"Much of the money from that sale has been put toward a new $11.9 million reserve fund, one that the academy can turn to when operating income falls short of covering its $4.6 million budget."

The New York Times has a story on how the National Academy Museum is slowly coming back to life after being sanctioned by the AAMD for selling a couple of works three years ago.

The story explains that the sale "was controversial" because museums "are viewed" as "public trusts" since they "function as sanctuaries" for "cultural and historical artifacts."

No attempt is made, however, to reconcile that "view" with these others, also expressed in the Times, just a few months ago:

•  Deaccessioning is "a normal act," and to be "encouraged."
• "Deaccessioning is a healthy part of the management of any museum collection."
• Deaccessioning is "kind of a Humane Society. ... Maybe some of these works can be loved by someone else."

We'll have to await word from the Times as to whether this "is viewed" as an exercise in smoke and mirrors.