Hi Everyone, I think that this may be bigger than a mishandled pair of Ruby Slippers.... Here is a link to a breaking news story that will have major repercussions on the Museum community. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-museums25jan25,0,101198.story?page=1 This is apparently a mulit-year, multi-agency sting operation on the trafficking of illegally obtained artifacts and art - involving customs and IRS agents. Stay tuned! Cheers! Dave David Harvey Conservator Los Angeles, CA On Jan 24, 2008 11:48 AM, Deb Fuller <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > On Jan 24, 2008 2:20 PM, Karen Eckhaus <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > My take on it... > > > > After the care taken to transport them, being told what delicate shape > > they're in and being asked to put on curatorial gloves, Oprah SHOULD > have > > had the sense to know that they shouldn't be flung around! > > EXACTLY!! > > A quotation from the transcript of the show: > > > Oprah Winfrey: "Can I touch them? Am I allowed to touch them?" > > Dr. Glass: "No, you're not allowed to touch them. But if you, you uh-" > > Oprah Winfrey: "So glad I asked. I saw everyone with gloves on - you > have to touch them with gloves on, right?" > > [Oprah picks up gloves] > > Dr. Glass: "Uh, well, yeah, I don't even touch them with gloves on… > but, well, uh-" > > Oprah Winfrey: "I just want to touch them." > > --------------------------- > Oprah is being a bossy celebrity and using her media skills to > bulldoze over a curator who is out of his league. I'm sure he was > nervous being on national TV next to a big star and tried to steer her > away from touching them as best as he could. But geez woman, if the > curator who flew the objects to your studio in a special box with > armed guards says "No," ya think he has a reason? > > I think in situations like this, museums should have speciality > trained "media curators" who have experience speaking on camera and > dealing with celebrities. It takes a special skill to tactfully put > your foot down when it comes to handling your objects as well as the > ability to think on your feet and disarm celebrities who want to touch > objects or play around with them while on the air. They also need the > authority to say "I'm sorry but you either broke our conditions or did > not meet them for having our objects on your show and therefore we > will not allow you show them on the air." You also need a good PR > department to spin that in your favor. > > No media coverage is worth endangering or damaging priceless objects > nor should curators have to put up with media celebs who think they > can play around with national treasures just because they have gloves > on. I didn't have much respect for Oprah before and I certainly don't > have any respect for her now. > > Deb > > ========================================================= > Important Subscriber Information: > > 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). > > ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: 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).