Wednesday, October 31, 2007

VAM Responds to Randolph College Decision to De-accession Works from the Maier Museum of Art

The Virginia Association of Museums (VAM) released a letter sent to President John E. Klein of Randolph College, in which the Association expressed its opposition to the sale of four paintings from the college’s Maier Museum of Art. The letter (attached) was approved by the Council (board of directors) of VAM, the largest state museum association in the United States.

The paintings, which are slated to be auctioned in November by Christie’s in New York,
are: George Bellows’ Men of the Docks; Edward Hicks’ A Peaceable Kingdom; Ernest Martin
Hennings’ Through the Arroyo; and Rufino Tamayo’s Troubador. The college intends to apply the expected $32 million in revenue to its operating endowment, and to endow the Maier Museum Director’s position. [Museum Director Karol Lawson resigned in protest on October 2, the day after the paintings were removed by college officials. The controversy also prompted the resignations of the museum’s associate director and a member of the college’s art faculty.]
“It is the consensus of the Council that the Randolph College Board of Trustees and administration are making a grave mistake in treating works of art in the Maier Museum
collection as financial assets that can be sold to fund operating expenses of the college,” noted
Scott H. Harris, VAM President. “Such a clear violation of accepted museum standards compromises the museum’s ethical standing among its peers, and sets a disturbing precedent
that may hamper the collecting efforts of other institutions.”

Museum staff contacted VAM two years ago, when the college Board of Trustees began
looking at the art collection for possible sale. VAM’s Executive Director Margo Carlock made a
presentation on the ethics and standards of deaccessioning to the Board in September 2005.
“The museum director and staff acted in a responsible, professional manner in seeking to
provide a full range of information and professional museum perspective to aid the board in its
decision-making,” said Carlock. “It is regrettable that the board chose to take the action that it
did.”

As a museum professional, what do you think about this issue? Blog with us!

- Margo Carlock

1 comment:

Rebecca said...

As both a young museum professional and a R-MWC alumnae, I truly appreciate VAM speaking out against the sale of this artwork. Not only is this an issue of questionable ethics but it's important that we take a stance in protecting Virginia's cultural treasures. Why should four pieces of significant artwork be put up for auction (likely to head to the home of private collector outside of the commonwealth) when there is a wonderful home for that work here?

Again, I salute VAM for taking this issue to heart and I encourage other museum professionals and art lovers alike in the commonwealth support those who work to save this art.