The Weird and The Wacky Meet

Where YouBetIAm comes to write….

Painting Vandalized In Hallway

In early September, "Landscape", a painting by George Morrison, was vandalized here at Housatonic.  The painting was punctured with something sharp, most likely a pen, and a piece of gum was stuck to the frame.  The painting had been valued at $8,000 and will cost $2,000-$3,000 to repair.  Even with restorations, it will still be worth less than half of its original value.

Although it is not a widespread problem, this is not the first time a painting has been vandalized at Housatonic.  Robbin Zella, Museum Director at HCC, has been here for six years and can only remember a handful of problems.  However, after this incident of vandalism, Zella decided to try a new approach.  She put up a sign in the upstairs B hallway near the restrooms, where the painting used hang, to try and bring awareness to the problem.

The sign reads, “Landscape, by George Morrison.  This Painting was removed due to vandalism.  The painting was punctured and piece of gum stuck to its frame.  These works have aesthetic and monetary value.  In addition, there are costs to repair the works, which are now permanently devalued.  We have the privilege to view this collection, let's work together to care for it.  If you see someone defacing a work of art, please report it to security.”

 One of Zella's goals is to get the Housatonic community to see themselves as guardians of this collection.  She really wants HCC students to understand that this collection “belongs to them.”  Zella said she works hard at obtaining federal grants to fund the collection; there is a minimal funding coming from HCC itself.  However, because those federal grants are supplied by the tax dollars of us all, the collection really is a community resource.

Zella is not sure if the puncture damage done to this painting was deliberate or not.  She said that she expects "normal wear and tear."  However, because of the gum and severity of the damage, she is leaning towards someone maliciously harming this painting.  Supporting this are the previous incidents of painting vandalism, including other slashing, gum stuck to frames, and graffiti. 

Sergeant Christopher Gough, head of security at HCC, went through four days of video to see if he could find a culprit, and after finding nothing, thinks that the painting was not punctured deliberately.  However, he said that if anyone has any information regarding vandalism, he will keep that person's identity a secret.

Copyright 2003

 

Sign Left In Place Of Painting

Date: 11/06/03

By Amanda Evans