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Sun 6 Nov, 2005 10:11 am
Today the Getty Museum is under siege. Its former antiquities curator faces an indictment in Italy, and allegations of lavish travel by [museum president Barry] Munitz have led to a wide-ranging investigation by the California attorney general into the trust's finances. Overlooked in these controversies, some of Mr. Munitz's critics say, is the harm suffered by the museum itself, including acquisitions, curatorial choices and departures by talented staff members who bridled at Mr. Munitz's decisions and style." In fact, some observers believe that the Getty's problems can be traced all the way back to 1982, when it received the bulk of oilman J. Paul Getty's fortune and became a major player on the international art scene. The New York Times 11/05/05
http://www.nytimes.com/glogin?URI=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/06/arts/design/06getty.html&OP=273e8ef6Q2FQ7BGTQ5DQ7BQ3CgU3Q2FggwWQ7BWrrmQ7BkkQ7BrQ22Q7BjQ2Fw3Q7BQ3CT3(-HQ7BrQ22-TwwEzQ26wBQ60
Sorry for not responding to this before now, Angelique, I am following the story. There were a couple of threads, or at least posts on this before, but a while ago, and the story is ongoing.
Here's a quote from me in the Art as an Investment thread, where there was quite a tangent on the subject. Acquiunk expressed disagreement later a bit later. I'll see if I can link the pages....
My own view is that the Getty multimillions have been ill spent to purchase and house the products of ransacking (or ransacking to anyone without blinders on). I say this while I really like the Malibu antiquities museum as a building. I would have preferred that the Getty foundation or trust, whatever it is named, had supported world wide efforts to maintain heritage sites, perhaps to help fund local museums near the sites, and fund protection of the sites.
I'm aware Italy and I presume many other countries have been remiss in the protection.
The part of that thread that veered off about the Getty started here -
http://www.able2know.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=1587153#1587153
I hope it all gets resolved soon, and that it's put to good use.
Thanks for the link, I will read it.
You know osso, it won't be the first time or last time that funds get ill spent. Too sad.
I thought there was another thread on the Getty acquisitions question, but I can't immediately find it.
Wow, Way back to 2003. Truthfully I just learned about it myself.
Thanks again
The thread started in 2003, but the bit about the Getty acquisition mess was this September (on page 13, I think, of that thread.
On Aquiunk's comment re my post I just quoted above, I just reread it and find I agree with him....
His post, on something like page 16 of that thread, is here -
http://www.able2know.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=1589593#1589593
KK, will check it out too. Thanks
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