12 year old damages a $1.5mil painting with gum - United Bimmer Community

**komodo** · 03-01-2006, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Boy, 12, Sticks Gum on $1.5M Painting

Tue Feb 28, 7:40 PM ET

DETROIT - A 12-year-old visitor to the Detroit Institute of Arts stuck a wad of gum to a $1.5 million painting, leaving a stain the size of a quarter, officials say.

The boy was part of a school group from Holly that visited the museum on Friday, officials say. They say he took a piece of Wrigley's Extra Polar Ice gum out of his mouth and stuck it on Helen Frankenthaler's "The Bay," an abstract painting from 1963.

The museum acquired the work in 1965 and says it is worth about $1.5 million.

The gum stuck to the painting's lower left corner and did not adhere to the fiber of the canvas, officials told the Detroit Free Press. But it left a chemical residue about the size of a quarter, said Becky Hart, assistant curator of contemporary art.

The museum's conservation department is researching the chemicals in the gum to decide which solvent to use to clean it. The museum hopes to make the repair in two weeks and will keep "The Bay" on display in the meantime, she said.

"Our expectation is that the painting is going to be fine," Hart said.

Holly Academy director Julie Kildee said the boy had been suspended from the charter school and says his parents also have disciplined him.

"Even though we give very strict guidelines on proper behavior and we hold students to high standards, he is only 12 and I don't think he understood the ramifications of what he did before it happened, but he certainly understands the severity of it now," said Kildee.

I always wondered why they told us we couldn't chew gum on fieldtrips.

**Rooz** · 03-01-2006, 06:40 PM

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Holly Academy director Julie Kildee said the boy had been suspended from the charter school and says his parents also have disciplined him.

So he damages a $1.5 Mil painting and he just gets grounded?

Whatever happened to "You break it, you buy it!" ?

**Addicted?** · 03-01-2006, 07:07 PM

hahahaha i hate kids that are told not to do something and they do it becuase of that! little shit

craig · 03-01-2006, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Addicted?

hahahaha i hate kids that are told not to do something and they do it becuase of that! little shit

**xsperf** · 03-01-2006, 07:12 PM

thats hilaroius, screw the stupid painting, props to the boy! hahaha, sorry but a freakin painting for 1.5 mil, wow, i can scribble on a piece of paper, but ill make ya a deal, only 1 mil!

**Addicted?** · 03-01-2006, 07:14 PM

1.5 mil is relitively cheap for a painting of that status.... etc etc but yes still a lot of money for some art.. but then again i am not an art lover.. nor would i pay 2100 for a watch,, cough harry cough haha

David

**komodo** · 03-01-2006, 07:30 PM

I found the painting if anyone is curious:

**RealBmw 02** · 03-01-2006, 07:37 PM

^^^ How is something that lame worth 1.5 mil.... astonishing

**komodo** · 03-01-2006, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RealBmw 02

^^^ How is something that lame worth 1.5 mil.... astonishing

I don't know, but that tells me I need to practice my painting. heh

craig · 03-01-2006, 07:42 PM

crap... i just spilt some coke on the carpet.. wait.. it kinda looks like art! im going to cut that piece off and sell it on ebay.

and btw... that painting deserved it.

**Rooz** · 03-01-2006, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by komodo

I found the painting if anyone is curious:

What is it suppposed to be

?

craig · 03-01-2006, 07:57 PM

it looks like a stupid pice of trash painting. i would have done the same thing. that 12-year-old is smart.(seriously, i wouldnt, im just saying it for the fun of it)

nick_318is · 03-01-2006, 08:02 PM

Been to the DIA several times (my sister in law used to be an assistant curator there) never have I seen this, i'm happy the kid put gum on it. I wish i was home to hear the local news blow this up.

**projal147** · 03-01-2006, 08:13 PM

apparently we dont have many art lovers on here.... if anyone is in college or even in high school.. i would recommend people taking an art history class... in college they break it down into general time frames like Renissance, Gothic, Modern to Post-Modern, etc..

but if your in high school there is AP art history.... i took it in HS and it was AMAZING it gave me a whole new appreciation for art and a different presepective at which to look at paintings sculptures, etc...

but anyways.. that is "cheap" relatively for some paintings/art... a small (4"x6") sketch by Picasso can easily run thousands or tens of thousands of dollars depending on the rareity etc....

also remember that virtually all artists dont see any of these profits.. most artists become famous after they die... being an artist is a tough lifestyle and has little financial reward.. only recently has that landscape been changing...

I personally like the painting although im not a huge fan of abstract art.. I'm more of a VanGogh, Picasso, Rembrant kinda guy... Renissance is my love...

**Rooz** · 03-01-2006, 08:49 PM

I dunno... maybe we are looking at it in the wrong way....

If you squinch your eyes and look at it sideways, the blue part looks like an iceberg... the green.. F if I know, lol