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Visitors Vote on Scumak to Add to NAMA's Collection

Museum visitors Joan Newell, Jennifer Baxter, and Rachel Newell after voting for their favorite Scumaks.
photo: Laura Spencer/KCUR
Museum visitors Joan Newell, Jennifer Baxter, and Rachel Newell after voting for their favorite Scumaks.

Acquiring new art for a museum's permanent collection can be a complex, and sometimes political process. When the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art found out they'd be able to keep three of New York-based artist Roxy Paine's Scumak sculptures, they decided to open up the decision to the public.

By Laura Spencer

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/national/local-national-983390.mp3

Kansas City, Mo. – Acquiring new art for a museum's permanent collection can be a complex, and sometimes political process.

When the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art found out they'd be able to keep three of New York-based artist Roxy Paine's Scumak sculptures from a current exhibition, they decided to open up the decision to the public. Note: the sculptures were donated by Paine and James Cohan Gallery.

The board of trustees, the museum's staff and volunteers, and the public (at a ballot box at the museum and on the Star's website) voted on the three Scumaks to add to the collection. And the winners are:

"Roxy Paine: Scumaks and Dendroids" in the Bloch Building lobby, opened April 29 and runs through August 28, 2011. The exhibition opened in conjunction with a new addition to the Kansas City Sculpture Park, Paine's "Ferment," a 56-foot tall stainless steel tree.

Kansas City is known for its style of jazz, influenced by the blues, as the home of Walt Disney’s first animation studio and the headquarters of Hallmark Cards. As one of KCUR’s arts reporters, I want people here to know a wide range of arts and culture stories from across the metropolitan area. I take listeners behind the scenes and introduce them to emerging artists and organizations, as well as keep up with established institutions. Send me an email at lauras@kcur.org or follow me on Twitter @lauraspencer.
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