Director of Bellevue Arts Museum reacts to its closure

[@arlenemraz4607]

Like most museums in the Seattle area they do not support local artists and local art groups. I recall when the Frye had a show of the Northwest Watercolor Society and it was the highest attended show they had in a long time. When asked to repeat the next year they showed no interest. The Bellevue museum is dark and spooky. Art does not live there…..mraz

[@erikh9991]

I saw this and my first idea was to bring in live artist and rent spaces to them. Have an area for traveling artists!

[@bea9077w]

"The emperor has no clothes!" We visited there during the last Bellevue Arts & Crafts Festival. It was free to go into the museum that day. We still paid too much. The art we saw inside was embarrassing. All the clever beauty and creativity was found in the vendor booths outside. Reality was glaringly obvious to the most casual observer. The art festival was packed with visitors, while the "free" art museum was ignored. "The emperor had no clothes!" I am not at all surprised it closed - only that it took so long.

[@danieldwyer5139]

@@bea9077w could not have said it better myself, you nailed it

[@john-lenin]

And they wouldn't have been there without the museum. Keep buying Dogs playing Poker on black velvet

[@LunazulBaraka]

20+ years and it NEVER not once did attracted me to go in there

[@Not.The.Avg.Smitty]

Stop displaying art that looks like a 6 year old did it for moms refrigerator.

[@LunazulBaraka]

EXACTLY!!!!

[@TurboLoveTrain]

If people aren't going to look at your art perhaps you should start showing art people want to see instead of art you feel like showing.

[@berrey7]

Every single piece, besides the ripped sheets hanging from the ceiling, are Graphic Art printed on poster paper and framed. The sitting area where they framed her to shoot her opening shot, has zero artwork on three blank white walls.

[@jacobwinn2765]

Art by its very nature is subjective mate. What appeals to you won’t appeal to someone else, and vice versa. The point of an art gallery/museum is to expose you to art you might not have seen before. The fact the art museum is having to close says a LOT about its current value in American society today, and it’s not saying anything good.

[@TurboLoveTrain]

@@jacobwinn2765 This is less true than you think it might be. People have difficulty agreeing on what is amazing but most have little difficulty on agreeing on what's bad. The worst offenders of bad art are usually art clubs that only do member showings or you have to know someone in the club to display your work.

[@whatisrealknowtheformula6137]

Art thrives when it is driven by artists. This is Bellevue. See the contradiction?

[@hitbycars]

"Art? How does art lead to profits?" - everyone in Bellevue probably.

[@djsnyder001]

This story may be spun in many ways, but it seems to me that the local (and perhaps regional) disinterest in the type of subject matter this museum was presenting is the cause of its demise.

[@Samos12]

I want a couple of times, and was shocked at how lousy a lot of the art was. This probably had a lot to do with its demise...

[@bradleybruvva3021]

Based on the comments, look at how your staff are treating people?

[@user-hx1ed4fq5b]

I was there earlier this year. This museum has nothing to display. No one greeting on site . Poor business decision and customer services.

[@redbarchetta8782]

MONEY is the issue. Evidently Bellevue residences don't want to pony up.

[@xfloodcasual8124]

actual art throughout human history has nothing to do with business. thinking that as a society was the first nail in the coffin

[@dreamlife477]

No. JustNO how dare a professional exec blame lack of public interest on not managing an institution so important like a art museum.

[@xfloodcasual8124]

Since the rise of the millennials and The Great Period of STEM, the humanities have been torn down and buried. Until another generation can reverse course some day.

[@Praisethesunson]

@@dreamlife477 love it when the head of the org refuses to take any accountability for their own obvious failure.

[@madnessintomagic]

I’ve experienced some of these issues in a local museum where I live. The “volunteers” manning the truly sloppy little kiosk at the front door act like you’re an imposition when you walk in, and get huffy if you don’t already know their arbitrary rules. It’s weird. I’m paying YOU… act like it.

[@FamiliarAnomaly]

It's called having no cultural values. This is what you Seattle people wanted.

[@madnessintomagic]

@@FamiliarAnomaly I’m not in Seattle. I’m in very liberal northern New Mexico where culture is EVERYTHING. But vetting of the attitude of individual people sometimes isn’t done.

[@metanoimenos]

Quite literally the worst art museum I've ever visited. Like most museums in the Seattle area today, they're more interested in propagandizing than creating compelling exhibits that inspire genuine and thoughtful public dialogue. I'm glad to see this sad, lobotomized institution receive its comeuppance.

[@blueabattoir]

Skeleton staff of eight? Sounds a bit top heavy to me.

[@lorenzosegote]

Architect Steven Holl layed yet another egg on the design of this building.

[@lorenzosegote]

@@josephk4932 Ego maniac architect who can never gets the attention or acclaim he seeks.

[@billscott1601]

Maybe the art wasn’t any good.

