Art Behind Bars at Crow Holdings HQ

By Robert Wilonsky Wed., Mar. 16 2011 at 9:55 AM

Twice this week Friends of Unfair Park have written in to complain about the Crow family's decision to move their collection of sculptures formerly on display at the Trammell Crow Center behind the gates of Old Parkland, now Crow Holdings' HQ. A few weeks back, you'll recall, the Crows announced they were moving that estimable, till-now-open-to-the-public collection of Rodins and Bourdelles and Bernards to Maple and Oak Lawn to make way for the soon-to-get-dug-out Crow Asian Sculpture Garden in the Arts District. At which point the sculptures were lifted and loaded on flatbeds and trucked thisaway.

Alas, writes one Friend:

I went to the Crow Asian Art Museum today and afterward went to see the sculptures around the building. They were all gone, and I asked a worker where they had gone. He said they were installed at Old Parkland, which happens to be right up the street from where I live. So I stopped there and was promptly shooed away by a rent-a-cop who told me I was trespassing after I told him I was there to see the sculptures. ... If it is indeed true that the public may no longer visit these treasures which were so recently in the public realm, it would be an outrage.

This Friend and another wonder: What's Crow Holdings' policy about letting the public on the grounds? And, will they ever be accessible again?

I know the answer to the first, since we're situated directly across the street: That increasingly sprawling campus is locked down tight, patrolled by several guards. No appointment, no access -- and that, as they say, is that. As for the second query: Harlan Crow's out of town with his family (spring break and so forth) and will respond upon his return, says his assistant.

Update at 3:47 p.m.: Crow called from Virginia to say that, well, for the time being and the foreseeable future, those statues and sculptures are saying put. He says he offered to sell them to the current owners of the Trammell Crow Center, and they couldn't afford them, which is why he schlepped them back to Parkland. That said ....

"If somebody is truly interested, they 're welcome to call us, and we might invite 'em over -- if they're polite," he says. "Long story short: They're not accessible every day to everybody, but if someone wants to see it, sure."

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Daniel Webster

"The most expensive office space in Dallas"? That explains why Kern Wildenthhal moved the Southwestern Medical Foundation offices to that location.I'm certain his office has a wonderful view of the scupltures.I wonder how high the foundation overhead costs have ballooned since Kern took over the top spot? I am still amazed at the number of wealthy patrons in Dallas Kern can still bamboozle with his "on demand" charm and wit.This is a man that has an inflated view of himself,a legend in his own mind.When al is said and done, we should be able to find him in a Federal prison with the likes of Don Hill and other crooks from Dallas.What ever happened to the UT Southwestern VIP list? I have a hundred bucks.Can that get me on the list of "priority" service?

Pullinbuddy

What a nasty, elitist writer! "Schlepped" my you know what! It is the Crow's private collection. Art is created for the private consumer not the free viewing public who think it is their "right" to have access to all things art even though they never contribute a dime to is creation. The Crows have an extremely long history of sharing their art via their office buildings, hotels and even building beautiful museums they build to house them in at the gracious additional private expense of the family. All your kvetching and whining is extraordinarily misplaced and misleading. Only a New York Times wannabe shlemiel reporter would write such a slanted and yutzi article. You are not "cool" at all.

Jennley1

Old Parkland is private property. It's Harlan's private art. I think he can do with it as he pleases. The security officers are doing what they are asked to do and no more. Important people come through that place and they are protecting the privacy and safety of those people. Do people write complaints when the Dallas Art Museum changes out their exhibits? I think people should be appreciative of what the Crow family puts out there for us to enjoy.

choraleboy

I have been hassled by the same rent-a-cop bouncers for simply taking photographs from the sidewalk. I'd say there's some serious paranoia over at the Old Parkland Mental Hospital. No one's gonna hurt your art by looking at it Harlan. Geez.

MattL1

I wish there was still a way to display them publicly, as it is a pretty fantastic collection. I'll withhold my judgment, however, until the new project is completed. It could be a nice addition to Ross Ave.

Anonymous

"Outrage" is the wrong word. Disappointment is more like it, but I don't fault him. Anyone who really wants to see the art that badly should see Crow about taking up a lease at the new building. Caveat: it's some of the most expensive office space in the city, if not THE most expensive.

cynical old bastard

"...to make way for the soon-to-get-dug-out Crow Asian Sculpture Garden in the Arts District."

Lighten up folks. The Crows are spending more money to bring more sculptures back to downtown.

ScottsMerkin

Maybe folks, it a temporary move until he cna find another spot that deserves art like that. Lets get his answer before we start ripping him or the Crow family on this one

pak152

be thankful you can still look at them through the fence. Crow could have put them in a building where only he, family and friends could gaze upon them. As Uncle Scrappy wrote "It is his art. He bought & paid for it. "

T.Hurst

This is not good. I can never remember is Harlan is the good Crow or the bad Crow.

Bob

after the update posted above, can you figure out which one is the good Crow and which one is the Bad Crow?

Bob

See, folks, this is why we have something called PUBLIC ART. We, the citizens, pay for it, so we own it and we get to enjoy it all the time. People who have PRIVATE ART pay for it out of their own pockets, so they own it and they get to enjoy it all the time, AND to choose whether anyone else gets to see it.

Harlan Crow has the right to decide who gets to see his art works, and when, and how. Having said that, he's probably still pissed about that new convention center hotel. You know, the one that he spent a gazillion dollars fighting against. The citizens of Dallas outvoted him, so maybe he just picked up his marbles and went home. (Actually, they were bronzes, not marbles, and he took them to his office, not his home, but you get the point.)

sizzler

uhhh you should see the art in his home. could easily be one of the best museums in the state

UncleScrappy

It is his art. He bought & paid for it. People ought to be thankful for the time it has been shared. No one is under any obligation to share this art with anyone else. People need to quit thinking they are entitled to everything and be thankful when they get something like FREE ART for nothing.