PHILADELPHIA -- Protestors demonstrated their opposition to the plan to dismantle the Barnes Foundation from Merion to Philadelphia. A short video based on the Protest on the Parkway has been posted to YouTube. It includes an illuminating quotation from Derek Gillman, who became CEO of the Barnes in 2006. In 2004, Mr. Gillman spoke about the plan to move the Barnes with a journalist from Australia and said, “I think he’s probably rotating in his grave," referring to Dr. Barnes. Here is the link to "Fight the Barnes Move" on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMI5MRBgqPI

Wednesday, October 15th at5:30pm

Protest the Barnes Move!

20th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway

The Barnes move is the Wrong Move!

On top of everything else that is wrong about this scheme, to spend $100s of Millions of tax dollars on a needless, wasteful new Barnes is fiscally irresponsible on the part of public officials and the foundation leaders. The last thing the region needs is another tax-funded money pit.

Come to the Parkway tomorrow to let them know what you think.

Here is the opening of an op-ed piece that appears in today's Main Line Life regarding the election of a new Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This election day is the first opportunity to let Tom Corbett know what we think about his support for the dismantling of the Barnes Foundation. Here is one woman's opinion on the matter:

A seasoned senior casts her vote for the Barnes

By Ethel Kauffman

F R I E N D S o f t h e B A R N E S F O U N D A T I O N

e-mail: ; www.barnesfriends.org; 610-667-0281

For Immediate Release

September 8, 2008

News Bulletin!

Vandalism Strikes Barnes Foundation Neighborhood with wholesale theft
of "Join the Fight to Save the Barnes" Signs

For information: Nancy Herman at 610-667-0281 or Evelyn Yaari at 610-864-6483;
e-mail:

(Merion Station, September 8, 2008) Residents of North Latch's Lane
in Merion awoke to find that throughout the neighborhood in the

Last Wednesday, John Morganelli, Democratic candidate running against Tom Corbett stood outside the Barnes Foundation to express his unqualified support for the mission to SAVE THE BARNES in its historic home in Merion and remind the public about the failure of his opponent, current Attorney General Tom Corbett, to protect the Barnes trust. “It is unfortunate that Tom Corbett took the side of the elites over the citizens of Montgomery County and the general public. It is unfortunate that Tom Corbett failed to represent the wishes of Dr. Barnes and this community.

In contrast to recent disappointments (a hasty retreat by Montco Commissioners Hoeffel and Matthews; getting the boot from Judge Ott), it does feel great to have Inquirer art critic Edward J. Sozanski stick up for Friends of the Barnes. The June 29th article explains the problem clearly and doesn’t shrink from calling the dismantling plan for the art collection by its names: “a cabal of interests that appear not to appreciate (the Barnes’) essential nature,” “the most audacious art heist in American history…,” “hijacking.”

The Philadelphia Inquirer
June 29, 2008
Art: Friends of Barnes keep up the good fight
By Edward Sozanski, Contributing Art Critic

To paraphrase the eminent metaphysician L.P. Berra, an event has not concluded until all activity associated with that event has ceased. By that measure, the 20-year struggle for the body and soul of the Barnes Foundation might still have wobbly legs, even if, legally, la guerre appears to be fini.

Friends of the Barnes Foundation is NOT laying down to die, as hoped for by our adversaries. On the contrary -- we are just getting warmed up! Links to a couple of items below:

See Culturegrrl blog post, "Sozanski Socks the Barnes Move" about the Inquirer's Art Critic's belated but powerful piece.

http://www.artsjournal.com/culturegrrl/2008/06/gloves_off_sozanski_socks_the.html

Here is the link to the Inquirer piece by Sozanski:

http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/22007209.html

Here is a press release from the Barnes and our response. Since this is my blog entry, I get to go first, so you'll first see the Friends of the Barnes Foundation rsponse to the press release from the Barnes Foundation and then the press release itself announcing that they wil finally implement increases in visitation.

Our response from Aram Jerrehian, Esq.:

Friends of the Barnes Foundation attorney Eric F. Spade, Esq. will argue for new hearings on the Barnes matter on Monday, March 24 at 9:30am. Montgomery County Deputy Solicitor Carolyn Carluccio will argue for new hearings on behalf of the County.

Attorneys for the Barnes Foundation and the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office will argue for everyone to shut up so they can get on with their plans to destroy a national cultural treasure. They say:

we do not have a right to intervene;

that we are vexatious, which means we are only spending countless hours and lots of our own money in order to annoy them;

that our bringing up the issue of the secret appropriation of $107 million PA Senate appropriation is scurrilous and should be STRUCK FROM THE RECORD;

that the $50 million from the County isn't real because it was only offered in a letter, not in a full blown Resolution (that's odd, because at the time, they only said "No, we're moving.";

that the change in Township reg's that permit up to 140,000 people a year plus school groups is not worth anything at this point. (That's odd, too. When R. Perelman was quoted about an ideal number for visits to the Barnes in a 2001 article in the Inquirer, he mentioned 140,000 people. Perhaps he changed his mind.)

Friends of the Barnes and Montomery County have made a very strong case for re-opening hearings. In the intervening years since Judge Ott gave permission for the move, so much has been learned about this case and about the Barnes itself that it cries out for a major "do over". Opinions aside, there is a mountain of hard facts that reveal clearly that moving the Barnes art collection would be horribly wrong. To name just a few:

The Barnes Foundation, in its entirety has been deemed eligible to apply for National Historic Landmark status. That is NOT the National Register status, which many buildings have. This is on the order of Monticello, Mount Vernon, etc. That reason, in itself, should be enough to pull the would-be Movers back from the brink. But no, Phyllis Beck, Barnes' Legal Counsel referred to that as a "band-aid" and tried to make it look like the status concerns only the building, which it does not. Our National Historic Landmarks are precious and the Barnes belongs in that realm. Removing the art collection destroys eliminates this potential.

The increase in admission from 62,000 to more than 140,000 can easily generate about $1 million a year. That's just about enough to cover the operating deficit.

The offer of a $50 million lease/purchase from the County IS a valid solution for support of the Barnes Foundation. It is certainly a less risky scenario than the perilous financial future the Barnes would face on the Parkway, as described by an expert in the earlier hearings: "Matthew J. Schwenderman, a partner at Deloitte & Touche, testified that the foundation's proposed three-campus model - Merion, Philadelphia and Ker-Feal - would require revenues of $11.3 million a year, of which $4.25 million would have to come from donations, $2.5 million from an endowment and the rest from admissions and other sources." (NYTimes)

The business about the PA Senate appropriation of 2002 for $107 million for the Barnes building in Philadelphia needs to be investigated. The fact that the current Board and the Attorney General are asking for references to this being "struck from the record" is rather illuminating and unbecoming.

The current trustees are acting like a guardian who, once appointed, causes the death of her ward, so that she can obtain her ward's legacy.

It all adds up to a situation where the Powerful Ones are like a huge dog that have managed to get their jaws around a wonderful bone and they are not going to drop it unless they have to or, unless perhaps they are offered another bone. Meanwhile, we will continue to function as the conscience of the people, the fleas on the dog by telling the truth and working to save the Barnes in its historic home.

The possible outcomes are that Judge Ott will a)say then and there that based on what we have all learned since 2004 (and that's a lot), he orders new hearings;b) say then and there that based on whatever, he denies the petitions request for new hearings; or c) that he wants to think it over and will get back with a decision at a later date.

Come to the County Courthouse on Monday, March 24 if you possibly can. 9:30am in Courtroom B.

Thanks for your steadfast support.

Evelyn Yaari