I AM APALLED!!!!

Oh, Heavens. This is too, too, TOO much. Congratulations on keeping your comments to yourself, Pamela. It's an admirable show of restraint.

SO - I suppose the Smithsonian is for sale. Fabulous. I'm so proud.

Grrrrr......

Cecelia





"Feltus, Pamela" wrote:

> By popular demand, here are excerpts of the article on Catherine Reynolds
> from this month's W.
> I think the eloquence of the article speaks for itself, so I'll keep my
> catty comments to myself. Plus, I'm a curator, so I can't have any ideas of
> my own anyways (cause what kind of nutty person would let a curator initiate
> an idea?)
> Enjoy and forgive any typing goofs.
>
> The Rap on Reynolds:
> Armed with a bankroll, an attitude and illustrious friends, Catherine
> Reynolds takes on Washington
> by Susan Waters
>
>         Surrounded by celebrities, politicians and local socialites gathered
> in the grand foyer for Washington's most important social event of the year,
> Catherine Reynolds is looking for trouble. [cut description of her dress and
> how much money she gave the Kennedy Center] "Please, take our picture
> together," she says, smiling broadly and reaching for [Martha] Stewart's
> hand. "This one is for the Smithsonian."
>         Reynold's reference is to the dustup surrounding her $38 million
> donation to the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of American History,
> announced last May (at a luncheon she paid for herself). The gift prompted
> outrage because it came with strings very much attached: It was earmarked
> for a new permanent exhibition, "The Spirit of America," focused on a list
> of American achievers over which Reynolds would maintain considerable
> influence (selecting a majority of the review committee who would oversee
> the exhibit). Asked who might be among honorees, she tossed off a few names
> including Martin Luther King Jr., Steven Spielberg, Dorothy Hamill and, yes,
> Martha Stewart.
>         "I wouldn't have touched the money with a 10-foot pole," says one
> former director of a historical museum, voicing a reaction that was
> widespread in the museum world. "As a director, what you want if for the
> donor to say, 'We love the work you are doing and we want to support you.'
> Program judgments have to be left to the museum curators."
>         Reynolds admits she takes an unusually hands-on approach to giving.
> "I don't believe you just write a check and think it solves the problem,"
> she fired back with a smile. "I feel I have something to bring to the table.
> Call that ego if you want. Whatever"
>         [cut support from Tom Daschle]
>         In light of the flap, Reynolds has diplomatically agreed to allow
> museum curators to iniate ideas for the exhibition and to appoint review
> committee members in collaboration with the museum. She still passes out
> "Spirit of America" aviator jackets to friends, however. And as of now, the
> exhibit is still on track for opening in 2004.
>         [cut several pages of Reynolds worship and the background of her
> husband's American Academy of Achievement]
>         Although the Smithsonian project and the academy are not directly
> related, several of the luminaries Reynolds said might turn up in the
> exhibit have participated in the academy's 3-day conferences for gifted
> students.
>         [more cutting about her wedding dress]
>         As for the Smithsonian, Reynolds believes the institution may have
> hurt itself by mishandling the controversy. Reports of the curators' outrage
> over the terms of her gift were leaked to the press, and while Smithsonian
> Secretary Lawrence Small forcefully defended his own role, he never backed
> hers. In support of Reynolds, Albert Lord, chairman of Sallie Mae, is
> withholding a promised $20 million grant.
>         "They've misbehaved so this is going to be difficult for them,"
> Reynolds says, drawing attention to a report that the Bush administration is
> considering large cuts in the Smithsonian's budget.
>
> Pamela Feltus
> Curator
> National Museum of American Jewish Military History
> 1811 R Street NW, Washington DC 20009
> 202-265-6280 x201
>
> www.nmajmh.org
>
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--
Cecelia Ottenweller
Program Coordinator
The Jung Center
5200 Montrose Blvd.
Houston, TX 77006
713-524-8253, ext. 16
[log in to unmask]
"I'm not a model...A model's an imitation of the real thing." - Mae West

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The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).