Full Version: Walton's Art Museum
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23814486/
One of the Walmart Heirs wants to open an Art Museum. Which is probably alright. Except for a few things
First of all, there is the question of who's going to be visiting her museum. Since its not located in a metropolitan area like Philadelphia or New York City, but rather out in a remote part of the Arkansas countryside, its most likely going to be people who have money for travelling. Among the people visiting the museum, you can be certain that there isn't going to be any Walmart cashier among the visitors. And the Museums in the cities are well aware of that.
Second, of all the money that this Alice Walton is spending on art, very little is going to the artists. She is very selective about the art that she purchases and is buying paintings made several centuries ago. It is the colonial artwork that museums are concerned about. And then there is the economics of the deals that she makes. Cash-stripped art schools and museums have given into this woman by selling their art to raise cash. Unfortunately for the museums, famous artworks are not easily replaceable and are the very thing that draws people to the museums. Historical artifacts need to displayed in public places like Museums and should not simply be sold on an open marketplace like other commodoties.
If Alice Walton wants to purchase a nice painting, there are talented artists in the present age who would be happy to create some nice artwork for the woman at a fair price. But we have to acknowledge that there are limits to what rich people can do with their money. For instance, no wealthy person, no matter how much money he/she offers, would be allowed to buy Mt. Rushmore or buy the Statue of Liberty.
So,
Should the City Governments intervene and put in restrictions like only allowing public institutions to sell their artwork to other public institutions?
One of the Walmart Heirs wants to open an Art Museum. Which is probably alright. Except for a few things
First of all, there is the question of who's going to be visiting her museum. Since its not located in a metropolitan area like Philadelphia or New York City, but rather out in a remote part of the Arkansas countryside, its most likely going to be people who have money for travelling. Among the people visiting the museum, you can be certain that there isn't going to be any Walmart cashier among the visitors. And the Museums in the cities are well aware of that.
Second, of all the money that this Alice Walton is spending on art, very little is going to the artists. She is very selective about the art that she purchases and is buying paintings made several centuries ago. It is the colonial artwork that museums are concerned about. And then there is the economics of the deals that she makes. Cash-stripped art schools and museums have given into this woman by selling their art to raise cash. Unfortunately for the museums, famous artworks are not easily replaceable and are the very thing that draws people to the museums. Historical artifacts need to displayed in public places like Museums and should not simply be sold on an open marketplace like other commodoties.
If Alice Walton wants to purchase a nice painting, there are talented artists in the present age who would be happy to create some nice artwork for the woman at a fair price. But we have to acknowledge that there are limits to what rich people can do with their money. For instance, no wealthy person, no matter how much money he/she offers, would be allowed to buy Mt. Rushmore or buy the Statue of Liberty.
So,
Should the City Governments intervene and put in restrictions like only allowing public institutions to sell their artwork to other public institutions?
QUOTE(skeeterses @ Mar 27 2008, 07:26 AM) 
Should the City Governments intervene and put in restrictions like only allowing public institutions to sell their artwork to other public institutions?
Do you mean "intervene" by trying to block the sale and movement of art? Heck, NO. This injection of money into the art world will do nothing but help. The price of art goes up, and everybody wins. Maybe some museums will have to compete harder for new works, but their old works will presumably be worth more. A rising tide lifts all boats.
QUOTE
Another concern is that Walton is taking art to far-away Arkansas.
That argument played a role in Philadelphia’s debate late last year over the sale of Thomas Eakins’ 1875 painting, “The Gross Clinic.” Thomas Jefferson University agreed to sell the painting for $68 million to a partnership of Crystal Bridges and the National Gallery of Art. Protests erupted over the loss of what local supporters argued was part of the city’s heritage. A fundraising drive ultimately matched the price tag and kept the painting in Philadelphia.
That argument played a role in Philadelphia’s debate late last year over the sale of Thomas Eakins’ 1875 painting, “The Gross Clinic.” Thomas Jefferson University agreed to sell the painting for $68 million to a partnership of Crystal Bridges and the National Gallery of Art. Protests erupted over the loss of what local supporters argued was part of the city’s heritage. A fundraising drive ultimately matched the price tag and kept the painting in Philadelphia.
