There is no holding down the foes of moving the Barnes Collection to downtown Philadelphia; they are a persistent bunch.
This weekend, they have organized a Barnes Day: on Sunday, the anniversary of Albert C. Barnes’s birthday, there will be a rally at 301 North Latches Lane, in Merion, across the street from the collection. It starts at noon.
The Friends of the Barnes Foundation have enlisted two speakers, one from officialdom: Sam Stretton, Esq., a leading authority on Pennsylvania legal ethics, will speak about the “disturbing” ethical questions in the Barnes case, according to their press release, and Daylin Leach, Pennsylvania State Senator for the 17th District (which includes the Barnes Foundation in Merion) will also speak at the event.
After the rally, there’s a reception at which Friends of the Barnes will record their feelings about the collection, and presumably why it shouldn’t move, on video. Though they didn’t say, the Friends will probably post them on their website or at SavetheBarnes.org.
I continue to think their cause is futile, but I also continue to agree that the Barnes should not be moved. Aside from all the ethical issues regarding donor’s intent, the bad behavior on the part of some protagonists in this drama, and the poor way the legal cases have been handled, it’s a total waste of taxpayer’s money to build the downtown venue. The Barnes could have been kept where it is, with more access, in fine condition, with a fourth of the money that will be expended.
Further thoughts here, here, here, and here.
UPDATED, 1/2/11: Attorney Stretton surprised today’s crowd, and the media, by saying he’s taking the Barnes case back to court. Speaking at the rally, Stretton said that within a week, “he will ask that the original case be reopened, arguing that then-State Attorney General and now-Federal Judge Michael Fisher was too supportive of the coalition of individuals and groups that pressed for the Barnes to be moved to Philadelphia.”
Inquirer reporter Christopher Hepp was at at the rally, and published an article saying:
As Attorney General, it was Fisher’s job to represent the interests of the state’s citizens, not one side or the other in the dispute, Stretton said.
Stretton said he questioned Fisher’s actions after seeing him interviewed in the 2009 documentary, The Art of the Steal, which offered a critical view of the machinations that ultimately led to the planned move of the Barnes.
The article said that $160 million of the needed $200 million has been raised, and that the Barnes plans to close the galleried in Merion in June, though it will be more than a year until the new museum, downtown, is ready to receive the public.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Friend of the Barnes