OCMA's deaccessioning merry-go-round

Here's a puzzlement: The Orange County Museum of Art has said it sold 18 early-20th century California paintings from its collection because the works no longer fit OCMA's focus, which in 2003 shifted to art created after 1950. Furthermore, the museum said, there are no plans to sell any other works.

Yet, OCMA still owns important California art made before 1950. Why are those paintings being kept, despite the shift in museum focus, while the 18 paintings recently sold to an anonymous private collector were deemed worthy of liquidation?

One explanation, I suppose, is that OCMA is trapped on a deaccessioning merry-go-round. Let me explain.

Among the notable works still in the museum's collection are Stanton Macdonald-Wright's "Untitled (Vase of Flowers)," 1924, and Agnes Pelton's "The Guide," 1929 (pictured). The two abstractions first went on view in OCMA's permanent collection galleries 11 years ago this month, shortly after they were purchased. The Pelton graces the cover of the catalog to OCMA's current exhibition, "Illumination: The Paintings of Georgia O'Keeffe, Agnes Pelton, Agnes Martin and Florence Miller Pierce."

In the 1990s, the money to buy the Pelton and the Macdonald-Wright came from the controversial sale of 29 photographs by Modernist innovator Paul Outerbridge Jr. Those photographs had been bequeathed to the Laguna Art Museum by the artist's widow, Lois. Outerbridge had settled in Laguna in 1943, at the age of 47, after a successful advertising career in New York, married a local woman two years later and died there in 1958.

The controversial deaccession of Outerbridge's photographs in 1996 was part of the equally controversial merger of the Laguna Art Museum and the Newport Harbor Art Museum into OCMA. (Are you still with me? Merry-go-rounds can be dizzying.) At the time, I likened the fraught union to a hostile corporate takeover, engineered by aggressive Newport trustees against a weak and unwilling Laguna.

In the deaccessioning merry-go-round, the Outerbridge photographs were sold, paintings were bought, the merger came apart, OCMA changed its focus, paintings were sold -- and now the museum owns paintings it says it won't sell even though they don't fit the new mission. What will happen to them is anybody's guess. Deep storage? Long-term loan? Something as yet unimagined?

Time will tell. But, apparently, this is a merry-go-round with no brass ring.

--Christopher Knight

Photo: Agnes Pelton, "The Guide," 1929, oil on canvas. Credit: Orange County Museum of Art

Comments

[Trojan949]

Perhaps an "OC" thing?

Merry-go-around is a perfect description for the scenario. It is also perfect term to describe some OC's typical marriages. It comes and goes, as often as OCMA controversial deaccessions. Trophy wives/husbands like trophy arts in the museum. They were worshiped when they were new and fresh. They were replaced and pushed away when the short-term attraction is gone. Not a long term committment as they've said in the vows.

At least we now learnt that "Permanent Collection" in OCMA is nothing about permanent. It is probably just as permanent as the same director serving the institute. Perhaps it is time to change the guard.

[Rich Collector]

Too late, I took Dennis on a secret lunch and purchased the Pelton and the Macdonald-Wright with a Big Mac and the promise of a Happy Meal prize to be named later. I have a letter from an unnamed auction house stating that the Pelton is only worth a packet of ketchup in today's market, that way everything is legal.

[oc collector]

Thank you thank you thank you C. Knight for "Illuminating" this double talk coming out of OCMA. The "Illuminations" exhibition, which required immense amounts of funding, and includes work from the collection, is inconsistent with Dennis' post 1950's statement.

Dennis should have said that Impressionism was the sacrificial lamb that would help to fund contemporary purchases (which, in my mind, is totally fine except for the secret buyer, etc.).

However, Dennis doesn't "get" the important art historical chapter that happens between CA Impressionism and post 50's work, the very intriguing 1910 - 1950 era that was in an exhibition up in Pasadena a couple of years ago.

I am so happy that you make mention of the Mcdonald-Wright and Pelton that define an era that is still being discovered.

Viva la knight!

[Curious George]

Question still to be unfold:

1) WHO IS THE BUYER!?