Two points on that quote: first, Philiadelphia ended up doing the right thing by eventually raising the funds to keep the painting. Any other kind of interference with the sale might seem like a nice thing for the people of Philadelphia (most of whom probably didn't even know they had the painting in their city), but it would have been a terrible thing for the owner of the painting - in essence, taking money out of the school's pocket.
Second point: "far-away Arkansas" is only far away to New Yorkers, Bostonians and Los Angelinos who are used to having the money and the museums (and winning these bidding wars). That's a lousy argument. We have heard it here in Cleveland ever since the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame was built here. Everybody thinks it should have been built in New York or L.A., and sometimes the ceremonies aren't even held here. But using the argument that all museums (and all of the best art) should be where the most people can get to them easily is like saying that everything should end up in the largest metro area. Maybe New York should send all of it's art to the Louvre, where even more people can get a peek at it.
QUOTE(skeeterses @ Mar 27 2008, 04:26 AM)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23814486/
One of the Walmart Heirs wants to open an Art Museum. Which is probably alright. Except for a few things
First of all, there is the question of who's going to be visiting her museum. Since its not located in a metropolitan area like Philadelphia or New York City, but rather out in a remote part of the Arkansas countryside, its most likely going to be people who have money for travelling. Among the people visiting the museum, you can be certain that there isn't going to be any Walmart cashier among the visitors. And the Museums in the cities are well aware of that.
[snip]
Should the City Governments intervene and put in restrictions like only allowing public institutions to sell their artwork to other public institutions?
One of the Walmart Heirs wants to open an Art Museum. Which is probably alright. Except for a few things
First of all, there is the question of who's going to be visiting her museum. Since its not located in a metropolitan area like Philadelphia or New York City, but rather out in a remote part of the Arkansas countryside, its most likely going to be people who have money for travelling. Among the people visiting the museum, you can be certain that there isn't going to be any Walmart cashier among the visitors. And the Museums in the cities are well aware of that.
[snip]
Should the City Governments intervene and put in restrictions like only allowing public institutions to sell their artwork to other public institutions?
Snobbery in action. Skeeterses, since you live in South Korea, I'll cut you some slack on your characterization of Bentonville, Arkansas where the museum will be located. While it may not have a bunch of 5 star restaurants where they charge you $100 for a piece of tuna that isn't even cooked (In Arkansas they call it bait), it's not quite as remote as you might think. It's actually not that far from the Clinton Presidential Library and is a very popular vacation destination for people all over the midwest - even Walmart cashiers. All of these objections raised by the snooty elite of the art world are pure garbage. What about all the private collectors who purchase art only to display it in their private estates, never to be seen by the public. Alice Walton is spending her money bringing art to the "masses" by building this museum. She should be commended for doing that and if those elite snobs don't like it, tough. Maybe they can venture down to Bentonville and find out what real food like a juicy cheeseburger tastes like instead of that bait crap they're used to.
Aquilla
Should the City Governments intervene and put in restrictions like only allowing public institutions to sell their artwork to other public institutions?
Normally, when I hear news of a new art museum being built, especially one built in an area with few museums, my reaction is yahoo, yippee and hurray!! Unfortunately, I can’t feel that way about this one for several reasons. Here is a woman whose fortune comes from the 10-ton elephant in this country – Walmart – a company built on the backs of underpaid, uninsured employees, selling cheap crap from China and underselling any and all smaller stores or chains and worst of all, making the public like it.
OK, so my enmity for Walmart is well-established.
Why does it matter what Alice Walton spends her dough on? Well, as the article points out, she is able to outbid nearly all the art institutions in the country (with the possible exception of the Getty Foundation, and their interests generally don’t run to American art). As with any business, in the art business selling an American painting for a record $35 million drives up the price for other, similar paintings, putting many museums out of the running, and leaving only business tycoons with the fat checkbooks.
