German artist Otto Piene arrived at the Nelson-Atkins this afternoon for his lecture tonight. After a quick run through of this evening's program, he was escorted on a tour of the Bloch Building.
As he walked into the Isamu Noguchi Sculpture Court he was drawn to the sculpture called Fountain. As he stood mesmerized he asked if we had much trouble with vandalism. We told him that we do have curious children but most people are respectful of the art. He responded that he thought it was due to the power of the space and the presence of the artwork itself. The more magical a work of art is, the more secure it is from being damaged.
Another thing about the building that he found interesting was the amount of doors. There are seven doors to the Bloch Building. During Museum hours, all the doors are unlocked. Since admission to the Museum is free, visitors are allowed to come and go as they please. He mentioned how unusual that is for a major museum and what a task it must be to manage. He also mention what a powerful statement it is that we will open our doors completely to the community. Mr. Piene lives with his wife in the countryside of Germany. His wife believes quite emphatically that one should never lock their doors but instead trust in your fellow human beings.
If you are interested in hearing more from Mr. Piene, be sure to come for his lecture at 6 p.m. tonight.