Friday, February 26, 2010

"Is it really 'a tragedy' that lots more people will get to see these paintings?"

Kyle Smith: "This documentary relies heavily on an echo chamber of art writers and teachers, all of whom are outraged by the proposed move, but their ad hominem snark ... and use of derision like calling the new museum 'McBarnes' are more revealing than the filmmakers suspect. The same neighbors are shown first complaining that the Barnes collection draws too much street parking, then fighting the addition of a parking lot, then fighting yet again to keep the collection where it is, where few can see it. Maybe the gentry and art-world snobs are less interested in the details of Barnes' will than in preserving a fabulous secret garden, away from the grubby public."