We think it is time to check the pulse of Lower Merion and beyond and ask the following question:
How does everyone feel about the Barnes Museum in Merion? Should the City of Philadelphia be allowed to just steal Lower Merion's crown jewel of art and history? Should one of the most important private art collections in this country, region and world move?
We are opening this discussion up and hopefully folks from the various groups interested in the Barnes will start an interesting conversation.
After all, who hasn't seen one of the lawn signs which says "The Barnes Belongs in Merion" ? Do we really want Scandaldelphia, the City of Brotherly Corruption at this point in time, to be responsible for keeping the legacy of Dr. Barnes intact? There might be some big money behind the impending move, but is it the right move? We don't know so we are asking for input? Hopefully some of the folks fighting to save the Barnes and keep in it Merion, as well as those with perspectives different from theirs will proffer an opinion....
Please check out the following:
Philadelphia Inquirer: L. Merion neighbors fight to keep Barnes
By Jeff Price
Inquirer Staff Writer
Tower drops Barnes for Parkway22 name
Barnes rightfully belongs in Lower Merion
It was good that reporter Jeff Price brought forward again the fight by many to keep the Barnes Foundation in Merion ("L. Merion neighbors fight to keep Barnes," Feb. 8). He begins his article, however, by saying that this fight is "probably futile."
Was it futile for Philadelphians to fight the secret sale of the Eakins painting? Bravo that they won, keeping it in the city where it belongs. It is no more futile for us to fight even harder to keep the Barnes Foundation in its birthplace, Merion...People visit the Barnes from all over the world....Politicians do not need to move the Barnes to the Ben Franklin Parkway so people can find it. Politicians could choose another target. Perhaps with the same reasoning they could secretly fund a move of Mount Vernon to the Washington Mall?
Barnes belongs on the Ben Franklin Parkway
In the Feb. 8 article about the Barnes Foundation and the endless battles with its neighbors, the self-proclaimed "Friends of the Barnes," I was stunned to read that one "friend" said the museum was Dr. Barnes' "gift to us" ("L. Merion neighbors fight to keep Barnes").....From the years of litigation and political maneuvering aimed at limiting access to the collection, I can only assume the "us" referred to is a very narrow group. As a neighbor of the Barnes and a citizen of the Philadelphia community, I can think of no better place for the collection than the Ben Franklin Parkway. This is a gift for all, not just for "us."
County wants Barnes to stay
By: MARGARET GIBBONS, Times Herald Staff
01/31/2007
COURTHOUSE - The Montgomery County commissioners are taking on Philadelphia's art community.
The commissioners unanimously passed a resolution saying that the Barnes Foundation museum should be kept in Lower Merion.
"This is an incredibly special collection of art and the environment of being in a home is unique in addition to the fabulous art," said Commissioner Ruth S. Damsker.
"We will stand ready to help Lower Merion and its residents in anyway we can," said county Commissioners Chairman Thomas J. Ellis.
Ellis said the commissioners were approached by the Lower Merion commissioners and a citizens' group formed to keep the museum in the township to add their voices to others calling for the Barnes Foundation board to reverse its decision to move the museum to Philadelphia.
Main Line Life: Intrigue shrouds Barnes
By:Cheryl Allison
Arguing that there are "changed circumstances" that call into question whether the relocation of the Barnes Foundation's famed art collection from Merion to Philadelphia is "the least drastic measure needed to ensure its financial well-being," members of the Friends of the Barnes Foundation met last week with representatives of the state Attorney General's Office.
Among the requests they formally presented during the meeting in Philadelphia Oct. 27: to investigate circumstances surrounding an appropriation of $100 million for design and construction of a new museum to house the Barnes collection, included in a state capital budget in 2002, before the foundation went to Montgomery County Orphan's Court to seek permission for a move.
The budget line item, which was apparently used as the basis for Gov. Ed Rendell's pledge of a grant of $25 million for the new facility, was uncovered recently through inquiries by Friends' members.
The meeting was arranged by U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach, who also attended the session.
