The Everhart Museum - Scranton, Pennsylvania - Art Museums on Waymarking.com

Now here's something a little interesting:
In a controversy that aroused national attention in museological circles, the Everhart tried several times during the 1990s and early 2000s to sell their lone Matisse painting "Pink Shrimps" to pay museum operating costs. This act was seen as a flagrant violation of museum ethics, especially since the Everhart acquired "Pink Shrimps" as a donation during the 1960s through a program that aimed to put well known artists in the collections of smaller museums. The Everhart had a series of directors during the 1990s and early 2000s who often had no previous museum experience and no education or background in the fine arts, which resulted in years of mismanagement that put the museum in dire financial condition. The issue came to a head in 2001-02 when then curator Bruce Lanning refused an order from the Everhart's Board of Trustees directing him to pack up the Matisse to be shipped to Sotheby's where it was to be offered in a public auction. Mr. Lanning refused to pack the Matisse, since doing so would have violated museum and curatorial ethics, a move that cost him his position at the Everhart.

The Matisse was eventually sold. The Scranton Times lamented the loss of the city's "masterpiece", which was a somewhat of an overstatement, seeing that "Pink Shrimps" is a very minor and relatively unimportant painting by Matisse.

So, it THAT isn't enough... read on:
On Nov. 17 2005 the museum two works, a Jackson Pollock painting and pop artist Andy Warhol’s 1984 “Le Grande Passion,” were stolen in an audacious robbery involving ladders and a careful plan of attack. Despite efforts to retrieve the works by both the FBI and the Scranton police, nothing has been returned to the museum. After the theft there was some controversy relating to the origin of the Pollock. The Everhart Museum released a statement saying museum officials believe a stolen painting was an authentic Jackson Pollock and the painting’s owner lent it in good faith. The museum’s insurance broker called the Pollock piece a fake after appraisers could not authenticate it.

The Everhart continues to identify the painting as Mr. Pollock’s 1949 “Springs Winter.” The lender of the work said the correct title is “Winter in Springs.”

So, you think YOU have troubles as a curator??

Name: The Everhart Museum Location: 1901 Mulberry Street, Scranton PA 18510-2390 Phone Number: 570 346 7186 Web Site: [Web Link] Agency/Ownership: Public Hours of operation: HOURS OF OPENING Monday, Thursday, and Friday, 12 noon to 4 pm Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm Sunday, 12 noon to 5 pm ENTRY FEES Adults $5 Seniors & Students $3 Children 6 to 12 $2 Children 5 and under admitted free of charge Members of the Everhart Museum receive free entry ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm Gift Shop: yes Admission Fee: Not listed Cafe/Restaurant: Not Listed

Visit Instructions:
Post one photo of the museum that is a different view from the one on the page, and describe your visit. Add any additional information that you may have about this building. A GPSr photo is NOT required.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   05/28/2017 ripraff visited it 04/07/2015 Oscette visited it 01/15/2010 Toki24 visited it 05/09/2008 isobig visited it 03/21/2002 visioncity visited it

View all visits/logs