Slog - Comments on On Using Extra Protection

Comment by Jubilation T. Cornball

Jubilation T. Cornball — Thu, 29 May 2008 13:56:13 -0800

That painting survives 45 years until it comes here...to the land of the rubes.

God damn SAM.

Comment by JC

JC — Thu, 29 May 2008 14:02:13 -0800

I've always been amazed that rare/valuable works of art are displayed almost entirely unprotected. I'm grateful for the opportunity to view them that way, but amazed all the same.

Comment by Adiabatic Man

Adiabatic Man — Thu, 29 May 2008 14:07:27 -0800

#1 - Not fair. I'm pretty sure this is part of the permanent collection and I even think I recall it hanging in the earlier SAM space. Actually, it amazes me that more works aren't damaged (witness the damage to the wave sculpture down by the waterfront.) Surely Seattle doesn't have a monopoly on idiots who visit museums.

Comment by Big Sven

Big Sven — Thu, 29 May 2008 14:08:17 -0800

Reflexive self-loathing in 3... 2... shit, it's started already!!!

Comment by michael strangeways

michael strangeways — Thu, 29 May 2008 14:10:36 -0800

Warhol might be amused...he always wondered how long his paintings would last since silk screen isn't really a very permanent application...

Comment by Jen Graves

Jen Graves — Thu, 29 May 2008 14:12:00 -0800

Jubilation: #3 is right. And yes, SAM owns the piece.

Comment by elenchos

elenchos — Thu, 29 May 2008 14:15:58 -0800

Elvises? I'm pretty sure the plural has to be either Elvi or Elves.

Comment by Dougsf

Dougsf — Thu, 29 May 2008 14:20:52 -0800

A friend of mine that worked there for years told me the drunks at the private functions SAM does would trash shit pretty well. Frequently touching artworks, and one night witnessed steam from the flame-heated catering trays visibly moisten a few pieces on the wall behind them.

Comment by Tiktok

Tiktok — Thu, 29 May 2008 14:23:13 -0800

I was a MoMa a few years ago, looking at the "Greatest Hits" permanent collection, A family stood before that huge Jackson Pollack drip painting they have (right next to an equally huge "Water Lilies" for contrast) and proclaimed in all seriousness "Shit, a five-year old could do that..." Meanwhile, their actual five-year old had wandered over to a nearby (unprotected) Rothko, and started rubbing his hands on it. Seriously.

So, the rubes are everywhere.

Comment by Shilo Urban

Shilo Urban — Thu, 29 May 2008 14:28:51 -0800

What about the idiot who threw turpentine on the Mona Lisa at the Louvre?

The tiny piece of art is now encased in a huge plexiglass box.

It's like graffiti on ancient Roman architecture- you love and hate humanity, all at the same time.

At least the clumsy-ass beeotch didn't do it on purpose!

Comment by monkey

monkey — Thu, 29 May 2008 14:30:13 -0800

Were the parents straight? This could be an "Every Child Deserves..." post.

Comment by max solomon

max solomon — Thu, 29 May 2008 14:45:08 -0800

The point here is that the SAM created what they feared.

Karma for putting the DeKooning "Pink Lady" in storage.

Comment by You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me

You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me — Thu, 29 May 2008 14:49:54 -0800

Children should not be allowed out in public...

Comment by COMTE

COMTE — Thu, 29 May 2008 15:04:04 -0800

True, @1. For example, even though Picasso's "The Kiss" wasn't actually in Seattle at the time it was damaged a couple of years ago, I have it on good authority that Seattle was in fact the culprit, and NOT then-current owner Steve Wynn, as was widely reported.

In addition, I've been informed Seattle was also responsible for the holes punched in a Monet in Paris last year, the shot-gunning of a Da Vinci in London in 1987, the vitrioling of a Rembrandt in Amsterdam in 1990, and for projectile-vomiting all over a Mondrian in New York in 1996.

The sad, yet irrefutable conclusion that must be drawn from these and many, many other examples too numerous to mention is that Seattle is solely responsible for every bad thing that happens anywhere - always.

Comment by Heidi

Heidi — Thu, 29 May 2008 15:07:25 -0800

Anything bad happening to a Warhol work makes me sad and that work was actually the first Warhol piece I ever saw in person. Reading this bit of bad news actually made me gasp out loud and say, "Oh, no."

Comment by Fnarf

Fnarf — Thu, 29 May 2008 15:08:28 -0800

There's something to be said for a graceful velvet rope.

Comment by orangekrush

orangekrush — Thu, 29 May 2008 15:21:24 -0800

@ 14~ try puke on the Ming Dynasty camels. Apparently the sorority sisters of U-dub usta have their mixers at SAM.
shameless promotion:
The Mcleod Residence is hosting a music showcase tonite of Musicians that work at museums.

Comment by PopTart

PopTart — Thu, 29 May 2008 15:36:11 -0800

@14 Somebody projectile vomited on a Mondrian? I hope they were summarily shot.

Comment by Jubilation T. Cornball

Jubilation T. Cornball — Thu, 29 May 2008 16:08:39 -0800

OK, OK...I picked the wrong example upon which to base a Seattle bashing. Mea culpa.

SAM is blessed.

Comment by homage to me

homage to me — Thu, 29 May 2008 16:54:14 -0800

I agree with @5, I think Warhol would be amused, and enjoy these comments, and probably would feel bad for the kid.

Comment by Sad Comment

Sad Comment — Thu, 29 May 2008 16:54:24 -0800

I wonder if she was busy texting at the time?

Comment by Dougsf

Dougsf — Thu, 29 May 2008 18:32:03 -0800

#20 - I don't think Warhol ever felt bad for anyway. He would have enjoyed the publicity though.

Comment by nolaseatac

nolaseatac — Fri, 30 May 2008 03:07:59 -0800

SAM is great, but they need better security.

During the 2 a.m. Roman gallery all -nighter, there were drunk douches everywhere getting too close for comfort to all the paintings.

I saw some guy pretending to slam a non-existent sledgehammer into a Jasper Johns. It would have been fine if he were standing a few feet back, but he wasnt. He was almost touching the painting.

I was a pussy about it and left.

Comment by Polar Icecap

Polar Icecap — Fri, 30 May 2008 09:55:04 -0800

I hate the idea of tons of security guards, plexiglass and all the precautionary measures at museums. Ruins the experience for me, as I'm sure it did for the lady who tripped on the security feature at SAM. By the way, the guards at the Tacoma Art Museum are some of the biggest security nazis around. Seems like everytime I'm in there as soon as I come within a foot of a work, there's some 20 year old telling me to please step back.

When my wife and I were in Italy, priceless sculptures and works of art were displayed publicly with little to no security. It was pretty refreshing.