To the Editor:
I would like to add my name to the growing number of Berkshire residents, who are appalled by the Berkshire Museum’s intention to auction off forty important works of art from it’s collection. These works were entrusted to the museum for safe keeping and to enrich the cultural climate of our area. This is a betrayal of that trust given to the museum by these generous donors, many of whom are no longer with us.
The building itself has exquisite exhibition spaces that can accommodate displays of both art and science. When I first came to live in Berkshire County I made many special trips to the Crane Room to view the wonderful Hudson River School paintings that are part of the collection. Surely Van Shields and the board of trustees can find other methods of protecting the museum, it’s longevity and purpose. There is now a rapidly growing opposition to these auctions throughout the county.
Warner Friedman
Sheffield, Massachusetts