Green Grills Gillman

Tyler Green, my ArtsJournal blogging colleague, promises a Q&A with the Barnes Foundation’s new executive director and president, Derek Gillman, this Monday. Unlike CultureGrrl, Mr. Modern Art Notes is grudgingly in favor of the Barnes’ planned move from Lower Merion to Philadelphia.
It will be interesting to see just how much Green can draw out of Gillman, concerning the Barnes’ specific plans for the design of its new facility, its future exhibition program and its display of the permanent collection. My guess is he’ll say he’s too new on the project to make detailed comments, and it’s too soon to get into specifics that are still being worked out.
Inquiring minds want to know what they will do about the great site-specific Matisse “La Danse” mural. During court proceedings, then Barnes director Kimberly Camp suggested they might reproduce “La Danse” in the new facility. This would surely cause Albert Barnes some “rotating in his grave”—Gillman’s previous description of how Barnes would have reacted to the planned Philly move.
I’m looking forward to dissecting this dialogue!