robklurfield
eclipse
A klutz visiting the Met in NYC for an adult education class stumbled and fell into a Picasso painting, tearing a six-inch whole in the canvas. That's bad. What's possibly worse is the utter over reaction of museums in New York to this unfortunate mishap.
My wife and I went for a visit to the Jewish Museum yesterday, which was running a show of Emmanuel Radnitzky, oops!, Man Ray. The show, "Alias Man Ray", btw, is terrfic.
Anyway, back to our story... upon entering the museum, one has to submit to the usual metal detector and bag search, now customary at many NYC museums. Made it through that check point just fine after being searched again with hand-held metal detector wand, which, amusingly, went off from metal on the person of the security officer ("don't worry," he said, "that's me.")
So far, so good. Not ten steps past the security check point (is this starting to read like a visit to your local international airport???), another guard approached to inform me, "you can't carry that bag into the museum."
At this point, I am wearing one camera around my neck with the lens capped (no pix in the exhibitis) and was in the process of putting my camera bag over my head to wear with the strap running diagonally across my body because it was loaded and heavy yesterday (two more cameras and few lens, etc.). "You have to check that." "Why? The other security said it was fine.".... etc., etc. Finally, this third guard relented and said "you can carry the bag, put you have to carry it in your hands... you can't carry it over your shoulder." I asked what could happen with the bag over my shoulder that couldn't happen with it my hands. No response. I observed that many women in the museum, my Mrs. included, were carrying bags of similar size and dimensions across their shoulders. "Your bag is too bulky."
Cut to about 20 minutes later, now in the middle of the exhibit. Without thinking, I carely and slowly place the bag gentlely on my shoulder only to have a fourth guard appear from behind me warning me that I cannot wear a bag on my shoulder. At this point, I begin dragging my bag by the strap on the floor through the rest of the exhibit as the guard patiently tells my wife that this is a new policy put in place in response to the klutz at the Met.
I find the whole thing to be a mix hilarious and chilling. Hilarious because of its utter absurdity and chilling because of its symbolic relationship to all the other rights we've gradually ceded in an era of fear and worries about terrorists. Also, I appreciate, no, that's the wrong word... I recognize the irony of this relative to failed shoe and underwear bombers. Rather than focusing on the source of the threats -- disaffected, radicalize fundamentalists with axes to grind -- we focus on elements of their attire such as sneakers (Richard Reed, aka the Shoe Bomber) and flaming tighty whitey underpants (the Xmas Bomber).
I can well appreciate after the murderous assault on a guard at the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC, why the Jewish Museum in NYC might want to beef up security. I cannot, however, understand the logical or value of allowing to carry a bag, so long as I don't put it my shoulder. Given the nature of the torn Picasso accident, I almost think the guards should be checking at the door for untied shoelacess and overly long trousers. It is in our nature I guess to always be closing the barn door after the cows have absconded without ever considering what we did, if anything, to have allowed them escape in the first place.
Here's a link to an article about the torn painting:
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local...e_ass_in_picasso_masterpiece_torn_at_met.html
My wife and I went for a visit to the Jewish Museum yesterday, which was running a show of Emmanuel Radnitzky, oops!, Man Ray. The show, "Alias Man Ray", btw, is terrfic.
Anyway, back to our story... upon entering the museum, one has to submit to the usual metal detector and bag search, now customary at many NYC museums. Made it through that check point just fine after being searched again with hand-held metal detector wand, which, amusingly, went off from metal on the person of the security officer ("don't worry," he said, "that's me.")
So far, so good. Not ten steps past the security check point (is this starting to read like a visit to your local international airport???), another guard approached to inform me, "you can't carry that bag into the museum."
At this point, I am wearing one camera around my neck with the lens capped (no pix in the exhibitis) and was in the process of putting my camera bag over my head to wear with the strap running diagonally across my body because it was loaded and heavy yesterday (two more cameras and few lens, etc.). "You have to check that." "Why? The other security said it was fine.".... etc., etc. Finally, this third guard relented and said "you can carry the bag, put you have to carry it in your hands... you can't carry it over your shoulder." I asked what could happen with the bag over my shoulder that couldn't happen with it my hands. No response. I observed that many women in the museum, my Mrs. included, were carrying bags of similar size and dimensions across their shoulders. "Your bag is too bulky."
Cut to about 20 minutes later, now in the middle of the exhibit. Without thinking, I carely and slowly place the bag gentlely on my shoulder only to have a fourth guard appear from behind me warning me that I cannot wear a bag on my shoulder. At this point, I begin dragging my bag by the strap on the floor through the rest of the exhibit as the guard patiently tells my wife that this is a new policy put in place in response to the klutz at the Met.
I find the whole thing to be a mix hilarious and chilling. Hilarious because of its utter absurdity and chilling because of its symbolic relationship to all the other rights we've gradually ceded in an era of fear and worries about terrorists. Also, I appreciate, no, that's the wrong word... I recognize the irony of this relative to failed shoe and underwear bombers. Rather than focusing on the source of the threats -- disaffected, radicalize fundamentalists with axes to grind -- we focus on elements of their attire such as sneakers (Richard Reed, aka the Shoe Bomber) and flaming tighty whitey underpants (the Xmas Bomber).
