Jay Raymond Speaks Against Moving the Barnes Foundation

[tonydcurry]

BARNES FOUNDATION HAS A YOUTUBE POSTING VIDEOS OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THEIR NEW LOCATION. DISGUSTING! POST COMMENTS!

[Eurydicesong]

I'm so sorry this happened - just discovered "The Art of the Steal" and was appalled. I had heard of the Barnes Foundation many years ago and was interested....it caught my attention due to Le Bonheur de Vivre. As an educator whose origins might include me amongst the "plain people" mentioned here, I have some appreciation of the power this type of education has to transform lives. Its loss is deeply saddening. Sincerest thanks to those who made efforts to champion it.

[c1magr8]

This is what happens when you have a bunch of fucking high priced lawyers getting involved in the art world .... they fuck everything up! There is NO justice or truth in the world anymore. Dr. Barnes will is stated in simple fucking languagae that a high school kid could figure out .... & yet we shit on his grave!

[c1magr8]

Hey! Lets take Fenway Park in Boston & rebuild it across the street! We can make the narrow seats bigger to fit our fat asses, make more seats available so everyone can get into Historic Fenway! Then we can still call it Fenway Park!!! It WILL be the same! Except ... the history that took place in the original park & you know, the spirit & soul of the place! Yeah ... what a great idea to move this fantastic art collection! Thank goodness it's still the Barnes Foundation ... NOT!!!

[lovelylady1014]

Such a travasty!

[Karatechopsin]

Keep the Barns Foundation as Dr. Barnes wished in his Will. Plan and simple.

[majinspy]

I don't understand why moving art destroys or vandalizes it. The argument of one side is a lot of people will be able to see the amazing art collection. What, exactly, is this alternate education that "changes your life" and blows your mind etc.? I hear it won't be what it was...what was it?

[theripper7675]

doesnt matter what he says the powers that be, will do whatever they want

[196404383]

Mr. Raymond explains the point of the Barnes Foundation which is education. I also think that a move in our current economic climate is insane for the city of Philadelphia.

What an eloquent case is put forth here by Jay Raymond! Bravo.

[bscottb8]

The Barnes Foundation was going bankrupt in

Merion. Moving it intact to Philadelphia will prevent the collection from being liguidated, while broadening its availability to the public. It's fait accompli -- deal with it.

[vintageirons]

Another sleeping mind heard from! The Barnes bankrupted itself by initiating lawsuits, deemed "cynical and frivolous" by the courts, that cost it most of its endowment. It is not fait accompli: the matter is now before the Judge again because Montgomery County has stepped forward with the money to keep it in Merion and the Township has changed the zoning so more visitors can be admitted. Meanwhile, the Barnes ignores these opportunities, preferring to spend $200 million to move the art 5 miles.

[guitarszzz]

@vintageirons Why is the Barnes ignoring it? Who is it currently in the hands of?

[5inthehole]

@bscottb8 That's bullshit and you know it. How can a collection worth 25-30 BILLION Dollars, that every art fan in the world wants to see/ than the state of Penn. is willing to spend 100 mil. to open a new building, not raise a pultry 2 mil. a year to run it? Of course it can or those Philidelphia robberbarrons wouldn't be interested on getting their greedy mits on it! Dr. Barnes will stated that the art should stay where it is and anyone wno wants to change that has no respect for law

[bscottb8]

@5inthehole Dr. Barnes was a disagreeable old crank who made enough money to buy great art and sequester it away in his Merion cache. He allowed a lucky few to see it, but to many barred entrance, especially art world authorities he resented. The works of Cezanne, Picasso, Matisse and others were held hostage, in effect, to his neurotic resentments. But great art ultimately belongs to world culture, regardless of who holds title or where it is kept. Barnes is now nothing but a historical detail.

