PITTSFIELD, MASS.- As the date rapidly approaches for the controversial sale of art from the Berkshire Museum, the grassroots citizens' group
Save the Art Save the Museum will hold an emergency eleventh-hour rally to oppose the auction of 40 artworks, including two iconic Norman Rockwell paintings. The rally will be held in front of the Berkshire Museum on Saturday, Nov. 11 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
On the same day, Save the Art is also staging a protest gathering at Sotheby's, York Ave. at 72nd St., in New York City, also from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. New York organizers encourage supporters to take the opportunity to see the works now on display for auction and meet others who oppose the sale.
Save the Art was deeply disappointed by Tuesdays ruling by Judge John Agostini in Berkshire Superior Court allowing the auction to proceed on Monday, Nov. 13. Save the Art, along with plaintiffs in the case, are hopeful that the decision will be appealed and that Attorney General Maura Healey will prevail with an injunction to pause the sale.
The world is watching as the Berkshire Museum controversy continues to unfold. National and international media outlets have reported on Save the Arts efforts to convince the museums trustees to reverse their decision to deaccession the artwork.
The judge's opinion says the sale can go forward, but that doesn't make it right to sell off the museum's collection, said Carol Diehl, spokesperson for Save the Art. We want everyone who is upset by this sale to join us on Saturday to demonstrate just how loud and large our voice is.
Artists and museum experts across the country have condemned selling the artworks as both unethical and shortsighted, Diehl said. Selling off the heart of the Berkshire Museum's collection will irreparably damage Berkshire County's artistic and cultural heritage. The implications go far beyond one small community in western Massachusetts; the loss of these artworks will set a destructive precedent for art collections throughout the U.S.
The trustees and others who allow these treasures to leave the county will be remembered in the future for having robbed generations of Berkshire children of their cultural legacy, Diehl continued. While there is still time, we call on the Museum leadership to change this disgraceful and divisive course and seek other ways to implement its 'New Vision'.
Diehl praised the groundswell of support Save the Art's efforts have received since its October 28 rally, which drew more than 100 people. The enthusiasm generated by our group's efforts have demonstrated how important the art is to the people of Berkshire County, she said. It has been encouraging to see such a smart and diverse group come forward to support stopping the sale. We hope the museum leadership will listen to the will of the people.