It’s worth noting the Masterworks On Loan program (“Masterworks on Loan,” Nov. 21) brings acclaimed art to the Schnitzer created by famed artists dead and alive largely because collectors who buy art in New York can avoid paying the 8.875 percent state and city sales tax, if they exhibit their new purchases for six months out in “the provinces.”
Last year a Picasso portrait that had sold for more than $100,000 was hanging at the museum for several months, and a few months later, a Modigliani nude of close to that price was exhibited. Recently, four Picassos hung in the same room!
It’s a great program for art lovers, though maybe not for New Yorkers. The curatorial theme is: What’s been selling in New York. Particularly interesting to learn is, who are the living mid-career artists who are being collected in the big time?
Many, if not most, of the works can be Googled and their recent prices revealed, if they were purchased at auction. That doesn’t make them any better, but it is interesting to see what art is selling to the plutocrats of the world in The Big Apple. Most of these works will likely hang on Manhattan walls for a few decades, and hopefully some day they will end up in museum collections — if we’re lucky.
Lawrence Siskind, Eugene
A Note From the Publisher
Dear Readers,
The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.
That’s because of you!
Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.
Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.
We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.
And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.
None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.
As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.
Thank you for standing with us!
Publisher
Eugene Weekly
P.S. If you’d like to talk about supporting EW, I’d love to hear from you!
jody@eugeneweekly.com
(541) 484-0519
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