Monday, September 30, 2013

Should the DIA Start Renting a Moving Van?

Nolan Finley, of the Detroit News,
In recent days, I’ve talked to three people at the top of the decision-making in the bankruptcy process. All said, without question, that at least part of the collection will have to be — their word — “monetized” before the bankruptcy is resolved.
But he wonders how much of the DIA collection will be up for grabs. 
Christie’s, the New York auction house, is assessing the collection. If the value is pegged at $2 billion to $3 billion, the DIA likely will escape relatively unscathed. If, as expected, it comes in at $10 billion to $15 billion, the half-billion Orr wants is reasonable. But if the number is more astronomical — $25 billion or above — somebody call Roger Penske and order a moving van.
I guess this is one time when an art collector wants the value of her collection to be assessed as low as possible. But then, what are the consequences of that gesture? 

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Thursday, September 12, 2013

Roberta Smith Is Way Off the Mark on the DIA

NY Times arts writer, Robert Smith, weighs in on the DIA and the possible sale of part of its collection.  I read the story on my flight back from Texas, and underlined so many conclusory statements and legal misstatements that my pen ran out of ink.

Donn Zaretsky does a great point-by-point analysis of Smith's inflated and fictional account, highlighting Smith's gluttunous use of hyperbole. Normally I would dismiss Smith's off-the-cuff comments given that on occasion she does hit the nail on the head. But since the ongoing DIA situation is of key public concern with major consequences, many readers who respect Smith's position as a Times writer will allocate significant truth and weight to her unfounded allegations, then turn around and disseminate these same ridiculous arguments.

I don't think I would be too crazy to say that some of Smith's comments border on being unethical and severely lacking in fact-checking skills, to the extent that I would encourage readers to contact the Times' public editor, Margaret Sullivan, and ask her to take a look into Smith's lack of journalistic integrity.



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