Posted on 03/06/2006 11:01:56 AM PST by Republicanprofessor
Gummed-Up Painting Taken To The Lab
That Helen Frankenthaler painting damaged last week when a 12-year-old boy affixed a wad of gum to it in the Detroit Institute of Arts has been taken to the conservation lab. "Museum officials said they are optimistic that the picture will make a full recovery. But in contrast to comments earlier this week in which relieved officials said decisively that the 1963 painting, 'The Bay,' would be fine, the museum issued a more tempered statement.
Gum Boy Gets Slammed
The 12-year-old boy who stuck gum on a valuable painting during a school visit to the Detroit Institute of Arts probably got more than he bargained for. "He's slammed with a suspension from school, a front-page newspaper account, derision from morning-ride DJs and mentions in media across the world. At 12 years old, he becomes Gum Boy. Forevermore, everyone expects the worst from him. His parents keep their shades drawn."
I wonder if his parents are also vilified as the people that didn't teach their 12 y/o that you don't deface someone else's property by putting gum on it.
At 12 y/o, he was old enough to know better than that.
When I was in high school I worked as a volunteer in the Boston Museum of Science. One day a NASA guy was there demonstrating a space suit. Suddenly, out of the crowd, a kid about 12 walked up on stage, grinned, and stuffed his bubble gum into one of the hose fittings on the suit. He then walked back into the crowd, still grinning like the little savage he was. There was no punishment, no harsh words. In Boston, no one would ever dare to stifle a kid's "creativity." Sometimes I wonder in what prison he is now doing time.
Here is someone worthwhile seeing
a href= "http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-818944862742874918&q=Autistic"
Why is the kid and/or his family not being given the bill to repair the damage? Good grief. At the very least, he should be paying that bill.
" At 12 y/o, he was old enough to know better than that."
At that age so were you and I but did that stop us from some of the stupid stunts we pulled?
And when you pulled stupid stunts, you paid the consequences.
If he was older, he would've claimed it was performance art.
That was a great clip. Who would have known he'd have done so well in the last minutes of the game?
Sorta brings a tear to your eye doesn't it!
Sorta brings a tear to your eye doesn't it!
"And when you pulled stupid stunts, you paid the consequences."
That's my point, some seem to think that since "he was old enough to know better", he wouldn't have done what he did. But despite knowing better he did and now he's paying the piper. Hopefully he'll "know better" next time!
Good question, and a great solution. The kid should have to pay: from his allowance and for years to come. I don't know much about conservation of paintings, but one would think a little soap and water might do it. However, seeing as it was costing $20,000, I think, to "repair" Duchamp's urinal/Fountain, I'm sure the bill would be very high to fix this painting. For more information on the urinal issue, see: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1564735/posts
They probably have not had many conservation problems with bubble gum.
I feel sorry for the kid. He probably didn't think it would turn out this way.
Art Ping.
Let Sam Cree, Woofie or me know if you want on or off the Art Ping list.
If you missed the first part of this story, check out: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1587236/posts
Suspension and derision by morning DJ's doesn't sound like very harsh consequences to me.
I think he should have a police record after this and should have to pay for the conservation work that his little "stunt" resulted in. Whether or not you think the painting is real "art", the fact is he defaced and damaged a painting that belonged to the museum.
My god, that clip is AWESOME! WOW! If anyone out there is looking for a feel good pick me up, click on that link. Thanks notaliberal, that clip really brightened my day!
What if this had been one of Norman Rockwell's famous paintings or some famous and beautiful work of religious art? Would you still feel sorry for him or would you want him to pay the consequences?
I don't see where the kid deserves anyone's pity - except that his parents clearly have failed in teaching him not to deface property that does not belong to him.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.