There simply are no words left at present....an art collection designed and implemented to be in a specific community, Lower Merion, is being stolen from Lower Merion. Judge Ott either doesn't get it, or chooses not to. It's interesting the way Ott operates, isn't it? He's a real operator isn't he, denying standing? Just curious, but who exactly does have standing? (It appears no one except those with the check books writing the checks to move the collection has standing, doesn't it?) Of course the other thing that is such a scandal over this are the hypocritical deep Main Line pockets that gave money so Philadelphia could steal another municipality's treasures, eh?

Bloomberg.com: Barnes Foundation Wins Ruling for Plan to Move to Philadelphia
By Patrick Cole

May 16 (Bloomberg) -- The Barnes Foundation won the latest round in a legal dispute over a plan to move its collection of impressionist art to Philadelphia, against the wishes of some residents in the museum's current suburban location.

Judge Stanley Ott of Montgomery County Orphans' Court said the Friends of the Barnes Foundation lacked legal standing to oppose the relocation of the Barnes Museum from its home in Merion, Pennsylvania, where the collection has been since 1925.

While ``the intensity of concern'' by the Friends of the Barnes group is ``real and commendable,'' the organization lacked an ``actual interest'' in the matter, Ott wrote.

Nancy Herman, an artist and spokeswoman for the Friends of the Barnes Foundation, said in a phone interview that moving the museum ``would destroy a national treasure.'' The group hasn't decided whether to appeal the decision, she said.

LA Times: Quick Takes
May 17, 2008
Barnes gets go-ahead to move art

The Barnes Foundation won the latest round in a legal dispute over a plan to move its collection of Impressionist art to Philadelphia, against the wishes of some residents in the museum's current suburban location.

Judge Stanley Ott of Montgomery County Orphans' Court said the Friends of the Barnes Foundation lacked legal standing to oppose the relocation of the Barnes Museum from its home in Merion, Pa., where the collection has been since 1925.

Though "the intensity of concern" by the Friends of the Barnes group is "real and commendable," the organization lacked an "actual interest" in the matter, Ott wrote this week.

"This very clear ruling ends the present distraction, and we are forging ahead with plans for a new building," Barnes Foundation Executive Director Derek Gillman said.

Old Albert is spinning in his grave about now....