[@peabodyfrost6258]

Put good art in there not childish doodles. For a start.

[@mostman1000]

Trash on the walls. Why pay to see that when you can see it for free on the streets. Modern Art is nothing but trash.

[@justarandomperson4763]

Friend, daughter, and I went here once. The lady at the front area was super rude, she literally had a security guard follow us. (We were dressed just fine to browse all the shops in Bellevue without any shock to those around us. It’s not like we stuck out in some inappropriate way. I even smiled and greeted her when we made eye contact.) We just left after a few moments and didn’t come back. I hope that was not a typical experience for others. It was probably a decade ago. We’re not near Bellevue anymore.

[@JK-br1mu]

Customer service across the US has gone way down....I imagine in an art museum it's even worse.

[@magmasunburst9331]

People need self-esteem in any way they can get it around here. Everyone's a narcissist so everyone's fighting for a little bit of respect.

[@leslieware_photography_imagery]

Get rid of all the overpaid Executives Starting with her.

[@Kingfisher1215]

You display things that no one wants to see and then wonder why the attendance is non existent. Take a look at the problem lady, it’s a mirror away.

[@MathieuCastro]

I myself like going to museums and art events, science centers and the like. So with that said I do believe in funding and supporting these businesses. But with a failure of this magnitude for this long I really wonder what else the community could have supported that wouldn't have wasted 350k. Really disappointed in not only the loss but the massive waste.

[@ericswain4177]

Sounds like mismanagement, possibly the arts curator's poor dissemination of artists and venues. Art Non-profs should never have problems keeping their doors open.

[@dallassegno]

You nailed it.

[@PtolemyJones]

$350,000? Hard to not think most of that ended up in her bank account. That should have been enough to keep the place open for awhile I would think.

[@manfredstrappen7491]

Sure. No way anyone would ever catch that! We don’t even need to see your ‘YT Police’ badge.

[@chrisclements1169]

Maybe try displaying actual art, that might solve the problem.

[@schreist]

As a local artist, I'd love to convert this entire space into a massive artist co-op. Move a bunch of that Bellevue Art Fair into this space and let it really shine as a space that represents emerging and established PNW artists. I donated art pieces to a variety of BAM fundraisers over the years and not once did the museum connect me with the buyer.

[@ATRTAP]

If you’re the Director of a museum that goes out of business.. oh man..that’s a career ender. Better figure it out!

[@TheRustyLM]

The director should look in the mirror. Her posture is that this is a shortcoming/defect of the local community. Just maybe it’s the art exhibitions and the staff 🤔

[@rembo6319]

Why don’t y’all really start being involved with the community with ART. I have lived here for 29 years and have never stepped in that place. Why? Because I have no place with the type of art y’all bring there. What have y’all really done to make people want to come to that place. Nothing. Has there been anything exciting for anyone to come there? No. Does not surprise me this is going. Night night

[@deemo5245]

Was it a good museum though?

[@MortenNilsen-i2g]

If the museum was doing so badly for so long, you have to wonder why. Bad management? Lousy art? Embezzlement? 😎😎 {Certified Old Curmudgeon}

[@ace.45-g8e]

More advertisement bring in artist people know I bet not a lot of people out of Bellevue know about it.

[@garthgraves6497]

Should have invited Mr. BEAN to display a portrait of someone's old mother!! Sure formula for success! 🎨 🤣

[@1805movie]

That's unfortunate.

[@LibertyScott-x6i]

No one goes to these places. They see it on tv. People are rude nowadays in most places. Sorry to see a museum close but the reality is people have killed most public spaces by not going or it just doesn’t hold attention like gaming and social media does.

[@TurboLoveTrain]

Most people in the seattle metro area aren't from seattle.

[@chihchang1139]

That's just not true. BAM was in one of the most trafficked street in the city. Lots of people in this space. I never went because none of the art was interesting to me.

[@TurboLoveTrain]

@@chihchang1139 There are 4 galleries where I live and 1/4 of one of them is OK, the rest are just trash run by Karens with rich husbands and awful taste in art. If people aren't visiting your gallery it's because your curating is AWFUL. Period. I've seen abandon churches make money on art showings.

[@LunazulBaraka]

Nope this is not the case for BAM this is not the cause

[@chihchang1139]

@@TurboLoveTrain dude that's literally every art museum, not just Seattle ones

[@eldebtor6973]

"modern" art museum 😏

[@RS-bn9rx]

The art is so one dimensional and boring.. nothing creative or avant-garde.

[@M1911jln]

Avant-garde? Thank you, but no. Modern art is a contradiction in terms.

[@Whooshta]

With the number of billionaires in that zip code. Shocked they only raise $350K.

[@dski8097]

Time to get a real job. Don't feel sorry for this waste of money.