Main Line Life: Where's the outrage when it comes to Barnes?
By:Cheryl Allison
Some people know that, in long-ago, pre-newspaper days, I was a student of art history. A love of the subject has been a steady current in my life.
So when the news broke that Thomas Jefferson University had a deal to sell Thomas Eakins' masterwork "The Gross Clinic," removing it from Philadelphia, I was as prepared as anyone to work up a pretty high dudgeon.....Somehow, in the hundreds of column inches generated so far - and this story shows no signs yet of losing steam - there's been virtually no mention of an obvious irony: That is that many of those howling about the impending loss of an art treasure from the city are the same players who have been willing to stand by, if not actually do the heavy lifting, while an entire art collection, a unique element of its community's cultural heritage, is carried out of Lower Merion Township.
I'm talking, of course, about art maverick Albert C. Barnes' Barnes Foundation.
In June of last year, I joined Friends of the Barnes Foundation, the organization opposing the plan to move the artwork of the Barnes from Merion to Philadelphia and decided to throw myself into a personal "street" campaign to inform my fellow citizens with a printed handout.....I felt a combination of shock and puzzlement. The idea that people thought the neighbors' actions had determined the plan to move the artwork from its home in Merion to Philadelphia baffled me and I wanted to learn more...
Newspaper accounts on this topic overwhelmingly and repeatedly characterize the Barnes neighbors as being hostile; however, that description is inconsistent with the facts reported in books and directly from the neighbors themselves. On the contrary, local residents treasure the Barnes Foundation. After all, their preference to be a neighbor of the Barnes is clear by their purchases of the surrounding homes. There is considerable evidence that the "hostile neighborhood" is a useful, but baseless myth spread by those claiming that the institution must move from Merion in order to survive. It is a classic, manipulative "Big Lie."
In the mid-1990s, after more than 70 tranquil years as neighbors of one another, the Barnes Foundation, under President of the Board Richard Glanton, and residents of Latch's Lane had conflicting goals. Mr. Glanton wanted to create a different path for the Barnes Foundation. For him, streets full of tour buses and taxis bringing an unlimited number of visitors were key to this plan. For the residents of Latch's Lane, interstate buses spewing diesel fumes for hours, impromptu taxicab stands, Barnes visitors picnicking and parking on private property were creating an intolerable situation and they protested. Does that make them hostile? Wouldn't residents of any neighborhood have protested under such circumstances?
...The neighbors' objections were met by a Federal Law Suit initiated by Richard Glanton. The term given to this sort of lawsuit is SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) - and this suit was dismissed in the neighbors' favor and labeled "cynical and frivolous" by the 3rd Circuit. The neighbors have never sued the Barnes Foundation. Given the institution's financial condition, it was surprising to learn that the Barnes paid over $1.4 million appealing the payment of the legal fees involved which were under $100,000. (Some nine years later, the fees were partially reimbursed.)
Barnes
When will people stop being so narrow-minded and realize that Philadelphia doesn't stop at the city limits. The metropolis includes the city, suburbs and bedroom communities. They all exist together, require the presence of each other and benefit as one. Those in Lower Merion enjoy the convenience that they can sweep society's problems under the Philadelphia rug, and wash their hands of the responsibilities, as long as they are fortunate enough to afford it. They have to stop looking at Philadelphia as the enemy. It's not time to circle the wagons, but to work together to create a better region. If the City of Philadelphia fails then so do the Philadelphia Region.
Rick Lewis
What is so wrong with
What is so wrong with Philadelphia? Yes, it might have more problems than most cities but then again it is bigger than most cities and way more diverse. If more is put into Philly, then maybe that will bring its image up.
Why does everyone care?
Barnsey's
They are so narrow minded.
These are the same people jumping on Ross Perot's Band wagon.
Tree huggers, whale watchers, save the elephants.
How about, who friggin cares.
Trustee's say it should go,
buh bye.
Love your children, open a door, help some one.
It is a friggin building,
It would make a sweet house, I wonder how much they will ask for it//
hmmm..
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