Jay Raymond Speaks Against Moving the Barnes Foundation

A former faculty member at the Barnes Foundation addresses a committee of Philadelphia City Council to speak against the relocation of the Barnes' gallery art to a yet-to be-built facility on Philadelphia's Benjamin Franklin Parkway, a scheme initiated by the Pew, Lenfest and Annenberg Foundations.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Jay
• Raymond
• Barnes
• Pew
• Lenfest
• Annenberg
• Vandalism
• Dewey
• Mazia
• Gillman
• Pritzker
• Philadelphia
• Museum
• Art

[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.

[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.

[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!

[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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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

[tonydcurry]

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