The situation with the Georgia O’Keefe collection at Fisk University is sad on so many levels. It would be lovely for the paintings to reside at the O’Keefe Museum in Santa Fe. That is where they truly belong. It’s the place the artist loved, where she found her inspiration, and where she lived until her death. It also saddens me that a university is suffering so badly they are considering selling the paintings as if they were nothing more than furniture to be auctioned off. (Reading further, I find that in trying to sell the paintings, they are also in violation of the terms of O’Keefe’s donation.)
Nor should they be. That isn't their job. Their job is protecting the collection. It's the university's job to handle their own purse. If they handle it poorly, that isn't the fault of the artist who graciously donated her works.
I will say this: at least Walton is building a museum for her artwork collection, and not stashing the paintings at her palace for her own personal enjoyment (though the cynical side of me believes it has more to do with taxes and insurance than altruism). Many artworks disappear into private collections never to be seen again, and that is a shame. Maybe there should be some rules governing the sales of art between public institutions, but it sounds like a violation of free enterprise.
Normally, when I hear news of a new art museum being built, especially one built in an area with few museums, my reaction is yahoo, yippee and hurray!! Unfortunately, I can’t feel that way about this one for several reasons. Here is a woman whose fortune comes from the 10-ton elephant in this country – Walmart – a company built on the backs of underpaid, uninsured employees, selling cheap crap from China and underselling any and all smaller stores or chains and worst of all, making the public like it.
OK, so my enmity for Walmart is well-established.
Why does it matter what Alice Walton spends her dough on? Well, as the article points out, she is able to outbid nearly all the art institutions in the country (with the possible exception of the Getty Foundation, and their interests generally don’t run to American art). As with any business, in the art business selling an American painting for a record $35 million drives up the price for other, similar paintings, putting many museums out of the running, and leaving only business tycoons with the fat checkbooks.The situation with the Georgia O’Keefe collection at Fisk University is sad on so many levels. It would be lovely for the paintings to reside at the O’Keefe Museum in Santa Fe. That is where they truly belong. It’s the place the artist loved, where she found her inspiration, and where she lived until her death. It also saddens me that a university is suffering so badly they are considering selling the paintings as if they were nothing more than furniture to be auctioned off. (Reading further, I find that in trying to sell the paintings, they are also in violation of the terms of O’Keefe’s donation.)
QUOTE
A judge has ruled that Fisk University broke the terms of a donation from painter Georgia O'Keeffe, but shouldn't lose its art collection to a New Mexico museum. The terms of the gift mandated that the artworks not be sold and that they be put on public display. CBS News
QUOTE
The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum in New Mexico had sued to gain the rights over the collection because of the schools' attempts to sell paintings and because they weren't on display. The Santa Fe museum is the legal representative of the artist's estate.
"The museum is not interested in if Fisk survives or doesn't survive," said Jeff Selingo, the editor of the Chronicle of Higher Education. "Their interest really lies in protecting the integrity of this art collection." (ibid.)
"The museum is not interested in if Fisk survives or doesn't survive," said Jeff Selingo, the editor of the Chronicle of Higher Education. "Their interest really lies in protecting the integrity of this art collection." (ibid.)
Nor should they be. That isn't their job. Their job is protecting the collection. It's the university's job to handle their own purse. If they handle it poorly, that isn't the fault of the artist who graciously donated her works.
I will say this: at least Walton is building a museum for her artwork collection, and not stashing the paintings at her palace for her own personal enjoyment (though the cynical side of me believes it has more to do with taxes and insurance than altruism). Many artworks disappear into private collections never to be seen again, and that is a shame. Maybe there should be some rules governing the sales of art between public institutions, but it sounds like a violation of free enterprise.
