----- Original Message ----- From: Chantel Cummings <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Monday, May 24, 1999 11:51 AM Subject: Recent letter to the editor > HORSEYOURODINON > I am writing in response to your article concerning the Cummer Museum's > forthcoming exhibition of Auguste Rodin's Monument to Victor Hugo > (Briefcases, May 4). The museum's director Kahren Arbitman is being > deliberately misleading when she states that my way of thinking leads to > the conclusion that all casts are reproductions. It is impossible to > deny that, in the art world, there is a major distinction between life > casts and posthumous casts that has significant aesthetic and financial > ramifications. If this were as false as Arbitman implies, why did > previous curators at the Cummer obtain a cast of the famous American > sculptor Frederick Remington's statue "Bronco Busters" that was made > under his direction during his lifetime, rather than one of the numerous > - and considerably less-valuable - posthumous casts of that work? > > Both Chairman Preston Haskell and Vice-Chairman Sam Vickers of the > Cummer's board of directors are noted local art collectors who were > instrumental in firing me from my position as curator over the Rodin > fracas. I challenge them to answer this question: Which would you prefer > for your collection: a work that the artist produced during his or her > lifetime or one that was made after he or she died? I very strongly > doubt that either of them will select the latter. Why should the > Jacksonville public settle for less? > > Arbitman denied that the sculptures she is going to exhibit are > reproductions, when in fact the promotional literature supplied by the > sponsoring Cantor Foundation calls them exactly that. You quote Arbitman > as an authority on these complex issues, knowing perfectly well that > when one of your reporters asked her if the Cummer had a sculpture by > Rodin in its permanent collection, she failed to answer the question > correctly. This sort ignorance on the part of one who claims to be an > art professional is reprehensible, and I wonder why you neglected to > mention that incident. Let's straighten this out once and for all, and > let the public decide. I openly challenge Arbitman to debate the issue > of posthumous castings with me in the museum auditorium at any date she > cares to specify. Of course, this will necessitate her temporarily > lifting her ban on my entering the museum. > > Robert Torchia > Jacksonville > ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://museums.state.nm.us/nmmnh/museum-l.html. 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).