Wyeth’s ‘Apotheosis’: They’re Fighting Over My Mural
Back when I was a little sprat, I opened my very first savings account at the Wilmington Savings Fund Society office on Market Street in that northern Delaware city, a semi-bustling burg of 80,000 or so souls dominated by the mighty Du Pont Company.
Hand in hand, my mother and I walked through the revolving door and into the bank. I was stopped dead in my tracks by a magnificent mural looming on a lobby wall. My mother had to nudge me over to a teller’s window, where I stood on a step stool and slipped quarters into the half moon-shaped slots in my first deposit book.
I asked the teller about the mural.
She replied that it was N.C. Wyeth’s “The Apotheosis of the Family.”
Every time my deposit book filled up and I returned to WSFS, I would gaze up at “The Apotheosis.” which had the effect of making me feel very small in stature but at the same time very big since I was old enough to have my money in Wilmington’s premier savings bank.
Fast forward more years than I care to remember. Du Pont still has a presence in Wilmington, but it is a considerably diminshed one as the once giant chemical maker has stumbled trying to branch out from its longtime moneymakers in synthetic fibers, paints and such into new markets like pharmaceuticals and genetic engineering. The city’s skyline is now dominated by big out-of-town banks that have opened credit-card operations to take advantage of Delaware’s welcoming banking laws.
WSFS is putting up a new headquarters, and the bank of my childhood will be gutted and rebuilt as a hotel or for apartments or whatever. The developer apparently can’t find a way to incorporate the 60-foot-by-19-foot mural — my mural — into his plans and intends to dispose of it.
As a result, “Apotheosis” is now caught in a tug-of-war between two communities.
Please click here to read more.
38 Responses to “Wyeth’s ‘Apotheosis’: They’re Fighting Over My Mural”
All the Wyeths were terrific, but Andrew is the immortal. Still, they cannot salvage the piece? That’s insane.
cosmo,
If you look beyond the headline, you will find that they do intend to salvage the piece. The fight is over whether the mural will remain in Deleware or go to Maine.
Sorry should be Delaware
It’s a shame. Most americans obviously have next to none sense of their history, nor do they seem to feel any obligation to preserve testimony of past eras. Buffalo Central Terminal, St. Saviors Church, NYC, Michigan Central Station, Statler Hotel in Detroit and lots of other buildings telling much about the America of the past are left to decay or even sure bound for demolition. While most industrialized nations around the world have an increased perception that society has to preserve important sites for future generations, this trend hasn’t gained much traction in the US yet, sadly.
It’s an interesting piece, quite different than most of N C Wyeth’s work. I googled to find this larger image of the mural itself.
Apparently it was just restored in 1998.
Gray,
Again, look beyond headline (see post above).
What headline, cfpete? Would you pls care to give a link to the article you’re citing from?
Where I live there was an old hotel that had a Grant Wood mural in the lobby. The hotel had been abandoned for a number of years and was in pretty bad shape. There were arguements over removing the mural. Sufice to say, it’s now gone.
Back in the early to mid 60′s there was a law passed to ‘survey’ the country and catalog all the ‘historic’ buildings. It was hoped to have this project completed in time for the bicentennial. It’s still not completed because no-one would fund it properly. There were lots of tax credits available for substanial restoration/renovation work. Some seriously nice tax credits. But, they were gutted in the Regean era. Dollars to donuts, it is considerably cheaper to tear down and start over than it is to restore/renovate many of the existing structures (depending on many, many factors). Between 1990 and 1994, I personally ‘surveyed’ around 2500 buildings for at least a contributing building within a historic district to eligiblity to being listed on the National Register of Historic Places on its own merits. (Sorry for poor spelling, I’m lazy today.)
http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070125/NEWS/701250368/1006/NEWS
At the bottom of the post on Shaun’s post is a little link, “More here on the tug of war over “The Apothesis of the Family”", to the article. The link is in the word ‘here’.
Gray,
Read the rest of David’s article. They do not intend to destroy the mural.
I’ve read this article. It says, it will cost 100000 to 200000$ to save the mural. Obviously, noone is really willing to spend that much money. And the museums say they lack the space, too. You experienced what happened to that Grant Wood mural. It’s very possible that history will repeat itself in this case, too, as long as there’s no broad public support for funding the perservation of such monuments.
In Germany, there would be a preservation order prohibiting the disposal of the mural. The investor would have to present a plan and pay for the costs. Actually, in the vast majority of cases these amounts are just a small percentage of the total budget of such ventures. Many builders chose to integrate protected facades or artwork into the new building, creating a fascinating synthesis out of this combiation of old and new.
