A List
10/19/09

St. Lawrence's Brush Art Gallery Deaccessioning Works

CANTON - St. Lawrence University's Richard F. Brush Art Gallery, which maintains a permanent collection of works numbering over 7,000, plans to deaccession about 150 paintings and sculptures. Plans are under way for the works to be auctioned October 30, by North Country auctioneer Kip Blanchard.

"Deaccessioning" is a term that describes the formal removal of an art object from a collection. It is being done at this time for a number of reasons, the most important of which is that the items no longer fit with the gallery's mission as an educational resource.

The gallery's mission is to support the educational goals of the University and to benefit the community at large. Just as acquisition of new works allows the collection to best serve the evolving nature of the curriculum, so does deaccessioning, says Cathy Tedford, director of the Brush Art Gallery.

Many of the items selected for deaccessioning were acquired before collection standards were established in relation to the gallery's mission. In addition, it is difficult for faculty and students to gain access to the collection due to limited space in a facility that was constructed over 20 years ago.

The American Association of Museums has written a code of ethics that will be used in the deaccessioning process, insuring that proceeds from the auction will be used for future collection development.

Tedford said, "The gallery will be able to strengthen the collection in ways that will enhance teaching and learning, and these artworks will go to new homes where they will be displayed and cherished."

The auction is scheduled for Friday, October 30, at 5 p.m., at Blanchard's Auction Hall, 1891 Morley-Potsdam Road. Previews will be Thursday, Oct. 29, from 5 to 7 p.m. and Friday, October 30, beginning at 3 p.m.

-30-