SWEET & SOUR: The Odd Case of the Mystery of the Missing Museum
It was a dark and stormy night. Suddenly a shot rang out. A door slammed. A janitor screamed. What is going on at the Cultural Center and in its basement? Oh! The horror, the horror! Welcome to to the odd case of “The MYSTERY OF THE MISSING STATE MUSEUM.” Hosted by Sweet and Sour, Art Sleuths.
———-
Sour: I’ve been doing a little investigativing.
Sweet: Investigating? On a blogger’s salary?
Sour: All this hoopla over Fred Armstrong’s facing the firing squad has brought to the surface — again — the gargantuan ineptitude in the handling of the State Museum renovation. Who is responsible? Who has the most blood on his/her/their hands? Who has wasted the most money? What in the heck IS the plan? Why is it all such a secret?
Art Sleuth Note to Our Dear Readers (Phil Kabler? Bob Schwarz? Anna Sale? Hippie Killer? Anybody?!) : Please blog in with some thoughts, so we can deduce the most guilty party. Or parties. (NOTE: “If you WORK at the Cultural Center use a fake name — we won’t rat out your e-mail! We know from experience!
———-
Sweet: “Who are the suspects?”
Sour: “Let’s keep this hypothetical.”
Sweet: “OK, hypothetically – who are the suspects?”
Sour: I deduce — hypothetically speaking, of course — that the chief suspects are:
- former Commissioner Ms. Scarlet (an opera singer appointed by Gov. Cecil Underwood)
- former Commissioner Colonel Mustard (arts bureaucrat brought back from retirement by Gov. Underwood when Ms. Scarlet flew the coop to an opera company in Ohio.)
- former Commissioner Ms. White (longtime cultural center bureaucrat appointed by Gov. Bob Wise when he took office, now back to old job)
- current Commissioner Mr. Peacock (another opera singer appointed by the current governor)
- Supersecretary Professor Plum (a constant throughout the administrative changeovers and — technically — boss of the Commissioners)
- Current Chief of Staff Mr. Green (worried about the money).
———-
Sweet: Very interesting. Aren’t you forgetting something? Aren’t you forgetting The Boddy?
Sour: “Oh, yeah, former Commissioner Mr. Boddy — eclipsed Ms. White as commissioner, but didn’t make her face the firing squad. Instead, she gladly went into exile in the basement to wait out retirement. Then, he flew the coop as Mr. Peacock entered the wings (as they say in the opera), where Mr. Boddy is doing fine as a cultural mover and shaker in an adjacent commonwealth.”
———-
Sweet: Anyone else in the suspect line up?
Sour: “There are three additional mysteries. Who is actually ON the State Museum Board (and what is wrong with them?) And: what IS the current plan? Why can’t we, the taxpayers, see it and comment on it? Finally, how many “consultants” have been paid for this miasma?”
———-
Sweet: “I see your point. We taxpayers got to vote on the color scheme of the Capitol rotunda and the slogan ‘Wild, Wonderful. ‘ Our decisions ended up being more appropriate and cost effective than what the political hacks had proposed. Why can’t we weigh in on what kind of renovation we want and how much we want to spend? It is our money, after all.”
Sour: “Exactly. Especially because virtually any random person you could choose has as much experience in the renovation or operating of museums as the political hacks who have been put in charge of it. And I can assure you, any random person will have more common sense.”
———-
Sweet: “Are they still planning on having the whiz -bang, gizmo Disney-esque thrill ride, history section in the basement? They were shocked that the bids came in so high for that one, but really no one else was. I remember they were talking about CHARGING people to go into their own State Museum. I can just see how that is going to play in the far-flung counties. Or have they given that up to focus on yet another ill-fated shop/cafe in the archives? At least people actually GO to the archives. Are they hoping to attract the same people who DON”T come to the shop and cafe at the Clay Center?”
Sour: “That’s just it — nobody knows. Only the inner circle, if they even know what they’ve gotten themselves into, themselves. All they seem to do is spend money taking out the previous administration’s “renovations.”
———-
Sweet: “Yeah, ‘the escalators to nowhere’ stand in infamy. I have to say, I find it alarming that the original architects and plans are completely dismissed by everybody throwing forth a renovation plan. I remember when they were talking about cutting through one of the grey columns to see into the old shop area. And this is the department supposedly in charge of historic preservation. Hopefully, the Manchins will step in and help manage this mess.
Sour: “I hope they do a better job than they did renovating the Governor’s mansion. They renovated it right off the historic preservation list, I heard. It’s a little too much Caesar’s Palace these days, replete with poker tables, plasma TVs and astronomically expensive bathtubs and fixtures. And too many of the original design elements were over -modified or just thrown out in a cavalier manner.”
Sweet: “Yeah, and what was it that I heard — did several historic preservation types resign from the board lest their reputations go down those new expensive drains? There has got to be a middle ground between updating these structures and creating a new design monster.
Help the Art Sleuths with your theories about ‘The Mystery of the Missing State Museum.’ Stay tuned …
December 4th, 2007 at 11:01 am
Hippie contact me.
December 4th, 2007 at 11:31 am
I think they are ALL guilty, like in Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, where they each stabbed the victim. Except, unlike this State Museum mess, the victim deserved it and the suspects ACTUALLY HAD AN ACHIEVABLE PLAN THAT WORKED!
December 5th, 2007 at 1:02 am
Per your requests, I have a post on this coming in the next couple of days.
December 5th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
The second design was the California exhibit designers interpretation of W.Va. Cliches.
It featured a Shantytown and a Mailpouch barn exhibit.
December 5th, 2007 at 10:41 pm
How does one e-mail Hippie Killer directly?
December 6th, 2007 at 6:47 am
Just another “improvement” by your Uncle Joe. We have so much to thank him for. Why can’t they put the museum back like it was. It can’t cost that much to just put it all back in place.
December 6th, 2007 at 7:03 am
Hippie, let us know the best email to get you. Otherwise, dear readers, hit the link above to reach Hippie Killer’s site and leave a comment. Or you can email us at sweetandsourwv@gmail.com and we’ll send to Hippie. You and your email will remain anonymous (except for a fake name you provide). Give us some CLUES so we all can solve this abominable mystery! And P Byers, putting it back like it was is the best renovation idea we have heard yet.
December 6th, 2007 at 11:27 am
P Byers,
That is not possible, the artifacts were put back in storage and the rest of the museum broken down and destroyed. There are two museum designs: The one Renay Conlin ($1 million design) did and the new one that costs so much($1 million design.) You could say go to the one Renay did, but, if the state has funded the new one…let’s keep the money invested in arts/culture.
