A Museum With No Art

Three years ago, the Calder Foundation announced that Philadelphia would be the site of a $70 million museum dedicated to showcasing the work of sculptor Alexander Calder. “But what looked in early 2001 like a done deal has turned out to be just the beginning of an intricate courtship. Unlike other foundations devoted to the work of a single artist, such as the Warhol Foundation, the Calder Foundation does not have unilateral control over the artist’s estate. Six family members, including Rower, his mother and his aunt, control the artworks that would anchor the museum.” So far, the museum hasn’t managed to reach any agreements with the family to display Calder’s work.