Folks, I’m sipping my coffee and trying to make sense of this whole Kennedy Center debacle. It seems that during the height of all the drama last summer, board members were discussing moving the iconic bronze bust of President John F. Kennedy from the Grand Foyer while the main building was closed for renovations. They thought it would be a great idea to move it to a newer building, not only to secure the artwork but also to keep the campus a living memorial to the 35th president. Sounds reasonable, right? Well, it turns out that the bust is bolted into the foundation of the building, multiple feet underground, and moving it wouldn’t be logistically feasible. So, it’s going to stay put and be shielded during construction. Crisis averted, I suppose.
The whole situation is a bit of a mess, with worried donors, artists, and their family members calling and emailing the Kennedy Center, asking about what’s being done to protect the artwork. Some donors are even suggesting arrangements for their pieces to be moved to museums and other places, away from the Kennedy Center. It’s understandable, given the center’s finances have tanked, scores of staff have been laid off, and changes have been made to the interior decor.
The Kennedy Center says that all artwork will be “fully safeguarded” during the renovation, and some pieces will be temporarily relocated if necessary. They’ve also hired a lead archivist, Olivia Herschel, to oversee and manage the catalogue of artwork. However, sources close to the center describe the response as “disjointed,” with conversations happening in an ad hoc manner, often driven by donors and families of the artists, rather than being initiated by the institution.
The history of the Kennedy Center is fascinating, with the idea of a national cultural center showcasing the best of American music, art, and drama starting to take shape after World War II. The center was envisioned as an “artistic Mecca … that would be open to visitors from every land.” World leaders began flooding the center with requests to donate artwork after Kennedy’s assassination, and today, the center houses hundreds of irreplaceable pieces of art and antiquities, including tapestries, sculptures, and chandeliers.
The future of the Kennedy Center building is uncertain, with sources wondering about the long-term plans for the artwork and whether Trump will replace it with pieces more to his liking. The abrupt removal of the abstract “Blue” sculpture in September seemed to confirm concerns, even as the Kennedy Center said deinstallation after seven years was “common practice.” The center has convened its first “visual arts committee” to curate and expand public installations of performing and visual arts, which will manage the addition of visual art through rotating displays.
In the end, it seems like the Kennedy Center is trying to navigate a complex situation, with many moving parts and competing interests. As I finish my coffee, I’m left wondering what the future holds for this beloved institution and its incredible collection of artwork. Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure – it’s going to be a wild ride. And who knows, maybe they’ll even add a gold-leaf portrait of me to the collection – a guy can dream, right? 😊
Armchair patriot. Believes in the free market, cold beer, and that there’s always a guy named George behind every CNN segment.
Former remote-throwing champion turned #1 couch commentator on liberal panic in the media. Born in Texas (or so his mug says), he earned a degree in Fake Newsology & Beer Philosophy from YouTube University.
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