We simply do not have enough information, do we? I understand people’s frustration.
December 6th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
That’s quite a statement that the Governor’s Mansion has been renovated right off of the “historic preservation list.” How can this be confirmed? Please provide a link to any confirming information. This is quite shocking!!!
December 6th, 2007 at 4:09 pm
While there’s much to be debated and discussed about the state museum situation–and yes, it should be–I’d really like to know why there’s so much contempt being leveled toward opera singers. When clicking on the first link, there’s some comments in that article about Commissioner Reid-Smith that are just flat-out mean spirited.
Here’s hoping the museum situation can be resolved in a way that best serves the people of WV.
December 6th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
Bella Donna, we LIKE opera singers and are here to help. Can anyone cough up a renovation plan? If we sleuth together, we may be able to avert some disasters. Or at least minimize them…Like cutting through architecturally important columns and building more escalators to nowhere.
Po Boy, someone in the know told us that. We are working on specifics.
December 7th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
I have been wracking my “little grey cells” as to WHY Opera Singers are in charge of museum renovations! C’est bizarre, no?
December 8th, 2007 at 8:56 pm
Just FYI…it is not a state art museum…it is a state History museum.
December 8th, 2007 at 11:54 pm
Which is what they’re aiming for, but that’s not what the building was meant to be. The museum has always shared space with art, and the art collection is officially part of the “state museum collection.” If the museum collects art via the Juried Exhibition (and purchases), then why shouldn’t art be part of the State Museum? But the art collection is now scattered among state offices (what the minions who work there will accept), and the plan to nuke the Archives library includes plans to replace the present Art Gallery with a gift shop.
December 9th, 2007 at 11:00 am
Good detective work, Hardy Boys. Curioser and curioser. The Art Collection with no place to show. Except outside of its own building.
December 9th, 2007 at 11:29 am
Dear Readers! There is a MOLE, as they say in the spy movies. Someone who works there has emailed us some clues! We’ll call him/her Deep Throat. Deep Throat points out that the state museum renovation plans USED to be listed on the website at www.wvculture.org/museum/renovate.html, but now they are NOT! They have been mysteriously REMOVED! Now just pictures of how it used to look, odd models of what might be coming and more pictures of ESCALATORS!
December 9th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
Loose the comma at the end of the link above, it’s a typo…..it is www.wvculture.org/museum/renovate.html
Oh my, I think I am OLD enough (which says a lot) to remember that the original architects of the Cultural Center realized that a shop/cafe in the archives WOULDN’T WORK! Too many greasy fingers and lack of visitors! Ted Eldon, pls blog in here with FACTS. I know we are both OLD, OLD, OLD, but I feel we must come out of retirement to help these young whippersnappers save the original architectural plans. Scale back the archives as a shop/cafe plan and save the architectural integity of the original architectural plan! Youngsters, please help us help YOU!
December 10th, 2007 at 10:45 am
I work in the historic preservation field, evaluating buildings for elgibility for the National Register of Historic Places… what has been done to the Governor’s Mansion would certainly affect its eligibility. We usually disqualify buildings that have replacement windows or significant additions/alterations. And now the Cultural Center is under threat?! When will Manchin accept that state buildings are not his personal property to turn into party venues? He is a temporary steward of these buildings, as we all are. Hopefully he will be very temporary.
December 10th, 2007 at 11:51 am
Oh these horrible renovations are not going to be temporary! Even if Bob Byrd dies soon…..and the Manchins go to Washington sooner than later, the results on the buildings will be PERMANENT..! You wouldn’t BELIEVE the dirt on the Gov. Mansion “renovation” I uncovered at several of the $60,000 Xmas parties I went to there this weekend! I’ll email Sweet and Sour and Hippie Killer juicy tidbits. Anyone see Phil Kabler’s report on this subject in yesterday’s paper?
December 10th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
Saw in the paper yesterday where Lisa Fischer Casto is taking over The Art Store on Jan.1. Deep Throat sent a CLUE saying it is imperative to solving the case that we understand it was PROFESSOR PLUM not MS. WHITE who hired Lisa Fischer Casto to work on the State Museum renovation. That that was the key to it all. Just an FYI, anyone got any insight on this?
December 10th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
I forsee NONE of the guilty parties still being around when the consequences of their “renovations” hit in a few years. The Manchins will be in DC, Kay Goodwin will be retired, The Opera singers will still be singing at tax payers expense and everyone else will still have their heads in the sand. (as per usual).
December 10th, 2007 at 2:31 pm
Sheesh…….and people used to describe Miss Scarlet as having “whims of steel” when Underwood made her “Queen for the Day.” The current administration has “whims of titanium” that are being hurled at hurricane level force. And a myriad of “Queens for the Day” are hurling them out, right and left. They think that is their job description.
December 10th, 2007 at 11:50 pm
I don’t think Col. Mustard is much to blame since he was completely ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL during his tenure as Arts Commissioner. But, looking at what the others did, MAYBE THAT WASN’T A BAD THING! It was, instead, “benign neglect” as they say in the museum collections world.
December 11th, 2007 at 8:37 am
I don’t think Lisa Casto is particularly guilty of anything except being overpaid and inept. She’s the “project manager” who said the museum plan they were submitting for bid would be about $1 million (for that stage). Lo and behold, it was several times that amount.
OTOH, the “story” the museum is supposed to tell was scripted by a citizen committee, with a year’s input from around the state. And apparently at the link posted above http://www.wvculture.org/museum/renovate.html you can look at pictures of a model of the new museum.
December 11th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
Miss Marple, you are right! we need Henry Elden senior, on this case. Is Henry still with us? He was heavily involved with the architectural firm who built the Cultural Center in 1976. He contributed to a story the Charleston Newspapers did on the architectural design of the Cultural Center several years ago. He said the architectural design of the facade and great hall is some of his favorite architecture in WV. He won’t like any major alterations. Let’s find a link to this article?
December 11th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
Agree with Hardy Boys about Lisa Fischer Casto. The point I am making is that it was Professor Plumb who hired LFC, not Ms. White.
December 11th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
It’s ELEMENTARY, my dear Watsons. Deep Throat is pointing out here that Professor Plum was more in charge of the “renovations” than Ms. White. I deduce that Professor Plum is Deep Throat’s CHIEF SUSPECT. That after Miss Scarlet left for the Toledo Opera, Professor Plum took over as boss of the “plan.”
