Hi Helen

A year or so ago we discovered that someone (probably a child) had drawn a
pencil moustache onto one of our oil paintings by Lely. We give out gallery
questionnaires to children, which is where the pencil came from. 

The moustache was very small and the damage superficial, but the story was
leaked to the local press, which in turn was taken up by the National press,
and the story ended up on Jonathan Ross's TV programme. The whole thing was
blown out of proportion, and the moustache became a big handle-bar moustache
drawn in permanent ink. We had visitors coming into the museum to see the
famous moustache and were very disappointed when it was pointed out to them.
 

Leeanne Westwood
Senior Museum Assistant
Valence House Museum
London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
Becontree Avenue
Dagenham
RM8 3HT
Tel: 020 8270 6744
Fax: 020 8270 6868
[log in to unmask]  
Website: www.barking-dagenham.gov.uk

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-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Helen E Scott
Sent: 12 September 2005 09:56
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: vandalism in art galleries

I am currently beginning research for a museum and gallery studies thesis on
the
topic of vandalism in art galleries.  As part of my research I am collecting
art
vandalism case studies, and I was wondering if anyone on the list has had
experience of acts of vandalism in their gallery (I will be considering both
minor and major acts of vandalism - everything from pen graffiti to serious
physical assualts on art works, ie. knife/acid attacks).
I would be really grateful if anyone would be willing to share their
experiences
in this field.  In addition to collecting details of case studies, I am
particularly interested in responses to occurences of vandalism, from the
gallery, its public and the media, and the effectiveness of any subsequent
changes implemented by the gallery.
Many thanks,

Helen Scott
University of St Andrews, Scotland



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