26 May 2009

More clear views on the Nolan collection

| johnboy
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In January we wondered if the ACT Government was the biggest art thief in human history due to the relocation of the Nolan collection from Lanyon to Civic.

The Liberals’ Vicki Dunne has completed some FOI digging on the subject and has come back with the clarity of stakeholders as to where the works are meant to be:

    “Lady Nolan is firmly of the view that the paintings her late husband donated to the Australian Government, plus the significant number that are on loan, were given on the condition that they would be exhibited at the Nolan Gallery at Lanyon.

    “In a letter to a 2004 feasibility study into the Nolan collection, obtained under Freedom of Information, Lady Nolan went to some length to express the considerable affection that she and Sir Sidney had for the gallery, including a view that the Nolan Gallery had become an important part of the modern history of Lanyon.

    “A submission from a former Assistant Secretary responsible for cultural and recreational matters, stated to the same study ‘To move the paintings away from Lanyon would be a clear breach of specific undertakings given to Sidney Nolan.’

The works fell into the ACT’s care as part of the shambles of self government. But the ongoing larceny, combined with the weasel words used to attempt to justify the scam are an indictment not just of our Government, but of our whole community they’re supposed to be representing.

Hang them where they’re meant to be, or give them back, they’re not ours.

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Feathergirl said :

Damn straight Johnboy, the paintings belong in Lanyon and were well looked after there. The National Gallery already has a lot of Nolan paintings so why does the city need to steal more?

Be assured, the NGA has well-hatched plans to have the lot. Lanyon will miss out whether they go to NGA or the Canberra gallery. Frankly, I’d rather they went to the NGA and the ACT Govt weasels lost the paintings over their misbehaviour. We can still go and see them at the NGA – plus, they’ll be toured to the regions from time to time.

Lanyon, alas, is a lost cause.

Clown Killer6:58 pm 26 May 09

In 2004 there was some charcoal skivvy wearing arse-puppet pretend art expert from the ACT Government fat-mouthing off about how important it was to move the Nolan paintings to somewhere more central like O’Connor, Ainslie or perhaps even Dickson, where real live corduroy or vintage leather jacket wearing arse-puppets who knew how to be cool at an art exhibition opening would be able to appreciate these quintessentially Australian master pieces.

When the ABC presented to aforementioned poo-felching clown, Lady Nolan’s legitimate concerns they were summarily dismissed as the idle speculation of a bitter stakeholder who had chosen to be disenfranchised by not supporting the move of the paintings to the inner north.

peterh said :

Feathergirl said :

Damn straight Johnboy, the paintings belong in Lanyon and were well looked after there. The National Gallery already has a lot of Nolan paintings so why does the city need to steal more?

because it is actually art. good art. they won’t pay for good art, they wasted their money on rocks and sticks and train wreck girders.

Well said and entirely true.

Feathergirl said :

Damn straight Johnboy, the paintings belong in Lanyon and were well looked after there. The National Gallery already has a lot of Nolan paintings so why does the city need to steal more?

because it is actually art. good art. they won’t pay for good art, they wasted their money on rocks and sticks and train wreck girders.

Damn straight Johnboy, the paintings belong in Lanyon and were well looked after there. The National Gallery already has a lot of Nolan paintings so why does the city need to steal more?

trevar said :

James T Kirk said :

If they can make a law to cover it, then is it theft?

It may not be theft (it’s a stretch to call it that now), but the law itself is a breach of contract.

I am surprised that Lady Nolan hasn’t demanded them back. The family are generally quite forthright about what they want, and having asked nicely for them to be returned to Lanyon, I don’t know why she doesn’t just say, “Okay, we’ll have them back then, if that’s what you want”.

Cost of storing them would be astronomical, at this stage that cost is up to the nufties doing a fine job of f**king this whole arrangement up.

James T Kirk said :

If they can make a law to cover it, then is it theft?

It may not be theft (it’s a stretch to call it that now), but the law itself is a breach of contract.

I am surprised that Lady Nolan hasn’t demanded them back. The family are generally quite forthright about what they want, and having asked nicely for them to be returned to Lanyon, I don’t know why she doesn’t just say, “Okay, we’ll have them back then, if that’s what you want”.

James T Kirk10:29 am 26 May 09

If they can make a law to cover it, then is it theft?

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