Friday, December 31, 2010
LONG SLOW CONFLICT
Today's film was the documentary
This is about the long train wreck that involves the Barnes Collection, one of the worlds' most outstanding collection of post impressionism and other modern art.
Barnes was a millionaire with an eye for art and, as it happens, he knew what to buy and who to buy it from. By that, I mean that he bought the best of Picasso and Mattisse and the rest and put together a unique collection which was exhibited not by artist but grouped in themes. Very nice.
He wrote an iron-clad will leaving the collection to a Trust.
But, the place was mismanaged and it was made vulnerable to a lot of people who wanted to have at it.
I enjoyed the film but it was quite one sided. In fact, many of the talking heads are shown demonstrating at the groundbreaking for the new building in Philadelphia where the collection will be housed beginning in 2012.
This has been going on so long that I remember it from the time I lived and worked in Philadelphia. 1958-63.
I am sad to say that I never went to see the old location or the art. I was too "busy". Sad. Missed opportunity.
The film is even handed about the general history and Barnes himself. I learned a lot.
I will give it a 3 out of Netflix5.
Labels: films
