University of Iowas Pollock, Mural

  • University of Iowa’s Pollock, “Mural”

The legislature in Iowa hasn’t been paying much attention to the controversy over institutions selling art to stay afloat — Fisk University in Tennessee being the one get the most notice here, because of Alice Walton’s offer of $30 million for a half share in its collection. The arrangement is still in litigation.

Advertisement

The Daily Iowan reports that lawmakers are considering a bill that would force the University of Iowa to sell a Jackson Pollock it owns to raise money for scholarships. The painting, “Mural,” a gift to the museum from Peggy Guggenheim, once hung in the University of Iowa Museum of Art but was moved after flooding destroyed a lot of the arts campus; it’s worth is $140 million, the UI says.

Hell, if a museum’s holdings are nothing but saleable objects, why not sell all 12,000 works in the collection? The Iowa legislature will be hearing from the American Association of Museums soon, if not already, I guess.

Advertisement

Let’s hope the Arkansas legislature doesn’t decide this is a good idea and ransack the U of A’s art holdings.

UPDATE: Culturegrrl reports on the AAM and AAMD (Association of Art Museum Directors) reaction:

Advertisement

Such a sale would violate a fundamental ethical principle of the museum field, one which all accredited museums are bound to respect: that an accessioned work of art may not be treated as a disposable financial asset.

Invest in the future of great journalism in Arkansas

Join the ranks of the 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 daily email blasts who know that the Arkansas Times is the go-to source for tough, determined, and feisty journalism that holds the powerful accountable. For 50 years, our progressive, alternative newspaper in Little Rock has been on the front lines of the fight for truth, and with your support, we can do even more. By subscribing or donating to the Arkansas Times, you'll not only have access to all of our articles, but you'll also be helping us hire more writers and expand our coverage. Don't miss out on the opportunity to make a difference with your subscription or donation to the Arkansas Times today.

Previous article Census tells the political story Next article Line’s open