The fate of the Alfred Stieglitz Collection
When Georgia O’Keefe gave her late husband’s collection, the Alfred Stieglitz Collection, to Fisk University over 60 years, the Nashville university took on a 101 pieces valued at $74 million. O’Keefe’s donation came with a few caveats of her own, however, namely that the pieces could not be sold off and had to be displayed together. It was also to serve the more general purpose of providing “Nashvillians and Southerners access to the collection to promote the study of art.”
Georgia O’Keefe and Alfred Stieglitz
Now the financially struggling Fisk is trying to sell half the collection to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, located in Arkansas, but a local judge ruled that the proposed sale went against O’Keefe’s wishes. The judge also proved that Fisk was unable to adequately care for the collection, which is precisely why it’s trying to sell. The proposed sale would give Crystal Bridges an even 50% ownership for $30 million. The other 50% would remain in Nashville and be exhibited for half the year. Fisk has until October 8th to draft a new plan, and the judge hasn’t ruled out a partnership with Crystal Bridges completely, noting that “it’s impracticable for a struggling university on the brink of closing to literally comply with Ms. O’Keefe’s plan that Fisk maintain and display the collection.” Let’s keep our fingers crossed; I hate to think of Stieglitz’s photos and O’Keefe’s paintings getting the second-rate treatment
