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Thursday, October 1, 2009

Barnes Battle featured in New Documentary

The long legal battle over moving the Barnes Foundation out of Montgomery County into the city of Philadelphia is documented in a new documentary, "The Art of the Steal." Mostly positive reviews are pouring in for the film, currently making the rounds of film festivals, which is reportedly sympathetic to the efforts to keep the financially struggling museum at it's original site, the home of the late collector Albert Barnes.

Here's an excerpt from a story this week in the Wall Street Journal:

"The Art of the Steal" breaks no significant news—at least not to anyone who has been closely following the saga. The film's accomplishment is to make a sometimes arcane tale involving art, law and the politics of philanthropy comprehensible and compelling to a general audience.

For more details on "The Art of the Steal," click here.
Posted by Catherine Lucey @ 11:00 AM  Permalink | 2 comments
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:09 PM, 10/01/2009
    That sounds great! I really want to see it! I hope it comes to Philadelphia soon. I love art but I've barely followed the argument. I'm visiting the collection for the first time tomorrow, tho. I do think the location of the site is really dumb. I think Jane Jacobs would agree with me, too. It's an arts ghetto, dooming the parkway to 9-5 life and evening deadness from now till forevermore.
    — BradyDale
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:05 AM, 10/15/2009
    When Will this be showing in Philly? The Barnes Move is really a great example of a hostile takeover of a National Historic Place by The Move Trustees, representing a small faction of moneyed interests to break a trust. It is disturbing that such a thing can take place in a democracy. On top of this, this small faction is using $137 Million in Public Tax dollars even though the Public has never had an opportunity to debate this highly controversial and wasteful Move. These same Move Trustees actually requested that the New Design be kept secret even though they are on their knees for $137 Million in Public Funds. I'm surprised there haven't been investigations of influence peddling and corruption with so many tax dollars flying around here despite the abysmal lack of public debate on this topic. Why don't they show The Art of The Steal for a couple week run at the Philadelphia Art Museum? That's a public space - oh, that's right, the PMA is controlled by the same suppressive special interests that are involved in the Barnes On The Parkway boondoggle. This Move is anti- American, anti-democracy and anti-cultural. It is a national disgrace.
    — RR


2 comments
About The Philly Clout Team
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Chris Brennan, a native Philadelphian and graduate of Temple University, joined the Daily News in 1999. He has written about SEPTA, the Philadelphia School District, the legalization of casino gambling, state government, the mayor, the governor, City Council and political campaigns.
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David Gambacorta spent a small eternity writing about cops, drug dealers and serial killers. Now he’s writing about power and politics ­– which sometimes reminds him of the old crime beat. He joined the Daily News in 2005. And yes, he knows you’re not quite sure how to pronounce his last name. E-mail tips to gambacd@phillynews.com
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Catherine Lucey joined the Daily News in 2002 and has written about murderous drug gangs, political protesters and Harry Potter. After covering the 2007 mayoral election, she moved over to the City Hall bureau where she has been reporting on the Nutter administration.
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Jan Ransom, a native New Yorker, joined the Daily News in 2010 after graduating from Howard University. She has since written about the difficulty of filing police complaints, tax deadbeats and life after violent home invasions. She joined the Daily News City Hall Bureau in 2011 and has plunged headfirst into reporting on administration budget battles and City Council shenanigans.
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Catherine Lucey
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Chris Brennan
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