Gray,
Okay, I really do not know which article you are reading.
Two communities are fighting over the mural and will find a place for it.
If not, the mural is estimated to be valued in the millions and the removal cost is $200,000. Let me call my mortgage broker, and I’ll be in Delaware tomorrow.
To make my point more clear, cfpete: The article is about lip services. As long as nobody is willing to fund the preservation in the long run (simply transfering it to a storage won’t be enough), all signs point towards destruction.
cfp:
I read more than the headline, and the linked piece- at bottom, in font three sizes smaller than the rest, still has no definitive place nor plan for salvage.
“Two communities are fighting over the mural and will find a place for it.”
Dunno where your optimism comes from. The museum officials say they lack the space. A real fight over the mural would show in competing plans, involving reasonable proposals for the future preservation and showing of the mural and secured funding. Can’t find that in the article. Just lip services.
There’s no definitive plan but I definitely came away from the article with the impression that the Maine coalition would be more than willing to move the work, that they were just trying not to step on toes (wanting to allow any interested party in Deleware to see if there is a way to keep the work there if possible first).
And as CFP points out, it does seem hard to fathom that art investors wouldn’t be able (or willing) to come up with a couple hundred grand to save a piece of art that’s worth millions.
Here is an article from Maine:
http://knox.villagesoup.com/aande/story.cfm?storyID=85787
They have several ideas if Delaware doesn’t want it.
“And as CFP points out, it does seem hard to fathom that art investors wouldn’t be able (or willing) to come up with a couple hundred grand to save a piece of art that’s worth millions.”
Imho the problem is that preservation and proper housing of this large piece of art will easily run up to some tenthousand dollars a year. Small drawings of Picasso may have the same value, but don’t burden the buyer with any continous costs, other than maybe insurance. I don’t think art investors are really enthusiastic about this mural.
Gray,
You’re right in that I shouldn’t have used the term “art investors” as in individual art collectors. What I meant was that there are plenty of people with wealth and an interest in preserving works of art like this one. You are also correct, of course, in your previous comments that there is not enough of a concern for that kind of preservation in general, but Wyeth is beloved and my feeling is that there is enough of a following for his work that will support the preservation one way or another.
“What I meant was that there are plenty of people with wealth and an interest in preserving works of art like this one.”
Yup. The picture can give only a hint, but it looks like it’s very impressive. And it opens a window to the era of the great depression, when society became more critical of capitalism without bounds and embraced the new deal. Sure this is important art. Preservation should be a no brainer. And this is why it’s so ridiculous that the main problem seems to be the lack of necessary funds.
Okay,
This is just ridiculous.
No where, in any article, does it state that a lack of funds is the problem.
The only problem was location. Maine has several locations for the mural, but Delaware wants to keep the mural there.
Well, that’s an interesting interpretation since one of the articles quotes the artist as saying that the mural depicts ““family solidarity and integrity as the cornerstones of civilization.â€?
But it’s all in the eye of the beholder, I suppose.
Since this is technically private property, using no ‘federal’ monies, they can technically do whatever they d@mn well please with anything in the building. It was the fault of the bank for not getting the mural appraised and have stipulations within the sale contract to have something done ‘properly’ with the mural. The new owners would be well within their rights to go into the building and gut it all before any lawsuits are filed (or an accident happens before or during a lawsuit – I’ve seen that happen before). The Maine group appears to be the one who will be the one most likely able to get the funds to at least have the mural properly removed and stored. But, they don’t have forever to decide what to do, as the property owners has lots of money tied up in this building at this point.
“No where, in any article, does it state that a lack of funds is the problem. The only problem was location.”
Hello? A proper location for this large mural needs regular funds for preservation (including heating) and maintenance.
“Several museums already have said the 1,140-square-foot mural is too large for them to accommodate.”
“Danielle Rice, director of the Delaware Art Museum, said Wednesday the museum has no space to accommodate such a large work. “We would have to build a building for it,” Rice said.
James M. Duff, director of the Brandywine River Museum echoed that sentiment.
“We hope this wonderful mural will be preserved, but it is too large for the Brandywine River Museum,” Duff said in a statement.
The Delaware State Arts Council has had trouble finding a potential spot because of the “overwhelming size,” said Stoner, a member of the council.”
So, in Delaware they would have to build a housing and this sounds as if they don’t really have the funds for it, or simply don’t want to spend there money for this issue. Is the situation in Maine any better?
“Stoner, who has done a lot of consulting with the Wyeth family about its artworks, said the Wyeths are “very interested in the fate of this work and have offered suggestions.”
