The Art of the Steal

Yesterday was one of those perfect, cusp-of-spring days here in New York. The rehearsal I had scheduled was canceled at the last minute, which suddenly freed up my afternoon (side note: isn't it great, that sudden rush of 'Wait, I have the whole afternoon to myself, where do I even begin'?).

So I took a long walk through Central Park, and then opted for a spontaneous afternoon movie. I ended up seeing 'The Art of the Steal,' which turned out to be a fascinating exposé about The Barnes Foundation in Lower Merion, PA and the scandal/conspiracy behind its impending move to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Of course, the documentary isn't perfect; it's very, VERY partisan and heavy-handed at times, as many entertaining docs tend to be. But the larger thesis of the film is an interesting one that sheds light on the exploitation of art and culture under the heavy influence of money and power. Not a bad way to spend a couple hours on a Saturday.