Showing posts with label Rose Art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rose Art. Show all posts
03 February 2009
One more Rose
This is the best yet description of the things the Board of Overseers at Brandeis did not think about. I'm sure the Related Use Rule of the 2006 Pension Protection Act did not come into their Overseeing.
30 January 2009
A Rose by any other name...
First, let's get a group of links out of the way, so you can read some of the details for yourselves.
As far as I can tell, this whole idea is in order to circumvent MA state law for non-profit entities regarding gains vs. initial capital of the Endowment fund- long story short, if they sell the works for more than one dollar, they get instant gains on the books, and can spend money again. Their laudable emergency fund is going to run out this year as they cannot touch the endowment's initial capital
- Time- This made time. That's good.
- The Daily Beast- The beginning of the money trail starts to leak
- MAN interview- He has also released a PDF statement calling for blood and excusing any staff that want to leave.
- CAA- Favorite academic quote yet:
The teaching of art and art history in higher education is untenable without the direct study of physical works of art, and it appears the Brandeis Board of Trustees has disregarded the kind of scholarship and creativity that have been the hallmark of CAA members for nearly one hundred years.
- Conde Nast Portfolio A and B- Surprised by the fact that they care, but not surprised by the desire to deregulate of the markets vis-a-vis the rose should be able to sell anything they want.
- Innermost parts- A synopsis on what went down when the students got to talk to Pres. Reinharz
- The Hoot-Talk about anything you'd like but the Rose, which is what everyone wants to talk about...
- Tom Lentz of Harvard talks- And I for one would love to see Harvard, MFA, ICA, or whoever will step up with the funds talk to Brandeis prior to open market sale. If the Rose is going to close, then at least find homes for these works in public collections.
As far as I can tell, this whole idea is in order to circumvent MA state law for non-profit entities regarding gains vs. initial capital of the Endowment fund- long story short, if they sell the works for more than one dollar, they get instant gains on the books, and can spend money again. Their laudable emergency fund is going to run out this year as they cannot touch the endowment's initial capital
28 January 2009
About the Rose
So, the Board of Overseers at Brandeis have deemed in their infinite wisdom that the Rose art museum is expendable. That, to paraphrase Laurie Fendrich, art is a commodity after all.
Beyond the obvious stuff, the closing a museum is bad, the lengthy lawsuits are on the way, and the Brandeis is going to have a massive loss of status in the arts community, there are quite a few moving parts to watch.
It seems that the Board of Overseers didn't consider discussing this with the Board of the Rose, important past donors, or almost anyone- save the state AG, who is involved because of their non-profit status. The woman whose name is on the walls takes this as a massive affront to her and her husband who expanded the building to exhibit the collection she loves.
The current director of the museum, Michael Rush must be in a swirl right now. There are indications that the review by a certain auction house he had conducted after he was hired may be the cause of the myopic $Dollar$Signs$ that are blinding the Board. As it is slowly coming out that this is a top down problem, I doubt people will hold this against him. In spring of '07 (PDF) the Brandeis Magazine they send to alumni had an article that went in to great depth about the numerous changes Rush was hoping to engender at the museum. All positive. Nothing like what is happening.
Now, to use a metaphor, I've never seen a University have a bank scare before, but do you think that some students might transfer out of an institution that has to sell the art on the walls to survive? I do.
And what does this do for the school's future? Would you donate art to Brandeis? I sure wouldn't without some serious legalese connected to the donation. So there is almost no chance of ever having a museum at the University again. This may also dissuade people considering other financial gifts.
And last, how bad has Brandeis been hit? Will Yehuda Reinharz leave anything uncut? Is Brandeis the first school to go to a meta-major system with a summer semester? Either way good luck Brandeis. You're going to need it.
Beyond the obvious stuff, the closing a museum is bad, the lengthy lawsuits are on the way, and the Brandeis is going to have a massive loss of status in the arts community, there are quite a few moving parts to watch.
It seems that the Board of Overseers didn't consider discussing this with the Board of the Rose, important past donors, or almost anyone- save the state AG, who is involved because of their non-profit status. The woman whose name is on the walls takes this as a massive affront to her and her husband who expanded the building to exhibit the collection she loves.
The current director of the museum, Michael Rush must be in a swirl right now. There are indications that the review by a certain auction house he had conducted after he was hired may be the cause of the myopic $Dollar$Signs$ that are blinding the Board. As it is slowly coming out that this is a top down problem, I doubt people will hold this against him. In spring of '07 (PDF) the Brandeis Magazine they send to alumni had an article that went in to great depth about the numerous changes Rush was hoping to engender at the museum. All positive. Nothing like what is happening.
Now, to use a metaphor, I've never seen a University have a bank scare before, but do you think that some students might transfer out of an institution that has to sell the art on the walls to survive? I do.
And what does this do for the school's future? Would you donate art to Brandeis? I sure wouldn't without some serious legalese connected to the donation. So there is almost no chance of ever having a museum at the University again. This may also dissuade people considering other financial gifts.
And last, how bad has Brandeis been hit? Will Yehuda Reinharz leave anything uncut? Is Brandeis the first school to go to a meta-major system with a summer semester? Either way good luck Brandeis. You're going to need it.
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