December 13th, 2007 at 1:50 pm
But when the new renovation plan came in way overbudget, Professor Plum tried to lay ALL of the blame on Ms. White, aside from just the escalators to nowhere.
December 13th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
We read in the DM yesterday that they are definitely moving into the Cultural Center a one-room log structure given by a Monaville family. Should be installed in the basement or somewhere by 2009. Hopefully, won’t be the Californication/Disneyizing of Appalachian stereotypes that Archicad mentioned of a previous “plan” above. We also heard horror stories of this plan. Several locals who were present at a previous “brainstorming” session (but not allowed to speak) were outraged that coal was going to be presented in WV history like Snow White to the economy and WV miners were going to be presented in a unintentionally surreal “heigh, ho! heigh ho! it’s off to mine coal we go!” manner! Labor revolts, destruction of the environment, murders, etc. were going to be…well…whitewashed. Snow White Squeakey Clean Coal! And someone named Stan Bumgardner is listed in the article as “creative director for the state museum project.” Who is this new suspect??
December 13th, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Hmmm, I believe SB is a former employee of the State Archives. Back taking more abuse, is he? As for Mail Pouch barn, there’s always been a Mail Pouch sign in the state museum, you can check the web link above to see pictures from the old museum. Painted by the Old Master himself, Harley Warrick. Hopefully that new old log house will be better than the old new log house that was originally installed by the first design firm, 35+ years ago.
December 14th, 2007 at 11:29 am
Maybe we are too young to remember, but WHO is Harley Warrick?
December 14th, 2007 at 11:55 am
I think EVERYBODY guilty of the design crimes at the Gov. Mansion should have to live in either the new old log cabin or old new log cabin for a year on house arrest…put the cabins outside on the lawn of the Gov. Mansion…..without plasma tvs, zillion dollar shower heads, replacement windows or party tents. We can drive by and watch them cook in kettles and do laundry in boiling pots. They can plant a vegetable garden or have food air lifted in from The Chop House. Pick some random WV poor family to live in the Mansion.
December 14th, 2007 at 12:29 pm
Good investigators know how to search:
http://www.thebarnjournal.org/people/003/index.html
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1115027
December 15th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
Thanks, Hardy Boys, we are here to learn. We are new to this planet.
December 15th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
You thinkers keep thinking. We doers had better start doing. Not realistic to vote Manchin out of office. Too popular. He will ride out term or go to Washington earlier when Bob Byrd goes. Need to focus on achievable goals like minimizing design disasters to Gov. Mansion and Cultural Center Great Hall. The basement of the cultural center is just going to have to be an expensive rec room basement that someone else will redesign next generation. Don’t let them make permanent design errors to historic structures now. Someone important needs to draft a letter to the Manchins (and Lara Ramsburg), Kay Goodwin, RRS and the so called Mansion Preservation Board. Get a bunch of people to sign it. The archivists and librarians can help here. They appear to be as well organized as any army I’ve ever worked with, which naturally says a lot.
December 17th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
Cruella and a host of Gov. Mansion Xmas party revellers have emailed us that the Gov. Mansion re-do is a design disaster. Cruella de Ville and her friend Truman Capote give it an F– (an F double minus) on the design-o-meter. They call it, a very, very “More is More” approach to the original “Less is More” architectural design style. Here is a summary of the chief crimes levelled against the new “renovation” there:
1) The destruction of the old school parquet floors
THE REPLACEMENT WINDOWS! which are apparently, thanks to bloggers above and a variety of pundits, a no-no in the historic preservation world.
2) The new too large furniture is at odds with the original spare design
3) The “Caesar’s Palace” bathroom fixtures and poker tables, does one REALLY need a zillion dollar showerhead?
4) The plethora of plasma tv’s, how much is too much?
5) The hole in the French Doors to the tent
6) The $20,000 tent itself (more Barnimum Bailey than Cirque du Soleil……and now they are moving to erect something PERMANENT?)
7) The new garish woodworking on the walls
AND, of course,
December 19th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
The question is this: Is/was the Gov. Mansion on the historic structures list/registry? The Gov. Mansion and Cultural Center are icons, if they are officially historic, then the crimes are inexcusable.
December 20th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
The Capitol Building and the Mansion are historic, the Cultural Center isn’t. So all the rules about historic buildings apply to the Governor’s Mansion. Don’t think anybody’s kicked the Mansion off the Historic Register yet; the people in charge of that are under the Governor.
December 20th, 2007 at 8:27 pm
No..Wrong…the people in charge of that are in D.C. at the Interior Department. The “Keeper” of the National Register determines who stays on or who doesn’t. The state can make recommendations, but individual citizens can go around the state. You do not have to go through the state.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:36 am
Exactly, Mountain Daddy, someone could call in the DC Design Police.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:43 am
Yesterday we read in the papers of TWO Xmas Miracles!
First, The Clay Center was open during Art Walk for FREE! We don’t know this new curator Barbara Racker, but her wanting the Clay Center not to appear expensive and elitist and instead become a team player that is responsive to the community is “music to our ears” as they say in the Maier Peformance Hall there. Second, THE DMV, of all things, is GOING GREEN (Like WVU) and their spokesperson took great pains to say that none of the original architectural plan or design by Cass Gilbert would be altered in doing so. Did you ever imagine you would see the day when the DMV surpassed the Cultural Center and the Gov. Mansion in forwardthinking procedures, respect for architectural design and taste?
December 22nd, 2007 at 12:29 am
I have another clue! When it hit the papers during last year’s Arts Assembly, I heard tale of Professor Plum arguing with Mr. Green (and we don’t mean an MU supporter nor a DMV/WVU environmentalist) about the cost and plan of the State Museum’s renovation. ON THE PORCH OF THE CULTURAL CENTER! THEY WERE FIGHTING! He…..a Manchin appointmenment in charge of $ and the rest of it, and SHE, the judge’s theatre teacher wife were warring it out about what the heck was going on with the State Museum’s renovation! Is this a “red herring?” Or does it portend some real clue?
December 23rd, 2007 at 12:32 pm
It’s a clue of some kind. I think it evidences the depth of the power struggle between the Manchins and the Goodwins for dominance. Of course, at this point it would appear to be a battle of “what would be worse” shaping up. Would the Goodwins or the Manchins to a worse job renovating the state museum? We see how the Gov. Mansion is going.
December 23rd, 2007 at 10:53 pm
Ok, I’m drafting my letter to the Department of the Interior like everyone suggests someone should. Everyone else seems to be too chicken to do this. I don’t write that well, yet, so you all might have to help pen it. Blog in with suggestions.
