LACMA to Close European Galleries as Zumthor Deadline Looms
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| Ambrosius Bosschaert, Bouquet of Flowers on a Ledge, 1619 |
LACMA's Unframed blog says the Ahmanson Building's European galleries will close by Feb. 3, 2019, in preparation for the Peter Zumthor project. The museum's east campus is looking like a mall that lost its anchor stores. After Feb. 3, there will be virtually no permanent collection spaces save for those for Korea, the Pacific Islands, and modern art.
(Tyler Green observes that LACMA's "mass closures" have not been accompanied by a discount in admission prices.)
(Tyler Green observes that LACMA's "mass closures" have not been accompanied by a discount in admission prices.)
LACMA then had raised about $550 million. No donations have been announced since.
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| Edgar Degas, At the Café-Concert: The Song of the Dog, 1875. Loan and Promised Gift of The A. Jerrold Perenchio collection |
Perenchio said he was putting provisions in his will regarding the donation and the completion of the new building. He said a delay of one or two years wouldn't affect the gift.
At that point (Nov. 2014) opening was slated for 2023. Yesterday's LACMA blog put the Zumthor opening at "the end of 2023." That's little or no slippage in four years, which is remarkable as museum construction projects go.
Comments
By contrast, Michael Govan is either wittingly or unwittingly ruining LACMA. Although he has managed to increase attendance for the past several years, that will now be destroyed by people not wanting to visit a half-open museum.
The Zumthor building will have less exhibition space, not more, than the current buildings? Really?
LACMA has been awash in money for decades. Not.
Mr Govan, isn't it time you retire or move on?
If Jerry Perenchio hadn't been such "I've got good news and bad news" type philanthropist, he'd have given his gift no strings attached.
It will be similar to a moderate-income family taking on the mortgage of a mansion in Beverly Hills and moving from their two-bedroom in Van Nuys to a 9,000-sf-spec house north of Wilshire.
Govan is coming perilously close to doing to LACMA what a former director, Thomas Krens, did to the Guggenheim in New York 10 years ago. I hope Govan doesn't end up as pathetic as Barry Munitz was, formerly of the Getty.
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However, why is Govan charging full price for a half-closed museum?
He ought to be required to post a demolition bond. Is there a structural engineer who would venture to absolutely guarantee that Zumthor's design could survive a major seismic event? At the very least, Govan ought to be held resposible for obtaining plate glass insurance, in case of the slightest seismic event ever occurring: all of that plate glass lining all of the extensive cantilevers - with separate foundations set amidst asphaltic goo.
DIA de Los Muertes indeed.
Jerry Perenchio's bequest reportedly requiring the museum put up a totally new building may be a case of "good news, bad news." LACMA will end up with a new (and earthquake vulnerable?) building that Perenchio wanted and the collection he conditionally promised. But everything else about the museum will turn into a financial, logistical black hole.
Also, more cost for less space? What?
Would have preferred a plan that kept the museum open, while adding space.