Boy Sticks Gum On $1.5 Million Painting At Museum

WFTV-NEWS ^ | 2-28-2006

[Cagey]

DETROIT -- The Detroit Institute of Arts is stuck with having to repair a painting worth $1.5 million.

It has to remove a stain left by a wad of gum stuck on the painting by a 12-year-old visitor.

It happened Friday. Museum officials said the boy was with a group from Holly Academy in Oakland County, Mich., when he took the gum out of his mouth and stuck it on Helen Frankenthaler's 1963 abstract painting "The Bay."

The gum didn't stick to the fiber of the canvas, but left a stain the size of a quarter. Museum experts are researching the chemicals in the gum to decide how to clean the painting.

Holly Academy director Julie Kildee said the boy had been suspended from the charter school and said his parents also have disciplined him.

"Even though we give very strict guidelines on proper behavior and we hold students to high standards, he is only 12 and I don't think he understood the ramifications of what he did before it happened, but he certainly understands the severity of it now," said Kildee.

[Slicksadick]

Chewed gum on plywood art.

[Paleo Conservative]

Oh, great. Now we're going to see renewed calls for gum control laws.

They can have his gum when they pry it from his cold dead fingers.

[Tennessee_Bob]

If you criminalize gum, then only criminals will have gum!

You can have my Wrigley's when you pry from my cold, dead jaws.

[dighton]

Squished Wad of Grape Gum gets unauthorized enhancement.

[kx9088]

Most of us did, however you occaisionally run across the "class badass" who just has to act on his stupid thoughts. He knows right from and wrong but he just has to do it.

Sometimes kids and adults too, do something wrong even when they know it is wrong regardless of how they were raised.

[theDentist]

"Wad did you do that for?"

[linda_22003]

So you advocate your kids destroying art that you don't appreciate.

Somehow, it sounds like museum visits are not a big part of your lives in any case. :)

[BJClinton]

Is that blue thing the stain from the gum?

[Trailerpark Badass]

Hang on, I'm getting myself some canvases, some paint, and a fifth of Jack Daniels, and I'm becoming a frickin' ARTISTE!

In order for your paintings to be worth anything, you have to die.

[mikrofon]

LOL -- ya gotta be quick!

[ozoneliar]

How did they tell he put gum on it?

Big Brother is watching

[Know your rights]

The kid's a performance artist. Give him a grant!

[ArrogantBustard]

Ugh ... the "painting" is garbage ... but it's not his garbage. Damaging it was wrong.

[skimask]

You are correct. We all did and continue to do some stupid things, but there is one big difference. We never showed dis respect to other people or other people's property. This can't be said for todays kids.

[C210N]

a painting worth $1.5 million.

Now that a gum print has been applied, seems to me the National Endowment of the Arts would offer to pay $15.5 million for it.

[Alouette]

When President Bush has to dispose of his gum he sticks it underneath the table or podium.

[AlexW]

"I think it's a bum rap. Looks like the canvas was stained before the kid got there:"

HAHAHA, 1.5 Million???
Geesh, I am in the wrong business.

You would have to pay me to put that on my wall.

[Toby06]

Reread mypost. I never said anything like that.

Somehow, it sounds like museum visits are not a big part of your lives in any case. :)

Hee Hee, cute smiley for an otherwise snooty-a$$ comment. I like art, but this crap doesn't qualify in my book.

[Becki]

I hate to be a peasant, but how could they tell?

That was my first thought, too. You are not alone.

Becki

[binkdeville]

How the hell would you know if gum was on that anyway ? I'd give ya $15 tops for it , $18 without the gum..