The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art and the Friends of the Visual Arts will present a free, one-night screening of “The Art of the Steal” at 7 p.m. Friday, March 6, in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.
“The Art of the Steal,” directed by Don Argott, follows the struggle for control of Dr.
Albert C. Barnes’ $25 billion collection of modern and post-impressionist art.
Founded in 1922, the Barnes Foundation became one of the finest collections of paintings by Renoir, Cezanne, Matisse, Van Gogh and other masters, according to a film description at Amazon.com. Housed in Lower Merion, Pa., the Barnes Foundation was envisioned by Barnes as an art school and not a public museum. But after Barnes’ death in 1951, the fight over the collection’s future ensued and continues today. Artists, historians and lawyers defend Barnes’ wish that the entire collection never be moved, loaned or sold, while politicians, large charitable trusts, tourism boards and wealthy socialites push to relocate it to downtown Philadelphia, according to the website.
The documentary is rated PG for adult language and content.
This screening is part of the School of Art’s monthly Friday Night Film Series and is sponsored in part by the Nacogdoches Junior Forum, The Liberty Bell, Main Street Nacogdoches, Bill Arscott, Jill Carrington, Karon Gillespie, John Heath, David Kulhavy and Brad Maule.
The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. For more information, call (936) 468-1131.