Dear Important Person at the U. S. Department of the Interior:
Some important people in WV have lost their minds and have let their power go to their heads and have already made some awful changes to the Governor’s Mansion and Cultural Center and they are planning on making more. A LOT more. Please send someone down to inspect this situation and stop it before they do more damage. While you are at it, could you tell some of your colleauges in the U.S. Attorney General’s office to inspect the MBA degree giving at WVU? Santa says “Something’s rotten in Denmark” there whatever that means. Thanks, Carve the Roast Beast, Pacoodores, Cindy Lou Whoo
December 23rd, 2007 at 11:57 pm
The National Register is run by the National Park Service (under Interior). Lots of contact info (including email links) at http://www.nps.gov/nr/about.htm
December 27th, 2007 at 11:58 am
Hercule and friends, Tre Bizarre! how Opera Singers with ties to the Toledo Opera (Madame Scarlet, Monsieur Peacock) become WV Arts & History Commissioners and them immediately launch into a state wide tour singing with the very symphonies they fund to pad their careers (or, in the case of Ms. Scarlet, their daughter’s career). Is this ethical? Is it even legal? Mandatory singing with the symphonies you fund all over the state is in their job description, no? Apparently, minding the rules of historic preservation aren’t.
December 27th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
Yes, there is a major power struggle between the First Lady’s office and Kay Goodwin (Professor Plum). After Troy Body (Mr. Boddy) left RRS (Mr. Peacock) was NOT Kay’s choice to be Commissioner. She wanted one of her staffers installed. RRS was the Manchin’s choice. Gayle won out on that one.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
I detect that the inmates are running the asylum!
December 29th, 2007 at 11:44 am
Bring back the Boddy, Troy Body that is! His biggest crime was not being a complete yes man to the Goodwins and the Manchins.
December 29th, 2007 at 9:18 pm
Officially, the museum construction work begins on January 2, 2008. Let’s all go stand around and see what happens.
December 30th, 2007 at 11:42 am
Oh, goodie, let’s watch and sing the narrative of the tragedy with masks on.
January 1st, 2008 at 5:52 pm
I can’t be the only one who notices the gaggle of CONFLICT OF INTERESTS upon CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS in this matter. Like Russian stacking dolls. Let’s see how many we can point out.
January 1st, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Like the very same department that is in charge of doling out money to deserving artists and art groups is also simultaneously milking that fund to “renovate” and run and staff its own museum and presenting organization.
January 2nd, 2008 at 10:48 am
And while the WV Commission on the Arts budget has actually shrunk the past ten years (even while more deserving mouths have come to drink from the trough), the budgets of the pet projects of the high ranking “administrators” overseeing the doling out of money to the state have grown astronomically. I suggest Professor Plum has been “fiddling (with the expensive overblown State Museum “renovation̶
while Rome (the rest of the arts world in WV) burned!” And everyone complains about the increasing rush of organizations to get “line itemed” in the WV budget instead of going through the Department of Arts and Ed and the WV Commission on the Arts. Well, who wouldn’t? since everyone gets a pittance of what they used to get.
January 3rd, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Just saw the news item on Culture and History’s site about an emergency meeting of the Capitol Bldg Commission today, wonder what the emergency was and if anyone found out soon enough to attend?
January 4th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Bet they are meeting to approve screwing with the governor’s mansion walls to start building that needless “banquet facility” out the side. The tents are bad enough. I have an “insight:” Nouveau Riche people are programmed to get a house, add onto it with an expensive addition to make it more “upscale” (see the discussion of upscale meaning expensive and in bad taste at Hippie Killer’s website, hit link above and go to Really?)to increase its “value.” Then they sell it, at a profit. Uh, some of the OLD RICH need to tell this delusional crowd, THIS DOESN’T WORK FOR HISTORIC STRUCTURES! Adding needless gaudy additions to historic structures DE-VALUES them.
January 4th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Smurf, you’re right, we need Troy Body back. He is a sh#* talker, but at least he was on our side. Reid-Smith is just sh#*
January 5th, 2008 at 11:29 am
LOL you want Body back? You need to talk to the people he screwed. He wasn’t on anyone’s side, he just BS’ed ANYONE he thought he could use. Plenty of artists out there he promised exhibits or grants to that got ZIPPO. He got dough from the Legis to buy art for their offices, then he bought goods from his buds and NOBODY wanted it. So YOUR art collection is in Legis offices (where they SMOKE!) and the stuff he bought sits in storage.
January 5th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Well, anyone figure out what went down in the “emergency” Capitol meeting listed on the Cultural Center website? Inquiring minds want to KNOW? P.s. we are thinking Cruella might be right! S & S
January 6th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
I wish they would put the stories about the Cultural Center and Governor’s Mansion renovations in the funny pages where they belong. You can’t make this sh**t up funnier. The department in charge of historic preservation is too self important to follow its own rules. I have done work for the Manchins. They are ideed control freaks and micromanagers.
January 6th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Here’s the jist of it. Kay Goodwin and Gayle Manchin have decided that it is far more important to the state to have a cafe and shop than the archives. They are going for making the cultural center a “tourist destination.” Same thing the Clay Center went for that didn’t work. Even if throngs do come (which they won’t), where will they park? Have you noticed many of the same names are involved in both the overbuilt Clay Center and Cultural Center/Mansion renovations? Those who don’t learn from past mistakes are doomed to repeat them. Or else, everybody’s getting a payback from the contractors. Do we really have to go through this AGAIN?
January 6th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
That tourist destination stuff goes back to Gaston Caperton days. There was a plan for greenhouse attached to the Cult Center facing the parking lot, that would have restaurant and gift shop. Of course, who’s gonna pay 25 cents EVERY HALF HOUR to park?
January 10th, 2008 at 8:38 am
I see Phil Kabler has a report today on the latest Capitol Bldg Comm meeting, but how about prodding him to ask about the emergency meeting. Or was that the “telephone confirmation” meeting he mentions in the story?
January 10th, 2008 at 9:27 am
And I noticed at Hippie Killer’s site someone found another conflict of interest: that mysteriously, the sitting commissioners at the WV Commission on the Arts virtually always get more money for their own institutions than anyone else gets. Not really survival of the fittest (or most deserving), more like survival of who is sitting. Depends on who the Governor and Commissioners appoint to the committe, whether certain big arts institutions get a hoard or not. Or are even still “Open for Business.” Whover’s cronies are in power at the moment siphon money and support and jobs for their own pet projects, and there’s little thought about continuity or sustainability or what’s best for the long-term future. But this has been the case for oh, to long, is there another way to run things? I’m sure there SHOULD be.