I can well appreciate after the murderous assault on a guard at the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC, why the Jewish Museum in NYC might want to beef up security. I cannot, however, understand the logical or value of allowing to carry a bag, so long as I don't put it my shoulder. Given the nature of the torn Picasso accident, I almost think the guards should be checking at the door for untied shoelacess and overly long trousers. It is in our nature I guess to always be closing the barn door after the cows have absconded without ever considering what we did, if anything, to have allowed them escape in the first place.
Here's a link to an article about the torn painting:
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local...e_ass_in_picasso_masterpiece_torn_at_met.html
wgerrard
Veteran
Ae they afraid someone will turn suddenly and swing a bag into a painting, or back into one?
If they are really worried about klutzy people falling into paintings, a more practical solution would be to install waist-level railings about two out feet from the wall in each exhibit room.
In less paranoid times, this would have been chalked up to the risk of running a museum.
If they are really worried about klutzy people falling into paintings, a more practical solution would be to install waist-level railings about two out feet from the wall in each exhibit room.
In less paranoid times, this would have been chalked up to the risk of running a museum.
user237428934
User deletion pending
I think it's pretty reasonable to ban bags in an art exhibition. This reduces the probability of an unwanted damage and it reduces the theft risk (putting a smaller piece in your bag).
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RayPA
Ignore It (It'll go away)
I entered San Francisco MOMA last weekend and was asked to carry my photo bag in front of me. I'd never been asked that before. Now I know why.
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sjw617
Panoramist
I have no problem with this. If the bag is in your hand it is about knee level and not going to cause damage to a piece of artwork. Carrying a heavy bag will also play with your balance and there is the main issue.
It is also very obnoxious when people (men in particular) have a large bag or backpack and constantly hit people with it. Women are used to carrying a bag more than men are. If you bang into people you will also bang into the artwork.
I think you should have checked the bag and had an enjoyable day instead of dragging the bag (also dangerous for people tripping over it).
Steve
blackwave
silver halide lover
This has been standard practice at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City for some time now. One must swing the bag to the front of the body or carry it in the arms. A guard explained to me that it reduces the chance of someone turning and bumping something with the bag. It doesn't have anything to do with terrorism.
I think it's entirely reasonable. Much of those collections can't be replaced and are worth more than all the money I'll ever make!
I think it's entirely reasonable. Much of those collections can't be replaced and are worth more than all the money I'll ever make!
Thardy
Veteran
I remember having to check my bag at the Musee d'orsay three years ago.
martin s
Well-known
In Berlin you usually have to check your bags should they exceed a certain size, in the Gropius-Building (FC Gundlach exhibition) you could take a bag along the lines of a female handbag, a small one. I had to check the Hadley. In the Newton museum I was allowed to take my bag, but had to argue with a bunch of guys. No screening otherwise.
martin
martin
robklurfield
eclipse
I typically, especially in crowded places and out of consideration for those around me, where my bag with strap diagonally across my chest and back and with the bag perched in front of me. This way, I can be very careful about not walloping people with it and it has so little free play (I have a big gut) that it can't swing at all. I am all for protecting the art. I'd certainly never recover from the guilt if I had made a six-inch long hole in a Picasso. And certainly museums have every reason to worry about cranks, thieves and klutzes. I think, however, they need to be more consistent and thoughtful in their policies. To be honest, I probably should have packed lighter, maybe one camera and no bag -- mea culpa -- but I was stuck due to schedule carrying more than I'd like. I think it's important that adults accept responsibility for their actions, so feel free to call me dumb for lugging the bag to the museum.
robklurfield
eclipse
Visiting six or seven museums on my last visit to paris, including the Musee d'orsay, no one ever said anything about the same bag. this bag takes up just about the same amount of space when empty as it does when it's full. also, no metal detectors that I remember.
robklurfield
eclipse
I have to agree about not being keen about checking a bag, especially when it's got equipment that I couldn't afford to replace.
sepiareverb
genius and moron
Their rooms, they get to make the rules.
Chris101
summicronia
I'd hate that, because I like to get right up to paintings where I can see the brush marks and smell the paint.
They should just sue the pants off the klutz.
ampguy
Veteran
sounds like BEAN was there ...!
robklurfield
eclipse
wgerrard
Veteran
So do I, but in popular museums people get in the way, too. No perfect solution.
robklurfield
eclipse
no debate from me on that.
not all rules, however, are created or enforced equally.
like I said earlier, if I'd been the person who tore the picasso, you can bet I would be hiding under a rock for the rest of my life.
not all rules, however, are created or enforced equally.
like I said earlier, if I'd been the person who tore the picasso, you can bet I would be hiding under a rock for the rest of my life.
robklurfield
eclipse
there are just too many people on this planet right now. and the worst part is that I am part of the problem. you know the routine, you get frustrated having to wait for the dummy in front of you to move on to the next painting until you are the dummy blocking the next person. guilt as charged.
wgerrard
Veteran
Aside from the painting protection issue, this thread just reinforces my distaste for carrying around a camera bag. Sometimes you gotta use one, but I find life so much more pleasant when I leave the things behind. They a-l-w-a-y-s get in the way.
robklurfield
eclipse
even though I was the guy with the bag yesterday, I wholeheartedly agree with you. they're a pain in the neck (low back, shoulder, etc.). wish I could have left it home.