My opinion is that selling it to a MOCA or MOMA might not be a bad thing. The question comes down to who benefits from the work. The students in painting tend to be figurative and conservative who often dismissed Mural as poorly painted. Motherwell’s comment that the painting took Pollock 10 hours to paint was a source of derision, although it’s doubtful it was done in only 10 hours. Moreover, the traffic of spectators in the Museum is small, the usual public school kids, occasional art students and openings. Since most people go home for the weak ends, the Museum dies during that time. Placing the work in NY, LA or DC would obviously increase its viewing. The downside to the Iowa Museum, the other works of similar vintage, a fabulous, huge pre-Duco DeKooning woman, a classic all black Rheinhardt and a Joan Mitchel would all be candidates for sale and stick out like sore thumbs. So while Tyler Green’s citation of collusion has merit, the outcome might not be so bad.

To add to the Museum’s flood damage, I chanced into an art history major at Girl Talk at Lollapalooza who told me the new art building either has been condemned or has to be abandoned for students due to flood damage. This is the one which won all kinds of architectural awards for design and greeness, and was only a year old. This might add to the mix if the Museum is under the control of the Art & Art History Dept. and they desperately need new money.

My opinion is that selling it to a MOCA or MOMA might not be a bad thing. The question comes down to who benefits from the work. The students in painting tend to be figurative and conservative who often dismissed Mural as poorly painted. Motherwell’s comment that the painting took Pollock 10 hours to paint was a source of derision, although it’s doubtful it was done in only 10 hours. Moreover, the traffic of spectators in the Museum is small, the usual public school kids, occasional art students and openings. Since most people go home for the weak ends, the Museum dies during that time. Placing the work in NY, LA or DC would obviously increase its viewing. The downside to the Iowa Museum, the other works of similar vintage, a fabulous, huge pre-Duco DeKooning woman, a classic all black Rheinhardt and a Joan Mitchel would all be candidates for sale and stick out like sore thumbs. So while Tyler Green’s citation of collusion has merit, the outcome might not be so bad.

To add to the Museum’s flood damage, I chanced into an art history major at Girl Talk at Lollapalooza who told me the new art building either has been condemned or has to be abandoned for students due to flood damage. This is the one which won all kinds of architectural awards for design and greeness, and was only a year old. This might add to the mix if the Museum is under the control of the Art & Art History Dept. and they desperately need new money.