January 10th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Jeeves, Phil Kabler writes: Members of the Capitol Building Commisson on Wed gave approval to the installation of access doors o the sunroom of the Gov. Mansion — after the doors had been installed. Last month, workers demolished a section of the sunroom wall on the mansion’s west side and installed the doors to provide access to a large party tent next to the mansion. The tent hosted four holiday parties in December and will be used for various functions during the legislative session. Although state law requires the Capitol Building Commission to approve any physical changes to any buildings or grounds on the Capitol Complex, there was no formal meeting of the commission prior to the construction. Records indicate that Culture and History Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith, who serves as chairman of the building commission, telephoned commission members to determine if they had objections to the construction. On Wednesday, commissioner Chad Proudfoot made a motion to “confirm telephone approval of changes to the governor’s mansion.” The motion was passed without discussion, although commissioner David Marshall abstained from voting. Marshall was lead architect for recent mansion renovations and has been retained to design the proposed banquet hall that would be located where the party tent is currently erected.
January 10th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
So who is this new suspect David Marshall? And how does he feel about scruples of Historic Preservation getting in the way of a fat new contracted commission?
January 11th, 2008 at 8:59 am
David Marshall is the son of Paul Marshall, a pretty well-reputed architect involved in historic renovations. http://www.internet-ms.com/pdm/
January 12th, 2008 at 11:31 am
aha! Paul Marshall is from the firm that won the West Side’s xmas design contest this year. Judged at THE GRILL. We’ve never been to The Grill, but City Council woman Tricky Reid from the west side and the legendary Maw Maw Bill from Food Among the flowers say the it has some of the best food in town. The xmas award was for a good design. Maybe things are looking up for the mansion renovation, if xmas decorations are any indication. Maybe. Perhaps we’ll email Marhsall some questions to the email at the site Hardy Boys sent.
January 13th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
This is the Greatest. Response. Thread. Ever. Seriously. Even with the occasional opera singer potshot comments, it’s still good reading. Keep the info coming.
January 13th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
Phil was juicy today.
http://www.wvgazette.com/section/Columnists/Phil+Kabler/200801122
January 14th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Boy, Phil was hilarious in that column. If anyone goes to the Gov. Org Committee meeting today, blog in with details.
January 14th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Anonymous source emailed that RRS (Mr. Peacock) has been spotted rushing out of the cultural center with the rendering mentioned by Nero Wolfe in post 62. Anonymous source notes it would be funny if they pull this old plan out of mothballs as an “alternative” to combining the libraries and putting a cafe into the archives. It was, of course, the original plan. Anonymous source then ponders if they got this idea from reading this blog. Gosh, we hope so. Please, let us help you help yourselves! Don’t make further spectacles of yourselves! DON’T put another needless cafe and shop in the archives! Leave them as they ARE! DO scale back the “renovation” of the whiz bang gizmo disneyesque history museum downstairs into something more cost effective and updateable every few years thus keeping it fresh AND saving money! DO provide a space to show the art from the Juried Show and other collections! Don’t cut through the big grey architecturally important column in the great hall to see into the old gift shop! Don’t renovate the Gov. Mansion further off the Historic Pres list! If you MUST put in that seemingly egregious banquet facility, make sure it is built in an architecturally appropriate style and is constructed as environmentally friendly as possible! We are out to help our beloved state’s reputation. Please, we implore you, think about the consequences for once before you do something we’ll all regret! Didn’t we learn our lesson from the problems with the Clay Center?
January 14th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
[…] Randal Reid-Smith, the commissioner of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History, appeared before the Senate Government Organization Committee today to discuss the status of remodeling and expansion plans for the state’s Cultural Center at the Capitol Complex. While I have followed with a bit of interest posts in another blog about the issues surrounding the Cultural Center - I must admit it has been a bit like gawking at a train wreck. […]
January 14th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Way to go Modern Guy for your “investigative reporting.” How crazy is all of this? You can’t make this sh++t up funnier. Or is it tragic? I can’t decide!! Let’s see how Phil Kabler weighs in. Good work, modern guy.
January 15th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
The excellent and stylish a modern guy did do an outstanding blog on said subject. Go to:
http://amodernguy.wordpress.com/2008/01/14/archives-food-the-commish
Well done. Well written. Nice picture at the heading. Who did it? Very nice. Let me know if you get any vintage catsuits in a la about 1966-68.
January 15th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Phil today pretty much reiterates what Modern Guy said (without the “observations̶
at http://www.wvgazette.com/section/News/2008011421
RRS relates visiting the old state museum in the basement of the Capitol and buying trinkets; there’s always been a plan for a gift shop, it’s the cafe that’s new. And Wells is right, they just spent nearly $4M on the new food court in the basement, school kids could go there to eat. (teachers and kids would rather go to Wendy’s nearby)
January 15th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Randall! Behave yourself! For my part, I would conjecture in interpreting these past, present and future omens………..that…………either one or the other or both Kay Goodwin and Gayle Manchin have been hellbent to have a cafe/gift shop in the archives. Why? Who knows? They think it’s the current trend? Randall has been put in charge of bringing this “Whim of steel” (as someone said in a previous blog entry here)into being. The archivists are fighting it and had the sense to get to the Government Organization Committee to put a stop it. (Remember, it was librarians who were organized enough to put a stop to the Patriot Act being worse than it is! They are formidable!) Now, Kay and/or Gayle will step away from any indication that the cafe/gift shop was in any way their idea. Randall will have more egg on face as the instigator of a plan he had nothing to do with and is now the fall guy for. Looks like the archivists are winning this one.
January 15th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Read Kabler’s post above. Ever feel like you’ve seen this movie before? If they build it, they won’t come. I mean the hoards they predict will visit and spend vast sums of money at the new “destination” cultural center and cafe. Same massive mistake they made when planning to build the Clay Center. THERE AREN’T THAT MANY PEOPLE IN WV OR SCHOOL SYSTEMS WHO CAN AFFORD TO COME. There aren’t that many people in WV period anymore. If schools do come, I agree they’ll go to Wendy’s next door. Outside “experts” always predict the need for a cafe. WV is unlike the rest of the world. The bermuda triangle here. Won’t work. Now, there are going to be TWO of these monster cafes within a few blocks? Waste of money and space. No, if you count he new “upscale” eatery in the Capitol basement there will be THREE overbuilt cafes within a few blocks that no one will come to. Again, they are going to spend millions at the Cultural Center for a “cafe” where you can buy crappy $5 a slice pizza and prepackaged salads. Just let them go to Bluegrass Kitchen or Wendy’s or Subway or the Capitol basement or bring a sack lunch instead. It’s the stupidity and arrogance and the waste of money that is the most irritating. While many otherwise deserving area arts orgs are dying on the vine from lack of funding, they continually waste millions on the 800 pound gorillas.