“When possible, they would prefer that works that were painted in the Brandywine Valley would be most enjoyed in the Brandywine Valley and paintings painted in Maine would be most enjoyed in Maine,” Stoner said.”
I don’t really know what you read out of this, but for me it sounds like they would like to see the mural being preserved, but would prefer if Delaware would do it (which seems delusional, regarding the quotes above). Suggestions, great, but where is a concrete proposal for location and funding? If they would come forward with a reasonable plan, they could secure ownership in an instant. Rememeber, the investors decide, and they want to get rid of the burden asap!
There isn’t anything remotely like a fight about it, Delaware already declared they don’t see a chance to keep it, and this looks as if the Wyeths are about the only chance in Maine. But, at least so far, they haven’t enthusiastically stepped in. Sure, the investors who want to get rid of any ethical responsibilities, try to make it sound as if the survival of that historic piece of art is out of question. But, again, all we really find in this article are lip services.
“family solidarity and integrity as the cornerstones of civilization.�
Well, my interpretation surely is inspired by being a long time fan of “The Waltons” (not related to WalMart in any way)
“family solidarity and integrity” That’s what enabled the great majority of Americans to get through the 30s.
“It was the fault of the bank for not getting the mural appraised and have stipulations within the sale contract to have something done ‘properly’ with the mural.”
Well, in this era of the reign of shareholder value, the bank managers surely don’t see it as a fault that they ignored this issue, which would have decreased the market price of the property…
Gary, True. But, the bank had the opportunity to sell the mural separately from the building and chose not to. They probably went on good faith hand shake from the purchasers that the mural would remain and didn’t make anything legal.
“But, the bank had the opportunity to sell the mural separately from the building and chose not to.”
The ‘old’ management even renovated it. But the bank was sold and the new owners obiously don’t think they incurred any obligations. And, sry, christine, but I don’t see any market value of the object. The costs of recovery, housing and preservation are higher than any possible profits from speculation .
Btw, those here who are enthusiastic about preserving the american heritage may find this NYT article about murals of the 1930s era iinteresting.
“an accident happens before or during a lawsuit – I’ve seen that happen before”
Indeed, indeed, Christine. Just check the “Forgotten NY” site for the story of St. Saviours. Even after the court declared a temporary delay for the destruction, workers smashed the windows, leaving the building open to the elements. Yeah, surely just a srew up of someone in the lower management of the owner corporation…
Gary,
We’re ‘discussing’ the same side of the argument. We both know that the mural will most likely be destroyed due to lack of interest and/or finances. I was only trying to point out where things may have gone wrong in an attempt to save the mural by the original owners, had they wanted to. Now that the new owners have possession of it, they can do what they please now.
Crap like this happens all the time, sad to say. I can tell you several stories about Grant Wood murals, buildings, and other stuff from the campus of Iowa State University that fortunately do have some good outcomes, but there were serious fights to get that outcome. And stories from other locations that weren’t so good.
“We’re ‘discussing’ the same side of the argument.”
Hehe, I noticed that, Christine! Except some details where I seem to be more pragmatic about the interest of property owners in preservation under the current laws, I totally agree with your views.
Everyone:
I was away from the cornpooter all day and am only now catching up to the discussion. A great one, to be sure, no doubt helped along by the fact that my post did not contain the words “Bush” and “Iraq.”
I did not say so in my post, but the most likely outcome is that the mural will stay in Delaware or metro Philadelphia even though (and I didn’t say this either) N.C. painted a goodly number of murals and while I adore “Apotheosis,” it is nothing super special.
Regional pride kicks in bigtime when issues like this arise, and while nonprofit museums and other institutions are struggling mightily these days to keep their heads above water, the money will be found if the location can be found. I know Joyce Stoner, the expert quoted in the article to which I linked, and if a deal can be made, Joyce will expedite it.
Frank Schoonover is the guy leading the Delaware faction. It was his father, a decent Brandywine School artist in his own right, who ran the art store in Wilmington where the Wyeths and Pyles would buy their paints, canvases and so on. The roots simply run too deep for “Apotheosis” to take a hike.
Again, thank you for the great back and forth. It was/is most illuminating.
“The roots simply run too deep for “Apotheosisâ€? to take a hike.”
Sounds good. I hope everything will turn out alright. Good luck!
Interesting, Shaun. Thanks for the additional info.
Yes, interesting additional info. I truely hope things work out and that a piece of your childhood finds a new home.
PS… Shaun, I’ve tried to email you through your blog, but it was bounced back.
Christine:
Sorry. Pls email me directly at kikokimba@gmail.com