"The Art of the Steal"

Worth watchin'. Apparently, if you're smart enough to raise yourself up from poverty, live the American Dream, get to the point where you can start collecting art from around the world, are savvy enough to collect the work of artists who are way ahead of their time, while the rest of the "art world" is calling it garbage, and years later the collection is worth 10's of billions of dollars, after your death, a bunch of politicians who don't know a Picasso from a pile of dog E36 M3 can say "Oh, I like those, we're just going to go ahead and take them."

Unbelievable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmf9P01xqyo

I used to live a few miles from his house in Chester County and the Barnes Foundation is famous... but I've never even heard of this story.

I'll have to check this out.

In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker:

The collection's destiny is a little-exposed story that's started years ago. As one reviewer noted, it's a scenario neatly summed-up as "one man's conspiracy is another's political campaign".

While the original foundation was on shaky financial ground, a lot of influential people worked to relocate the collection under the premise that it (the collection) should be accessible to more people. The move to Philly violates the original intent of the foundation's founder (Mr. Barnes).

Considering the value of the collection (multi billions) and Philly-poobahs involved, art appreciation for the masses is the least likely motivation for the seizure of private property.

While the original foundation was on shaky financial ground

There's a good 15 or so minutes of the film that puts that rumor...err...out and out lie to rest.

In reply to poopshovel:

Thanks for the info!

I haven't seen the film and my recollection was based on a report I saw many months ago. Regardless, after living in the Philly-area media market and knowing that Ed Rendell is a major player, there is nothing that screams CORRUPTION louder.

'Art Of The Steal': Actual Heist Or Conspiracy Theory?

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124082706

I've added the movie to my instant queue on netflix and will watch it soon.

As a member of the philadelphia art community and homeowner in a relevant neighborhood I have heard almost every argument possible from every angle on this issue and am not really unhappy with the outcome.

I am very glad to have seen the collection at the foundation in its intended state. I cannot understand how some of the important installations and eccentric subject matter will make any sense once removed from context.

Nothing lasts forever, this is actually largely a good thing...

stuart in mn wrote: 'Art Of The Steal': Actual Heist Or Conspiracy Theory? http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124082706

I suggest you watch the movie. NPR played into the whole "ZOMG, the Barnes foundation is broke! And the building is falling apart!" BS, and were called out in the film for it, which may explain some of the butt-hurtedness displayed in that article. One quick clip in the film shows estimates for the "necessary repairs" to keep the art at Barnes' place. The HAVC replacement, according to the government, was slated to cost $1,250,000.00 IIRC.

Getting the current foundation's President's thoughts doesn't mean squat, as the intended board members were berkeleyed by politicians years ago. Just like many corporate takeovers, they didn't push the existing board members out, they just added 10 or 15 of their own to get a majority vote.

Nothing lasts forever, this is actually largely a good thing...

Sure. Unless it's your $25,000,000,000.00 they're confiscating.

poopshovel wrote:

Nothing lasts forever, this is actually largely a good thing...

Sure. Unless it's your $25,000,000,000.00 they're confiscating.

Nobody took anything from Mr. Barnes. It is tragic that his foundation failed to protect and maintain the collection as intended, but the plan simply was not sustainable.

I can easily recognize the corruption active in the entire debacle but I am not sure I can actually find a singular villain nor an innocent victim.

The movie is good watchin'. I don't have anything else constructive to say. Walking away.