Today I received a missive from Brandeis President Jehuda Reinharz. (Tyler Green from the blog Modern Art Notes got the same letter.)
In it, Reinharz goes on to outline that while he may not sell off all of the Rose Art Museum’s art, he still plans to close the museum itself and sell some of the art. By dissolving the museum as an institution, Brandeis is no longer beholden to industry standards for deaccessioning and selling art.
In other words, it’s a sneaky way around the rules. And as far as I’m concerned, Reinharz’s actions are still shameful and perhaps even more ethically suspect now than ever before. In the email, the president states that “…Brandeis is not lessening its commitment to the creative and visual arts.”
So, selling off Brandeis’ art collection is doing what, exactly? I want to echo a sentiment felt across the artworld, though its not usually put in such a colloquial way: F*ck you.
Too much? Hardly.
This article appears in January 30 • 2009.