An unfortunate consequence of the economic hard times, among other things: New York’s American Folk Art Museum, founded in 1961, is running out of ways and means to stay afloat. After moving its 5,000+ piece permanent collection to a new location in 2001, the museum has had difficulty repaying the construction loans due to a variety of factors. In a New York Times article, some of these reasons are described. From lack of development, fund-raising, public interest in the subject matter, the usefulness of the new space for displaying art, and the legal troubles of the museum’s former chairman, the Folk Art Museum has had a rough few years.  Despite these setbacks, the article ends with a tinge of optimism- [Linda] Dunne [the interim director] is finding solace in small things, like a boom in attendance at the Lincoln Square site since the West 53rd Street building closed. “People are lining up,” she said, “waiting to get in.” Read the entire article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/25/arts/design/american-folk-art-museum-weighs-survival-strategies.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=design
Traveling this summer? Passing through Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta? Make sure to stop by the special exhibition, “All Creatures Great and Small.”  Featured in this exhibition are works from the Georgia Museum of Art’s permanent collection and Carl Mullis. “ Paintings, sculptures and mixed-media creations by such folk masters as Howard Finster and Mose Tolliver and by such outstanding but relatively unheralded contemporary artists as Jim Lewis and Ted Gordon are on display in the Atlanta airport’s T gates. The majority of artists featured have spent their lives in the South, including the following artists from Georgia: Michael Crocker, Finster, Willie Jinks, R.A. Miller and O.L. Samuels.” Check out this article on the GMOA’s website and a link to an upcoming film documentary about the art: http://www.georgiamuseum.org/art/exhibitions/on-view/all-creatures-great-and-small