greece?

Posted by Gary Vikan on Sunday, January 10th, 2010

Photo: GV

Photo: GV

This decades-old question has new urgency, thanks to the stunningly-beautiful new museum in Athens dedicated to the Acropolis. Something is missing, say the Greeks (www.culture.gr). Not so, say the English (www.britishmuseum.org).

IMG_4731

In the British Museum, so the argument goes, you can see the sculptures close up and personal, and millions upon millions have had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with one of the great architectural monuments of all time, without a trip to Athens.

Photo: GV

Photo: GV

And, after all, who knows what may have happened to these great works in those dangerous times, two centuries ago, when what is now Greece was part of the Ottoman Empire – had not Lord Elgin stepped in?

And then, in the label, a more suble thought is expressed, that in effect makes didactic allies of the old British Museum and the New Acropolis Museum.

Photo: GV

Photo: GV

If you were a Trustee of the British Museum, how would you vote?

Posted in Architecture, Art, Cultural Property, Greece | 744 Comments »

Should the Rosetta Stone go Back to Egypt?

Posted by Gary Vikan on Thursday, January 7th, 2010

Photo: GV

Photo: GV

Zahi Hawass, Egypt’s “Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities,” friend of Walters’ curator Regine Schulz (left), and charismatic star of anything pyramids-related on TV, was all over CNN prime time two weeks ago.

His emotional plea was simple and complelling: Zahi wants to borrow the famous Rosetta Stone from the British Museum for an exhibition in Egypt. What a novel idea!

Photo: GV

Photo: GV

Now, some might reasonably wonder if the Rosetta Stone, once back in to Egypt, will ever make its way back to England again. Not to worry, says Zahi, we are not the “Pirates of the Caribbean”; you English (and, by implication, all western powers) are the real pirates. 

This is a line of reasoning that Ben Weideman of CNN finds quite compelling. 

And Zahi goes on to point out the obvious: namely, that King Tut’s treasures have been sent all over the world by the Egyptians.

Well, have a look at the label, and read it through the eyes of Zahi Hawass.

Photo: GV

Photo: GV

The Rosetta Stone was discovered in the town the Egyptians call Rashid, not Rosetta, by the invading French, but very soon taken from them by the conquering British. In fact, the British “captured” it and “presented” it to King George the III.

Interesting enough, but read on: it seems that the usefulness of the Rosetta (aka Rashid) Stone for deciphering hieroglyphs was realized nearly 200 years ago! It certainly is not much to look at and, until recently, it was exhibited without a glass cover on its case, so that anyone could touch it.

So Zahi Hawass seems to have a point, and at this stage, no decision on the possible loan to Egypt has been made by the Trustees of the British Museum.

And so that pretty plain chunk of black stone in the main Egyptian gallery at the British Museum – the one with all those little squiggles on it – is now more popular than ever!

Photo: GV

Photo: GV

Posted in Art, Baltimore, Cultural Property, Museums, The Walters, Uncategorized | 737 Comments »