January 15th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
As pointed out by comment on our blog the National Archives in Washington DOES NOT have a cafe. They have a simple snack bar. On the National Archives website it states:
“Food Service:
In Washington, DC, there is a small snack bar but no facility in which to store bag lunches. In good weather, groups may eat outdoors on the Mall or at the U.S. Navy Memorial. Food may be purchased at nearby attractions:
National Gallery of Art
National Museum of Natural History
National Museum of the American Indian
National Air and Space Museum
Old Post Office Pavilion
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden”
I was wondering about this as I had visited the National Archive this past summer and seemed to recall this was the case.
January 15th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Thanks to a person who left a comment on my blog post today it has become clear that the National Archives in Washington DOES NOT have a cafe!
The website for the National Archives states that they have a “small snack bar” and that food is available at other sites in the area. It nicely recommends that people can either eat outside on The Mall or at the U.S. Naval Memorial.
See the website here:
http://www.archives.gov/dc-metro/washington/index.html
January 15th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
CORRECTON!
Further investigation shows that the National Archives does have The Charters Cafe off of the Theatre Lobby on the lower level.
I located the RFP for vendor to operate this cafe which states as follows:
“The Charters Cafe is designed largely as a limited service grab-and-go
operation. The vendor should offer made-to-order breakfast and lunch menu items
of sandwiches, wraps, salads, soups, and light fare prepared daily. Eat healthy
options should be included on the menu. Continental breakfast, afternoon snacks,
and desserts will also be offered. Pre-packaged factory-produced sandwiches and
salads can be served. Beverages will include coffee, tea, waters, soft drinks,
and juices. There is limited cooking on the premises. Hot foods that can be
prepared on electric appliances will be permitted. The operator is encouraged to
have daily lunch specials as well as seasonal theme specials.
The vendor is expected to accommodate the influx of seasonal visitors,
pre-arranged tour groups, and daily building occupants of NARA staff,
contractors, and researchers. There will be requests by building event staff to
accommodate training and lecture groups with boxed lunches and to provide
beverages and pastries for meetings. There are approximately 500 NARA staff and
contractors in the building daily.”
I apologize for any confusion.
January 15th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
A Modern Guy himself did the nice picture on his blog above. Nice work. Nice photo. Nice “arting” the details.
January 20th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
[…] Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith swears the new museum (when it opens) will need a restaurant of some type because “You need to have a place for the kids to eat…We need to have something for them to buy.” However, the word out among state employees is that they’ll need more than Manchin’s promised 3% raise in order to actually dine in the Food Court. Prices are considerably higher than the cafeteria it replaced; I’ve heard reports of $6 salads and $10 meals. By the same token, school kids will not eat at an overpriced cafe; they’ll either brown bag it, or their teachers will either lead them to Wendy’s or pile them on the buses to McDonald’s, which feature meals kids like and can afford. […]
January 21st, 2008 at 9:59 am
Sticker shock at Capitol Food Court: “These are not workingman’s prices”
http://www.wvgazette.com/section/Columnists/Phil+Kabler/2008012014?pt=20
January 21st, 2008 at 11:47 am
Yep. I told you so. Read the article Nero links above. History repeating itself is first tragedy, then comedy, then the third time around is FARCE. RRS’s archives cafe will be the third act in the overpriced art cafe sagas of the east end of Chas. I wish someone would hire me to be an overpaid consultant. Alas, I’d tell them the truth they don’t want to hear. WE DON’T NEED TO SPEND OUR MONEY ON ANOTHER OVERPRICED CAFE. Fix up the tattered sculptures on the capitol grounds or build a room to show the ART collection in or something useful.
January 24th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Legislation introduced in the West Virginia Senate today would place specific restrictions regarding the use of the Cultural Center including prohibiting the sales of food and drink, prohibiting the merging of the archives library with the lending library, placment of a gift shop in the basement with the museum and placing oversight of the historian and archivist with the Archives and History Commission.
For more details see my post here.
I will be providing a full analysis of this bill later today on my blog.
January 24th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Argh, the legislation would expand the Archives microfilm room into the present Art Gallery. It’s a no-win situation for those of us who love art. Either lose the gallery to a gift shop, or lose it to a microfilm room.
Do they really get that many people in one day to use the microfilm readers? Where do they PARK?
January 25th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Thanks for posting the above links. We think we art lovers should band together and make sure there’s an honored place for art in the renovations. And make sure any additions (if they simply MUST build that banquet thing) to the gov mansion are historic minded and sound. Let’s us and our art friends talk to Gov Op committee about this. Eric Wells seems to be a likable guy with common sense. Modern Guy thanks, for listing the link to their committee. Eveyone call your legislators! Tell them it is their duty to stop design crimes. We are all for the archives, but let’s show some respect to the art also.
January 25th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
I agree completely that the legislators need to hear from us art lovers. It really seems to me that all of the hoopla regarding movement of existing services, placement of a cafe, etc. is really just a way to deflect attention away from the fact there has not been a museum for years.
There’s the old question about how do you eat an elephant? - one bite at a time. Perhaps the first bite that needs to be swallowed is the museum in the basement of the Cultural Center. Then we can see how much more of the elephant really needs to be eatten.
I will keep watching this at the Statehouse and report as this or any other legislation moves forward.
January 26th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Exactly amodernguy….what about the museum? Didn’t construction start this month? Why aren’t we, as citizens and tax payers, more interested in the big picture? Why are we worried about the petty stuff IE: who RRS shops with. We all know RRS was appointed and how he got his position…why are we acting suprised about who he hangs out with??
RRS is just doing what he is told…as far as I’m concerned he’s just a puppet. If you think Armstrong got fired on a whim you are crazy. I’m sure RRS got approval.
As for a gift shop….I think there should be one. The food court I could care less about and think we/they should focus on the museum. Isn’t that what the original plan is, a museum? I think a gift shop or food court should be an after thought. Let’s get this museum up and running.
January 27th, 2008 at 11:16 am
Work has begun, if you cruise around back of the Cultural Center you’ll see a big green box on the dock. That’s extra storage for all the stuff (not artifacts) that needs to be moved out of the way for the workers. Lots of cones blocking parking to keep the loading docks open. According to sources, right now basic stuff is being done: duct work, electrical, just like building a house you have to put in the stuff hidden by the walls before putting up the walls. Thing is, if they want food service ready for the opening of the museum, they’ll need to proceed with that soon. The atrium idea is much better for food and gifts, since it would be directly attached to the museum, AND it would save the art gallery.
