Wednesday, October 27, 2010

"Here’s my prayer for greater understanding of the truth behind the Barnes Foundation move"

Philadelphia native Bob Duggan:

"I admire Dr. Barnes’s original intent. He wanted to bring modern art to the masses by putting his money where the mouth of aesthetic and educational philosopher John Dewey was. Somewhere along the way, however, that democratic ideal became lost in a web of visitor restrictions and zoning laws that threatened to bury the foundation alive. ... The new location will copy much of the bucolic nature of the original setting with the advantage of bringing the art to the people—all the people. Again, that’s what seems to be bothering those who continue to object to the move."

That, and the fact that they are moving a painting from a stairwell to its own room.

Lively debate in the comments to Duggan's post too.