A lot to respond to here and in others' posts, so I may need to revisit this at MK, but two comments.

1. Regarding donations: the problem here is that, as a library, the NYPL is not restrained by any guidelines regarding the disposal of artwork. I know people are very suspicious of museum deaccessioning, and that's a healthy thing. I also know that many people think the existing guidelines for deaccessioning don't have much restraining power on museums. They do, even when the objects in question have no real value (I've seen overstuffed, ratty easy chairs of no distinction, looking like they came from someone's basement, held in storage awaiting the proper outcome of a deaccessioning process.) But none of that applies here.

2. The proposed Walton museum. Yeah, I cringed when I read the name, too. But despite Todd's fears, we really have very little idea of what it is supposed to be like. The name suggests to me not so much Precious Moments as a sort of country-fried New Age spiritualism, and that's bad enough. But none of us actually know yet. I'm rather fond of the building Safdie did for the Peabody-Essex, so we'll see what happens on that end. It may be considerably better than people fear. Or maybe not. The consolation here is that very little of that will matter in a few decades. Institutions outlive their founders, and I feel pretty comfortable that the professionals will slowly transform the place once she's out of the way, as happens everywhere else.

Oh, one last thing, regarding the trustee situation: I was pretty surprised to read about that one myself, and there are legitimate questions to be asked. If the NGA is smart, they made their decisions regarding trustees with eyes open, knowing what they could expect and what they could not. Wilmerding, if I understand correctly, has already donated more than 50 works to the NGA. That's a lot. From the articles so far, a lot isn't clear, so I'm not inclined to committ myself to an firm opinion. But given that no collector is going to be entirely free of conflicts in taking a role with a museum board, the key is to be upfront about the situation and not let certain areas interfere. It would be good for the NGA to clarify how what happened here happened, and how it will be dealing with similar situations. But that doesn't mean either Wilmerding or Walton have nothing to offer the board.

So, Kriston, the argument here is that the NYPL is guilty of some ethical failure because they sold the painting to a museum whose name you have a weirdly visceral negative reaction to, and which is located in what you consider the "armpit of the nation"?

Blech.

Well, it's a horrible name. Nothing wierd about a negative reaction to it.

More importantly, I think the argument is (1) that the NYPL was not best serving the public interest by consigning Kindred Spirits to what Kriston (and others) fear will be tendentious and inappropriate interpretation and display, and (2) that the wishes of the donor were not respected in doing so. I'm ambivalent about a lot of (1) and agnostic toward the rest of it, while (2) seems to me to be true but unfortunately not binding in this case.

As for the armpit of the nation line, given that I reside in a city that sometimes has been called that as well, I assumed Kriston was joking. Texas humor. But it is reminder that such places deserve great art, too. Nothing is too good for the proletariat, after all.

As someone who lives in one of Texas' many armpits (Temple, pop. 50,000), let me say that if the Ark. town is anything like mine, it would not be suited to such a museum.

If, let's say, Drayton McClane, the owner of the Houston Astros who is from Temple, were to attempt something similar, I'd think it was a terrible idea. And that is no matter how well curated, and taking into account that Temple is an hour from Austin and two from Dallas. Towns like this are not suited for a museum like that, in terms of accomodations, support, or patronage. We are a pit-stop town. It would be better appreciated somewhere else, and that's not a matter of elitism, just demographics.

Maybe Bentonville is vastly different, and it would become Ark.'s art hub, but I kind of doubt it.

I've never been to Texas. But from hearing about the art to be seen, I'm tempted to visit Fort Worth, which sounds like an armpit. Not to mention Marfa, which is more like a armpit follicle.

I know the name could be seen as New-Agey, but it reminds me more of a character from Boogie Nights, or maybe something dental. As to whether Bentonville is the armpit of the nation, maybe I'm being kind of literal here, but when I look at a map I picture the armpits on the coasts. Arkansas seems to be around the lower torso somewhere, but I'm not sure if the country is facing toward me or away from me.

Crystal Bridges sounds like the name of a porn starlet.

Someone has described Bilbao to me as the Detroit of Spain. Now, voila - world-class art destination. The infrastructure will spring up around the museum in Bentonville. Personally, I think the relocation of art treasures to flyover country has interesting and potentially positive implications.

I've been thinking about those implications too, as much as I'm able. I believe Kimmelman in the Times compared the Durand sale to the destruction of Penn Station as a cultural loss for New York. I know someone did, if not him. On an emotional level it may be the same for some, but the cases are rather different. I'm sure this is not the first time an important work has left New York despite the wishes of interested parties. And obviously great art is sold all the time there, departing across the globe, but no one complains about that. The (perhaps justified) call for new regulation of art sales and the like, however, seem to signal in yet one more way that capital, cultural and otherwise, is flowing away. New York used to take away the treasures of other cities and nations. It still does, but the tide is shifting, for better or worse.

On a different note, I once knew a man whose name was Rod Driver. I've always thought that was the ultimate gay porn name.