As for Armstrong, check out Kabler’s column today. Apparently he pissed everyone off by trying to obey the law.
January 27th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
I am aware they are starting work on the museum. I guess what I’m trying to say is….Let’s talk about that instead of the petty stuff. As for the food service, Yes the atrium is a great idea but not in the budget. Do you really think the state will give MORE money to this project. I doubt it. Let’s work with what we’ve got. The gift shop is feasible. I think they should drop the food service idea and focus on the gift shop. They can sell drinks and candy/snacks there. That’s enough. I’m sure the local restaurants in the area will appreciate it.
January 27th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Well, the gift shop would go into the present Art Gallery. Is that a good thing?
January 28th, 2008 at 9:13 am
Well, if it means not being able to have an area for WV artists, then no. Unfortunately, there have been too many people in charge, making decisions that have never run or even frequented a museum. This is, as far as I’m concerned, why there are so many problems. Now it is too late and we have to make do with the poor decisions of the past. I am curious how the current Senate Bill will do. No food to be sold in the Cultural Center? Does that include vending machines? Bottled water? Now that’s a little extreme, don’t you think? Do we really need more room for microfilms??? I think this bill needs to be re-thought.
January 28th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Call your State Senators, especially those on the link below. Google the ones you know for their phone numbers. Tell them we all want to review and ok the renovations of the Cultural Center AND the Governor’s Mansion. The space for the ART MUST win out over another ill fated cafe/gift shop. Here’s a comical but novel thought. Leave the Gov. Mansion as is and move the party tents over to the side of the Cultural Center for the gift shop/cafe first. If it does good busines think about building an atrium. If not fold the party tents up and put them in storage until next year’s xmas parties.
http://www.legis.state.wv.us/committees/SeatingCharts/senate/govo.pdf
January 28th, 2008 at 10:53 am
[…] Sweet: ”We snooped around the West Side of late looking for new clues to “The Mystery of the Missing Museum.” Ate at the Grill for the first time. Everyone is right, this place is an A-plus. Old fashioned grill in front, TV screens in back, no frills but has great old school atmosphere. A-plus on the design-o-meter because it is so completely for real and W.Va. unpretentious. They don’t make ‘em like this anymore. The food was great and inexpensive. Sour: ”LOTS of pictures of famous Republicans on the walls from Betty Ireland to Shelley and W., looking in the shot for all the world like they are giving the Hitler salute. Sieg Heil!!“ ———- Sweet: ”Shelley has on a darling tailored red suit. PDM is just down the street,the architectural firm where Paul Marshall works, the new architect in charge of the Gov. Mansion banquet “addition.” Sour: ”Looks like he did an all right job with his own building. Didn’t see any egregious party tents coming out the side like the Gov’s mansion sports these days. Heard he split recently from Gaddy Engineering. Noticed he has a big framed map of some part of WV on his wall, whatever that portends. I often notice when we get invited to parties at engineering firms, law firms, etc., that the center piece of their “art collection” is a huge vintage map of WV, especially those that depict the oil, coal and natural gas resources that used to be virgin.” ———- Sweet: ”‘Used to be’ virgin is the key phrase there. Virtually all of those who display these particular old maps are gloating that they made money from exploiting Mother Nature’s natural resources. And that they were involved from the get go. It’s like framing and displaying a rape.” Sour: ”Now, now, that’s a bit strong. Don’t bite the hand that feeds me. Who do you think can afford to buy my art? Rape and such, brings me to my next reflection on last year. The trend of showing semi S & M and fetish pictures of young women. Coming next post, we promise.” ———- Sweet: ”But first let’s give the Clay Center a nod for showing ‘Canstruction’ which was outstanding — my fave was the barge scene.” (EDITOR’S NOTE: Covenant House and the West Virginia chapter of the American Institute of Architects are used thousands of cans of food to and seven local teams of engineers, contractors and architects to stack and build miniature architectural marvels. After the exhibit ended Jan. 20, all the cans were to be boxed up and shipped to Covenant House’s food pantry.) Sour: ”How could the Clay Center NOT show it? The 800 -pound gorilla CARES! My fave was the raft scene. The denizens of the Lee St. Lounge next door trooped over and raved about the Statue of Liberty, the Tower and the Span Bridge.” […]
January 28th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
What a great idea Vandalia! I agree set up a make shift gift shop and see how it does…. then ask for the money for the Atrium site!! I love it! I’m curious…can it be done?
We should all use the link above to contact our Senate and let them know how we feel…before it is to late.
January 29th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Ok I have contacted all senators regarding the above issues….who else can say the same???
Took me all morning….lol
January 30th, 2008 at 8:58 am
From the tour RRS and Goodwin gave yesterday, sounds like they’re backpedaling a bit on the food plan. “Thoroughly vetted” indeed.
January 30th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
I truly believe enough people have voiced there opinion and things are being reconsidered. I do not think the current House and Senate Bills will pass. But I do feel the public best interest is starting to be considered.
January 30th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
“Thoroughly vetted,” indeed, my dear Watsons. Keep those emails and phone calls to Lesgislators coming. Let’s work together to minimize several design crimes. Let’s work on the horrible Gov. Mansion banquet (non historic pres. approved) addition also. GO, LIKE, MISSION POSSIBLE! Thanks, agent 69. Yes, 69.
January 31st, 2008 at 3:33 pm
I communicated to Erik Wells and Brooks McCabe (who is a well-known architecturally minded developer) about these issues. Hoping to talk to them in person this week. Going for Evan Jenkins and some others on the committe this week.
February 3rd, 2008 at 2:26 pm
“The intent, so Governor Joe has told us, of the party tent is to host affairs of state on behalf of the Governor. If he’s going to rent it out to lobbying organizations, that makes a lie out of his need for a permanent structure there.”
February 3rd, 2008 at 7:49 pm
FYI - The House Finance Committee will hold the budget hearing for the Department of Education and the Arts on Monday, February 4th at 1:45 PM in Room 460 of the Capitol.
Members of this committee and contact information can be found here.
February 4th, 2008 at 10:43 am
Thanks for the info, A Modern Guy. If anybody goes, give us an update or a link. Are they really thinking of renting out the Gov. Mansion party tents to lobbyists?