[5inthehole]

@bscottb8

 Let's say I agree with your premise that Dr. Barnes was an old crank (which I do not). It has nothing to do with the art which WAS HIS to do what he pleased with it. Dr. Barnes didn't want his art to be valued for it monitary worth but as a tool to teach those who were interested in the study of modern art( to have access to it unadaulterated by those who wanted it for selfish reasons.). Either way, it was his to do what he pleased with it. Who has the right to break a trust?

[bscottb8]

@5inthehole Unfortunately, breaking a will may be necessary for a greater good. The Gardner Museum in Boston is missing a Rembrandt and Vermeer because Mrs. Gardner stipulated that NO changes be made, thus preventing a modern security system. Following the theft, the will was amended to allow directors latitude to adapt. To survive, the Barnes must also adapt. With a depleted endowment, the collection must charge admission. It hasn't been stolen, just moved to a location where that is possible.

[5inthehole]

@bscottb8 The arguement about a depleted endowman is a fales one as Merion county has pledged a 50 mil. endowment to The Barnes Foundation if is kept where it belongs. I know about the Gardner Museum, I live in Boston. It did have to do with security by by 2 numbskull security gaurds who may have been accompises in the theft. Why can the Pew charitable trust drum up 150 mil to move it but a pitence for its present location? Sounds like they have their own motives eh?

[bscottb8]

@5inthehole Well, we could go on and on without reaching an agreement. Meanwhile, the Barnes is moving to museum row. Why not give the new location a chance? A fortune has been spent building a state-of-the-art facility for the collection, with a replica of the original's interior to hang works as the old boy wanted, plus additional galleries to exhibit the varied objects he lacked space to show. I think it's a glorious new chapter for a collection that had become mired in red tape and red ink.

[5inthehole]

@bscottb8 Lets clarify- They are moving it but it may get moved right back. Judge Ott is re-reviewing the case based on comments by the attorney general of Philidelphia in "The Art of the Steal", where he says the fix was in. Now if judge Ott isn't bought off (which I think he may be) by those "Charitys", Like The Pew and Annenberg trust (who Barnes disdained and rightfully pointed out was a bootlegger with Mafia ties), the art may just be put back where Dr. Barnes willed it.

[bscottb8]

@5inthehole I have a low opinion of simpletons who believe every conspiracy theory that comes along, from the second gunman on the grassy knoll, to former Pres. Bush bringing down the World Trade Center to justify attacking Iraq. Now it's the rape and pillaging of the Barnes Foundation by backroom political bosses. "The Art of the Steal" is hysterical propaganda that distorts an art gallery's relocation for economic survival into something akin to Nazis looting Jewish art collections. What crap.

[5inthehole]

@bscottb8 Well then, I hope when you die you never leave around a trust or will that can be broken because that's what you advocating with your slanderous remarks. Taking the art from its location is very similar to The Nazi's looting, in regards to what Dr. Barnes wished for his art. I wish the old man put a clause in it that stated the art should be destroyed before being moved. Would you still support the move then? Probably, lawless bunch of robbers!

[joanm207]

Mr Raymond makes an emotional appeal toward an important appeal. Unfotunately, those in the audience had already made up their minds. Power, money and politics are about to commit an act of (as several art critics have noted) an act of cultural vandalism. Hopefully they will be stopped.

[Unnecessarily]

the residents of merion have historically been bad neighbors and now they're asking for the Barnes to stay confined near them? Eff that.

[vintageirons]

Typical misinformed opinion: Glanton et al were the bad neighbors. Barnes Foundation (BF) sued the residents of Latches Lane, who were asking for BF to honor its mission of education and respect the neighborhood. Dismantling a world art treasure for the sake of Philly's aggrandizement is not right.

[dudenamaste]

Mr. Raymond's introduction descibes the Barnes Foundation and Dr. Barnes' intent perfectly.  Disturbing the Barnes Foundation in any way is deeply troubling to anyone fortunate enough to know the experience. The Barnes belongs in Merion!