Saturday, July 13, 2013

"Artists and collectors will be reluctant to give works to Dia if this sale occurs."

Paul Winkler, former director of the Menil Collection and the brother of Dia co-founder Helen Winkler, is not happy with Dia's deaccession plans.

He breaks an important rule of never mentioning that sales to buy more art might also discourage future donations.  Under the by-laws of the Deaccession Police, we're only supposed to mention that when a museum (or university) considers selling work for another purpose.  Oh well.  Cat's out of the bag now.

On the general issue of the Dia sale:  can you imagine what the reaction would be like if they were not using the proceeds for acquisitions?  We'd need a new outrage meter.