February 4th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
In today’s letter to the editor section of the Gazette, Gerald S. Ratliff captures Kay Goodwin and RRS speaking out of both sides of their mouths. He begins: “Editor: In Nov. 2007, [KG and RRS]sent a form letter to state legislators stating: ‘First, the Archives are not moving. There has never been any discussion of the Archives being moved.’” And then Ratliff next presents the first sentence of a Space Reappointment Study dated Aug. 29 2006 that was obtained through a Freedom of Information Act that states just the opposite, it lists a plan for moving them. He then goes on to say “One state archivist, whom Kay Goodwin can’t fire, called the [proposed] arrangement ludicrous and one of the worst ideas he ever heard of in the archives profession. It is a tragedy that our state archivist, Fred Armstrong, was fired for voicing his concerns over the safety of our State Archives.”
February 4th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
And Phil Kabler points out “A key development last week could short-circuit administration plans to locate a cafe in the section of the Cultural Center that currently houses the archives.” He goes on to say that it turns out the Division of Culture and History does not have jurisdiction over the Archives. That the Library Commission does and it would be up to the Library Commission to ok any cafe/shop there.
February 4th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
and yet another person in the vent line asks why the cultural center needs another cafe when there is a new state of the art one a couple hundred feet away. At least it’s not a rhetorical question anymore. The venters and the bloggers and the letter writers seem to be gaining ground in encouraging a reality check.
February 4th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
It is not only being thought about it is a reality. The tent which is now attached to the Mansion is being rented out to the Oil Marketers and Grocers Association (convenience stores, et al) and the West Virginia Truck Association for a legislative reception.
See Kabler’s column from Sunday…
http://wvgazette.com/News/PhilKabler/200802020200?page=2&build=cache
I guess that Open for Business slogan is still in effect.
February 5th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Newshound, you misread the comment at http://www.wvgazette.com/News/PhilKabler/200802030299
“As Commission Secretary J.D. Waggoner explains, the Cultural Center basically is a duplex - with the commission “owning” its space on the first, third and fourth floors of the south side of the building.” The Library Commission doesn’t own the Archives library, it just means the LC is its own entity. I predict that Waggoner is trying to back away from the firestorm.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:35 am
How egregious about renting out the Gov. tent. Technically, don’t they have to get approved to mess with the design of the Gov. Mansion further? Doesn’t it have to come before the Gov. Op Committee or something? Of course, who wants to volunteer to tell Joe and Gayle no. But still, this is really troubling and we should be forcing our legislators to ask some pointed questions.
February 8th, 2008 at 8:30 am
“I was friends with Kay Goodwin.”
I can’t believe Lisa Fischer-Casto admitted to Bob Schwarz how she got her $10,000/month job on the museum renovation!
February 8th, 2008 at 9:23 am
http://www.wvgazette.com/Opinion/200802070545
“Now, two top state officials say the archives may not be moved, and the protests have been baseless.”
I hope the Gazette editors aren’t taking RRS’ and KG’s latest remarks at face value.
February 8th, 2008 at 11:40 am
Great posting above, WVSTATE. GOD (speaking of heaven), I can’t believe LSF ADMITTED to being responsible for the ESCALATOR TO NOWHERE! Bet suspect Miss White (Herholdt) is cracking up to be let off the hook for that one.
February 15th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
It should be interesting at the History Day event at the Capitol next Thursday. Word is out that the first person on the agenda to receive a History Hero award is fired State Archivist Fred Armstrong…
February 18th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
[…] What secrets lurk in the hearts of men — and West Virginia Capitol Domes? And will Culture and History czar Randall Reid-Smith and successive layers of authority above him succeed in their ousting of archivist Fred Armstrong without any repercussions at all — except for134 letters to the editor and a picket line gauntlet or three? And what about the Mystery of the Missing State Museum (and the remarkable commentary it generated over at sister blog, Art Attack)? Just asking on a Monday, […]
February 20th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
The House Government Organization Committee will Thursday, February 21st be taking up HB-4126 relating to the West Virginia Division of Culture and History which would require the Commissioner to make specific use of the archives library and prohibiting the sale of food and drink in the Cultural Center.
The Committee meets at 2PM in Room 215E.
See my blog post for more information and specifics.
June 11th, 2008 at 10:48 am
[…] Sweet: “I see in the papers where a Virginia company was hired for $6 million to do the fabrication and design of “The Missing WV State Museum” (see previous blogpost here). Sour: “You mean the ‘whiz bang gizmo Disney-esque showpath’ museum we’ve been hearing was on its way for years? I wish I could have just one of the millions they have wasted on that project.” __________ Sweet: “A lot of arts people wish they could have had just one of the millions they wasted on that project. A number of organizations would be thriving today instead of dying on the vine if they had been given just a fraction of the money they flushed down the toilet these several years on this disaster.” Sour: “The administration then was ‘fiddling while Rome burned’ with the rest of the arts world. Well, it had better be good. They better get it right this time. We are not going to be able to redo it again in my lifetime at this price tag.” __________ Sweet: “I agree, the last thing we need is yet another debacle in the press, especially since the eyes of the NATION are now on us due to the “Heathergate WVU” scandal and the “Spike and Don’s Excellent Adventure” scandal making us look yet again like corrupt, backward and inbred (a nod to DICK Cheney) — in essence, morons to the rest of the nation.” Sour: “You mean the corrupt, backward morons that we are.” __________ Sweet: “Don’t say that about your state.” Sour: “I wish people would give me a reason not to. I think it’s a bad idea to build such an expensive museum. I wish they’d scale it back and instead update it every couple of years to make it fresh. Haven’t we learned from past mistakes? Somebody needs to tell these people ‘Just because it’s expensive, doesn’t mean it’s good.’ Oh, I’m also thinking of The Clay Center here, the Governor’s Mansion re-do, the fancy new eatery in the Capitol basement. I could go on …” __________ Sweet: “I LIKE what they did with the first floor of the Gov. Mansion! It looks stylish and appropriate for the Mansion’s style.” Sour: “I’m not talking about the FIRST floor.” __________ Sweet: “Anyone seen the design plans for the new State Museum? What are they going to include? What are they going to do with the art? Where are the Archives going to be? Are they still planning another cafe/gift shop? Will Fred Armstrong get his job back? Will Phil Kabler and Randall Reid-Smith kill each other in the press?” Sour: “Seems like we’ve got some more mini-mysteries to sleuth. Dear Readers, blog in with any info you know about the WV Museum re-do. Or anything else MYSTERIOUS about the West Virginia arts world. Remember, as they say in the X files:”THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE.” […]