[@IamACanadian47]

Crazy thought from a dull Canadian, but I think every art museum should have local art AND a small section that shows art from around the world and famous work from the past that is well known. Just my opinion, but a well educated citizen is a better citizen, that said you don’t need a giant expensive building as big as a hockey arena with 80% white wall space to show it off. Just my opinion, sorry.

[@jaf9716]

I understand the importance of Art, but who wants to pay to see these paintings… and it’s in one of the grossest places in Seattle I am not trying walk down there.

[@SnoringVids]

Turn it into a meow Wolf $$$$

[@joec.9591]

Unfortunately, the quality of the art at BAM was tragically overrated. It had little to no showings of fine art, and nothing of note in it permanent collection. It had no breadth of style, either. I can understand why people didn't want to pay to be uninspired.

[@daidavies6210]

The ART was NOT ART … It was garbage. It was showing nothing worth seeing, Sorry but they were Told but chose to ignore it.

[@ndotl]

Arrange for free field trips for all schools. Some of those students will convince their parents to take them again. Some of those students may grow up and become donors. And some of those students will grow up and then take their own kids. tl;dr: If you want something to grow you have to plant seeds. (yes, you can use that).

[@doctoroctos]

Have to be prepared to pivot. Play music, serve coffee, offer free wifi. :)

[@LunazulBaraka]

Crafty trinkets is what they showed

[@mlysupermom]

“ if I can do it … it ain’t art”. Rush Limbaugh

[@manfredstrappen7491]

“If you’re quoting Rush Limbaugh, you’re an idiot” . Everyone.

[@jokerace8227]

Democrat Utopia

[@olgaandsergei]

So return donations back to the public and it’s someone wants this land for a ski scraper

[@Mash333]

Incredible sentence. Ski scraper it is someone wants.

[@damiantedrow3218]

How many billionaires live there?

[@Foxblinde]

Because postmodernism made art ugly/esoteric to the general public combined with a population that requires interaction to be stimulated.

[@mikeswiftart01]

No doubt because of the crap it shows. Who cares?

[@jessegarman7899]

More liberal’s tears.

[@JasonBetz-k2r]

Bellevue is red republican through and through - MAGA country - i.e., where the traitors and terrorists live.

[@Mash333]

How so? That’s an odd connection to attempt. Repeated business failure is the signature acumen of one of the current presidential candidates, for example. So if anything, this may be a good joke punchline, but without the proper setup?

[@AlainDupet]

What a great arts venue❗Stay❗👥

[@LunazulBaraka]

Not art, artisanship, crafts and trinkets

[@hologramhouse729]

🎩 🐷

[@dallassegno]

Try something else.

[@dandelong-yr4ci]

Ingo Gabloviaan disagrees. That art was great.

[@tonycosta3302]

This is one of the problems of the Seattle region. All that high tech wealth, but no interest in funding the arts or philanthropy.

[@RS-bn9rx]

This is shameful in a community where software technology has made fortunes for so many and yet they is no community to support the public need

[@SteelheadTed]

Maybe people just didn’t like it…

[@RagnarOdinsson]

Public need? No one needs art.

[@ligmasack9038]

Because there is NO NEED for "Modern Art" which was created and funded by the C.I.A. during the Cold War.

[@Jorde-u4u]

Sadly anything that is educational in the USA...has no chance surviving. 😢

[@redcat9436]

Your comment is ignorant.

[@darylyost7273]

Education in poking your eyes out with a ice pick! Took look at some of that art is painful! 😮😅

[@LunazulBaraka]

This is not about it. BAM displayed crafty trinkets as "art". They called it art. Shame on them

[@TheJhtlag]

@@redcat9436 also arrogant. It is educational, how? We are artists, we should be supported just because.

[@philoctetes_wordsworth]

The MAGA-fication of culture. If the displays had been about Mountain Dew and Fortnite, they would be bustling. Pathetic. The pieces we can see in this video are magnificent. I wish I was not across the country…

[@Not.The.Avg.Smitty]

If you think that is artwork... I hope mine would blow your mind. 90% of this you can find in a kindergarten classroom.

[@tackyman2011]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@jerrymiller9039]

The art looked childish to me

[@Thomas_Stearns_Eliot]

This is your side of the aisle. I thought you were the artists, writers, poets, and filmmakers. Nothing in this story has anything to do with MAGAfication.

[@TheJhtlag]

Magnificent? and you really haven't had a good look at it?

[@killbocks]

Less Artsy. More Fartsy.

[@KenNickelson]

The money was waisted by the politicians..

[@KK-pm7ud]

And on your English teachers

[@Mash333]

How so? This is a private, non profit art museum. What a bizarre take away.

[@john-lenin]

Welcome to Trumpland.

[@Thomas_Stearns_Eliot]

Name one artistic field where MAGA is in charge. Art, publishing, Hollywood, music? This is the left’s failure. Just because you dye your hair and vote a certain way doesn’t make you creative.