I hope they hang this painting between velvet Elvis's, just to make the critics squirm. Good for Walton.

Good on Alice, bringing more beauty to wonderland! (Please don't come check. We've got more than enough transplants.)

Ed Winkleman recaps Kimmelman's argument, which seems to be that civic bodies have some responsibility to ensure the continuity of their public cultural tradition as well as to permit some transparency into such dealing. Apparently, one of the figures in "Kindred Spirits" is William Cullen Bryant, who was instrumental in the creation of Central Park...

It is completely fascinating to read what people are writing about Crystal Bridges and Bentonville.

Oh no! Us Arkansans know how to use a computer and the Internet!

Trust me, none of us heard of Durand before, but now it's everyday lexicon. In a weird twist, the Ozarks here look exactly like his painting.

Crystal Bridges, named after Crystal Springs that runs through the property, and the bridges that are in the design.

Bentonville is not the arm pit of America. Well, at least not any more. Maybe 20 years ago, but now we're in one of the fastest growing MSA's in the country.

Deoderant no longer needed.

As someone who lives in Fort Worth, Texas, and works at one of the many world class art institutions located in this fine city, I find the Walton's new museum appalling. The argument comparing our city to that of Podunk, Arkansas is completely flawed. Our arts organizations are supported by a city of over 400,000 and a metroplex of more than 5 million. We also are home to quite a few extremely wealthy patrons that feel compelled to contribute to the arts. Coming from the arts, I do not expect the infrastructure to arise around this museum that is necessary to support such an endeavor. The building might be spectacular; however, I doubt that this museum will become an art appreciators destination. I suspect that it will become, if at all, a destination for those on their way to Branson, Missouri or Graceland. I share Todd Gibson’s concern that this will become a venue to align patriotic and American art with neo-conservative values and beliefs through didactic labels and exhibitions. Knowing the Walton’s political background and their interests, and deciding to install this museum in a city of 20,000, I can only see it as millionaire’s wet dream to build a camouflaged soap box.

In addition, I feel that an instution that finds it necessary to censor works of art in its stores (they sell only edited music) has no business delving into the world fine arts.

I hate to tell all of you who are bemoaning the fact that beautiful and important art works are being sent to small town America that it just isn't so. We, who are living here, really wish it were, as we loved small town American here in our beautiful Ozarks. However, the secret of our beauty and bounty is out and for the last 5 years Northwest Arkansas has been growing by leaps and bounds. Our area is much more then just Bentonville, pop. 20,000. It also includeds Rogers 43,000, Bella Vista 16,500, Springdale 45,798, and Fayetteville 58,047, all within a 30 mile radius. We are not just one small town..we are a metroplex of towns and small cities. It's estimated that the number of residents from outlying counties that come to Northwest Arkansas to work, dine, and shop is over 1 Million people. In 2003 the Milken Institute rated our MSA as NUMBER 1 for the Best Economic Performer, knocking Los Vegas out of it's number one position.

So kudo's to Ms. Walton for having the foresight and the generosity to grace our city with a world class art Museum..one that will benifit hundreds of thousands of adults and children alike. No longer will residents have to drive 2 hours to view important works of art. We will have a world class museuem with a world class art collection and art educational facilities.

Not everyone here in the beautiful Ozarks are happy about the growth happening in Northwest Arkansas and everything that comes with that growth, but at least this museuem is one of the benifits and it will be greatly appreciated, not by 20,000 but by hundreds of thousands!

Hope you stay home though...I reiterate what a fellow Arkansas resident above wrote...we don't need anymore immigrants! You can come visit our beautiful new American Art Museum, but please, don't make it an extended stay!

Sorry about the spelling errors. No spell check and it's 1:00 AM in the morning here. Senior Moments happen more often late at night. Or maybe it's just because I'm in Podunk, Arkansas? Naaaa... Oh, and by the way, Northwest Arkansas (which included Bentonville and will soon include the Crystal Bridges American Art Museum Complex) has a much higher population then Branson, Missouri! Have you seen the plans for our new Museum? Check out www.crystalbridges.com! It's enough to make a body proud!

I am a resident of NW Arkansas, of which Bentonville is a part. We are not Podunk, we are a metropolitan area. I lived in the NY Metropolitan area for 30 years, before moving here. I had forgotten about the superior attitude and snobbery of the east to Middle America. I see that your parochialism hasn't changed one tiny bit. Well, not knowing about us here in Ozark country is your loss and not ours. We have every right to our appreciation of beauty as anyone else.

my name is crystal bridges and just wanted to say thanks about that comment about the name crystal bridges souns like a porn stars name .im sure thats what my mom and dad had in mind .

My, how little research, vision, and common sense is required to write articles in which we not only engage in sophomoric name-calling and metro-centric self-agrandizement, but also provide crystal-clear (ahem) vistas into a person's total lack of civility (not gained through one's physical location, it would seem).

Has the recent announcement of framed art for sale online by WalMart confirmed all the fears?

grammer is nice but it should not be a police.

The future is in Arkansas. New York is Dead!!!

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