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North board mum on painting
Top Headlines Selectwoman Marjorie Kraskouskas asked that if the painting is sold, a full-size print of Alexandre Iacovleff's painting "Afghans" be created and provided to the town to hang in the artwork's original frame. The painting was donated to the town by Charles Thompson and has hung quietly in the Community School auditorium since 1951. The school committee voted Wednesday to sell the painting, which could be worth more than $1 million, but selectmen also have to approve the sale. However, it does not look like selectmen will weigh in on the painting's fate very soon. Superintendent Rick Smith sent an e-mail to selectmen requesting the board not to discuss the matter until the school department has a chance to work out a contract with an auction house interested in selling the painting. State law requires the school department to advertise seeking auction houses. Once a contract is negotiated, it must be approved by selectmen. Selectmen gave no hint of how they will vote on the matter, but board members said they hope if the painting is ultimately sold that the proceeds will be used to encourage appreciation of the fine arts. "Mr. Thompson was heavily involved in the arts and very active in bringing art exhibits to the area," Selectman William Moffitt said. "I'm hoping between now and the time when a contract is presented to us that we can have a conversation with the school committee and the family on how the proceeds would be handled. "From my point of view, the proceeds should be used exclusively for the fine arts to fund programs like trips to museums, art exhibits and competitions, lectures from visiting artists and scholarships for extraordinary students." Selectmen Chairman John Rhyno asked that a meeting be scheduled with Town Counsel Roger Ferris prior to the contract presentation to discuss the board's role and obligations.
Post Your Comments Frank wrote on Feb 16, 2007 5:59 PM: " It seems strange that people attack Football in North Attleboro. I agree that it is ridiculous in this town but we have to remember that the program pays for itself and also that the players have to pay athletic fees to play. The same amount as other sports even though the sports costs more to operate " Mary wrote on Feb 16, 2007 3:56 PM: " Ok, this isn't brain surgery peope!!
Loan the painting to a musuem where it can be kept safe and still be put on display for all to see and appreciate, as already suggested, have a reproduction made and hung in its place at the school, then the original painting as collateral for money to fund the arts program and/or arts scholarship funds. That way the painting is safe, the donor's family SHOULD be satisfied, the art form is still on display in the school to which it was originally donated and the school and students can benefit from funds generated from the painting.
" anon wrote on Feb 16, 2007 3:01 PM: " Note that the school committee and the superintendent haven't said what the money will go toward. I'm willing to bet that it won't go towards art and music programs. I chose to live in North Attleborough in spite of its "Football is Everything" attitude, not because of it. " Ted wrote on Feb 16, 2007 2:40 PM: " Sell it. It seems pretty clear that nobody paid much attention to it before they found out it had any value. Buy another piece of art and forget about for 56 years. Then the can have this debate all over again " Realist wrote on Feb 16, 2007 2:09 PM: " I know Old Townie was being sardonic it his or suggestion. But how true it seems. Sell the assets for short term gain.
As far as Ted's comment goes - Not every art teacher is an art historian or critic. I don't believe that Alexandre Iacovleff was that well known outside of Russia. Obviously one man in our town recognized the importance of the work. I hate to use the word value, because the SSPs (SHort Sighted Politicians) in our town will start thinking money again. I like "former NA student"'s comment about loaning it to a museum in exchange for passes.
" Ted wrote on Feb 16, 2007 12:35 PM: " How many art teachers worked at that school and didn't notice the painting? M " Mark wrote on Feb 16, 2007 12:23 PM: " How about selling the the Woodcock Garrison House and the Little Red School House and use the proceeds to encourage appreciation of history?
I am still somewhat amazed that this sale actually seems to be going forward. Someone will end up stepping forward and sue to stop the sale. " R. Lincoln wrote on Feb 16, 2007 12:23 PM: " That the town officials should want to sell a valuable art object to make a quick buck should come as no surprise. Back in the 1960s they were anxious to destroy the town park, which honors our veterans, to shoehorn a new town hall in there. My dad led the fight to preserve it. So they crammed it in as close as they could to the park.
Don't be so shortsighted. The money will be gone and forgotten as quickly as you can spend it. " anon wrote on Feb 16, 2007 12:13 PM: " Note that the school committee and the superintendent haven't said what the money will go toward. I'm willing to bet that it won't go towards art and music programs. I chose to live in North Attleboeough in spite of its "Football is Everything" attitude. Old Townie could have somthing here - hang... the school board... " Former NA student wrote on Feb 16, 2007 11:10 AM: " I am sick to my stomach that we would just sell this asset to the community. It should be put on loan to a museum, perhaps in exchange for free passes for NA students.
Sell all the football fields and parks so we learn about sports at the same time. How about selling the town hall so we can learn about Civics. " Quiz wrote on Feb 16, 2007 11:00 AM: " Town quiz time: The school department is running low on funds. How do you compensate:
A.) Layoff an English teacher and an Art teacher B.) Layoff an administrator and a secretary C.) Layoff a coach and cut back on sports.
If I have to put an answer in here, the sarcasm would be lost on the reader. " Hmmm... wrote on Feb 16, 2007 10:52 AM: " Community field could be sold to fund programs to study sports... " Disgusted wrote on Feb 16, 2007 10:44 AM: " For all our McMansions, SUVs and supposedly educated people, we truly are a bunch of rubes in North Attleborough.
Selling this work of art would be like selling a family hierloom to finance a short term purchase like a vacation or a car.
We give lip service to education, but I've never seen a press conference at the High School showing a student signing an early acceptance letter from Harvard or accepting an appointment from a Service Academy.
Yes, we'll take the painting and sell it and put the money in a fund for "art education", but that term hasn't been defined. Of course, with the view our town official take of art - the money will go to painting the gymnasium at the high school and sculpting a new scoreboard at Community Field.
How sad that arts will require separate funding from special sale - yet the school system's sacred cows graze on from year to year.
" Old Townie -- wrote on Feb 16, 2007 10:10 AM: " Where the picture was - How about we hang a nice picture of the School Board and the Superintendent with the plaque reading:
"This is the group that would rather short sightedtly sell works of art than cut the football program."
Feb 2007 --
The WWI park is a very valuable asset. Why don't we sell that and use the money to teach about recreation, nature and open space.
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