Ecce Mono
Posted on 02/24/2014 12:23:44 PM PST by Nachum
The Art in Embassies program of the U.S. State Department just turned 50 last year, but its growth in the last decade has been particularly dramatic if the insured value of the artwork is any indication. Although Art in Embassies purchases original works, such as the $1 million sculpture for the new U.S. Embassy in London, much of the artwork on display at various State Department installations throughout the world is in fact borrowed. In 2002, the State Department maintained a $20 million policy for artwork. By 2010, it had grown to $65 million. This year, the agency is looking to renew its current level of coverage, informing interested providers that "[i]nsurance must cover all items in any location in a Department of State facility abroad up to a value of $200,000,000." Last year, the $200 million policy cost the government $86,932.
(Excerpt) Read more at weeklystandard.com ...
The list, Ping
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I’m going to go out on a limb and speculate that most of this “art” is cr@p.
It’s the State Department, dammit, not an art gallery. Is there anyone who can give me a good reason why they can’t make do with nice lithographic reproductions, statue castings, photo enlargements or, if they must feature minority art, those sometimes nice and sometimes cheesy paintings on velvet sold outside the backs of tractor trailers?
The Monuments Men is not a very good movie, but the book is outstanding. It is inspiring how the military recognized the importance of Europe’s art treasures even amidst the horrors of war.
And just look at the crap that passes for “art”.
Uhhhh....aren’t revolutions being fought all over the world because people are fed up with the way the global aristocracy is behaving?
All of which belong in a Museum for all to see, not the walls of a bunch of bureaucrats. -Especially not on those walls when they are cutting our military to the bone.
As obama gets closer to leaving office (maybe) it is probably a good idea to insure anything he could get his greedy hands on.
“And just look at the crap that passes for “art”.”
As I always say; “Art, today, can be a booger with a hair in it!”
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