QUOTE(Aquilla @ Mar 27 2008, 09:43 AM)
....Snobbery in action. Skeeterses, since you live in South Korea, I'll cut you some slack on your characterization of Bentonville, Arkansas where the museum will be located. While it may not have a bunch of 5 star restaurants where they charge you $100 for a piece of tuna that isn't even cooked (In Arkansas they call it bait), it's not quite as remote as you might think. It's actually not that far from the Clinton Presidential Library and is a very popular vacation destination for people all over the midwest - even Walmart cashiers. All of these objections raised by the snooty elite of the art world are pure garbage. What about all the private collectors who purchase art only to display it in their private estates, never to be seen by the public. Alice Walton is spending her money bringing art to the "masses" by building this museum. She should be commended for doing that and if those elite snobs don't like it, tough. Maybe they can venture down to Bentonville and find out what real food like a juicy cheeseburger tastes like instead of that bait crap they're used to.....
Aquilla, you actually understate the current status of the Bentonville/North-West Arkansas area. It is one of the fastest-growing regions in the country - still expanding, when many other places in the country are doing the opposite under pressure from the current economy. The area is the retail and medical services hub for northern Arkansas, southern Missouri, and eastern Oklahoma. The shopping ranges from the country flea markets, antique stores and little shops you'd expect in Arkansas to the same upscale shops you'd find in much larger cities. And, sure, there are plenty of down-home restaurants - but the 5-star places serving $100+ plates do exist. The medical aspect is relatively recent - the hospitals in NWA have always served the wider area and all its the small mostly-rural towns, but there's been a recent rapid expansion of specialized facilities that aren't available elsewhere for a considerable distance.
And with the Wal-Mart Home Office, Tyson and J.B. Hunt all headquartered here, there are lot of people from those surrounding areas who commute in to work every single day. Plus, factor in all the business travel that comes into the area from across the nation and internationally because of those companies (mostly due to WM, but Tyson is rapidly expanding internationally as well) and you have concomitant expansion of the regional airport, with an increased number of direct flights to large cities, as well as growth in the local hospitality industry. Finally, the amount of money that those three businesses donate to local schools and their communities would make many more densely populated areas green with envy.
With all this growth, it makes complete sense to pay attention to the arts and culture bit. The museum will be very welcomed by the population in NWA - the majority of whom are not even originally from Arkansas (like with many other states, AR has a significant chunk of people who have fled California's outrageous housing prices). It also reflects the trend that began a few years ago of the center-of-gravity of the region moving up to the Bentonville-Rogers area from Fayetteville, which is where the older Walton Arts Center is located. The location of the planned art museum reflects a desire to cater to the new demographic.
Should the City Governments intervene and put in restrictions like only allowing public institutions to sell their artwork to other public institutions?
I don't see a problem with this because the art works are going into a public museum. It's not a publicly owned museum, and that's fine too. The place will have lots to offer locals and visitors.
I'm thinking that this is along the lines of Carnegie Hall. The ultra rich are trying to give back to the people who earned those billions. It's pretty amazing to think of it. Sixteen billion is sixteen thousand million. Buying a painting for $35 million for this lady is like you having $16,000 and buying a $35 hardcover book.
It's nothing. Just a lark.
Given the same circumstances, I might try something similar. I mean when you have armies of people working for your wealth, what else is there to do?
I'd probably do something with music. Performance, education, research, experimentation. Maybe get a bunch of song writers together now and then, showcase the unrecognized talent.
Ah well, to be wealthy . . .
I don't see a problem with this because the art works are going into a public museum. It's not a publicly owned museum, and that's fine too. The place will have lots to offer locals and visitors.
I'm thinking that this is along the lines of Carnegie Hall. The ultra rich are trying to give back to the people who earned those billions. It's pretty amazing to think of it. Sixteen billion is sixteen thousand million. Buying a painting for $35 million for this lady is like you having $16,000 and buying a $35 hardcover book.
It's nothing. Just a lark.
Given the same circumstances, I might try something similar. I mean when you have armies of people working for your wealth, what else is there to do?
I'd probably do something with music. Performance, education, research, experimentation. Maybe get a bunch of song writers together now and then, showcase the unrecognized talent.
Ah well, to be wealthy . . .
This is a simplified version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.