A 12 year-old student, a $1.5M painting, and a wad of gum...

[Geoff_M]

I'm sure it was quite "funny" at the time...

Local student gums up $1.5-million painting
HOLLY TOWNSHIP
THE FLINT JOURNAL FIRST EDITION
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
By Matt Bach

A field trip to the Detroit Institute of Arts turned into a sticky situation for a Holly Academy student after he stuck a wad of chewing gum on a painting valued at about $1.5 million.

The 12-year-old student at the Holly Township charter school was caught sticking his chewed Wrigley's Extra Polar Ice gum to Helen Frankenthaler's 1963 abstract painting, "The Bay."

The incident happened Friday while the student and about 50 seventh-grade classmates were touring the museum.

The student was suspended from school and also disciplined at home, said Holly Academy Director Julie Kildee.

"When a 12-year-old sticks a piece of gum on the painting, I don't think they understand the ramifications of that," Kildee said today. "But he's been talked to so much, and so much has been brought forth that he absolutely understands now, and other students seeing this process understand, that a momentary lapse of judgment can affect you for the rest of your life."

Kildee declined to say how long the suspension is or what punishment the boy got at home. He was suspended for defacing public property and conduct unbecoming a Holly Academy student, Kildee said.

Kildee, who has been fielding media calls about the incident, said the school's seventh-graders have made the trip to the Detroit Institute of the Arts for the past five years, and this is the first incident they've had.

"It's always been a positive experience," Kildee said. "The museum in fact has given us positive comments about our students' behavior in the past."

Kildee has been assured by museum officials that the one incident won't cause the school to be banned.

She said all the students and chaperones attending were read the museum rules and conduct expectations before the tour. The rules include no gum, food or beverages in the museum. The student put the gum on the painting about five minutes into the tour, Kildee said.

A security guard noticed the gum on the painting as the Holly Academy students were leaving the exhibit area.

The museum acquired the painting in 1965, and officials said it is worth about $1.5 million.

The gum stuck to the painting's lower left corner and did not adhere to the fiber of the canvas, officials told the Detroit Free Press. But it did leave a quarter-sized chemical residue, said Becky Hart, assistant curator of contemporary art.

The museum's conservation department is researching the chemicals in the gum to decide which solvent to use to clean it.

Link

 

[Pam]

What was the kid thinking???

Kids! Sheesh......

 

[Tiffann4k]

 

[Towncrier]

I wonder if this kid was related to the person who stuck a green gummi bear on the mural inside the queue for the Maelstrom ride at Epcot. Somewhere I have a photo of the gummi bear artfully stuck to the front of one of the Viking ships.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

Sounds like something my friend's son would do- they must be related!

 

[tw1nsmom]

It sounds like the picture will be able to be restored. If it were my child I would make the museum add up all the costs of restoration and either pay for it myself (and then make the child pay me back), or make arrangements for the child to work off the debt.

 

[Kimberly815]

Wow.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Something strikes me funny.... is there a reason the reporter needed to tell us the EXACT brand of gum the kid was chewing???? Like that makes a difference?

I think the little brat should have to pay for the restoration, and he should have to do some community service in the arts, so he can see the importance and beauty of what makes art, ART.

 

[Planogirl]

A 12 year old should know better and should be severely punished. I would have sympathy for a young child but not one this age.

 

[tekmom]

A 12 year old should know better and should be severely punished. I would have sympathy for a young child but not one this age.

Me, too. If that were my kid, the title of this thread would be 'A wad of gum, a 1.5 million dollar painting, a 12 year old with a foot up his butt.' A 12 year old knows better.

 

[Free4Life11]

Well, when I was that age I remember being SO SO SO tempted to TOUCH the paintings. They always said finger oils will ruin them and, well, I wanted to see if it would really magically ruin the painting.

I'm just wondering why a painting is worth that much to begin with.

 

[dmslush]

I agree that at 12, the kid knew better. He needs to be volunteering at the museum every weekend until his debt is repaid.

 

[agnes!]

I like the idea of community service/restitution, but would the museum even want this kid around? Maybe he could work as a custodian somewhere, perhaps in a school, scraping old gum off of the bottom of desks and chairs.

Unbelievable. If I had *ever* pulled such a bone-headed move, after my parents got through with me I would have been looking forward to whatever the authorities had in store...

agnes!

 

[Stacerita]

Something strikes me funny.... is there a reason the reporter needed to tell us the EXACT brand of gum the kid was chewing???? Like that makes a difference?

This is the exact thing I was thinking when I read the story. Did it make a difference that it was one brand and not another. Thats what I call in depth reporting.

 

[katerkat]

Something strikes me funny.... is there a reason the reporter needed to tell us the EXACT brand of gum the kid was chewing???? Like that makes a difference?

Sometimes we need to fill a certain amount of space on the page. And some freelancers get paid by the word.

 

[ducklite]

Just another reason to add to my "Singapore has it right in regards to chewing gum" list.

Anne