Many of us will never traverse the ruins of Rome or see the Pyramids of Egypt in person. That’s why we have art museums. On elementary school field trips or date nights, museum collections allow us to engage with artifacts that translate flat texts of history into three dimensions. We’ve relied on them for generations to expand our world. But to whom do the world’s masterpieces belong? In this modern age, it’s not necessarily the highest bidder. A movement to right past wrongs is changing the world’s art museums, writes our art critic, Steven Litt. Arguments over whether contested artworks should stay where they are or be returned to their modern nation states of origin remain unresolved. Laws, treaties and property rights might not decide such questions. Museum directors and trustees will be forced at times to make tough ethical choices. As the Cleveland Museum of Art grapples with the seizure of an important ancient Roman bronze sculpture, we're left to wonder, where does art belong? – Laura |
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The Cleveland Museum of Art's "Emperor as Philosopher," thought to represent Marcus Aurelius, on display in 2010 in the museum's lower level. (Lisa DeJong, Plain Dealer file photo) |
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Art seizures: An ancient Roman bronze sculpture believed to be of Marcus Aeurelius, seized from the Cleveland Museum of Art by the New York City District Attorney’s office, is part of a shifting moral, legal and ethical landscape that’s reshaping the art world. Steven Litt reports the climate is evolving almost daily, raising questions about the long-term status of many objects once thought to enjoy the stable, permanent status known in the museum business as “repose.” Loan in default: How diligent is Cleveland in safeguarding taxpayer dollars in the redevelopment of the Vitrolite building, and what about the abrupt termination of the economic development director soon after she declared the developer in default on city loans? Courtney Astolfi reports nearly a half-million taxpayer dollars are at stake in building a home for businesses owned by women and minorities, including a yoga studio, café and Harness Cycle. Fracking letters: Dozens of Ohioans say they believe their names were used without permission in a flood of public comments urging Ohio to allow fracking for oil and natural gas in state parks and protected lands, Jake Zuckerman reports. Thousands of identical, pro-fracking comments barraged the inbox of a commission, which will decide in the coming months whether to free mineral rights under state lands for leasing and bidding from oil and gas drillers. Today in Ohio: U.S. Sen. JD Vance’s push for an anti-maskFreedom to Breathe act fell short Thursday when it got expected objection. Massachusetts Democrat Ed Markey said the GOP could stand for “gimmicks over people.” We’re talking about the divisiveness on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Bus safety: U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown is pursuing new regulations that would require seat belts on school buses nationwide, reports Hannah Drown. The School Bus Safety Act would mandate the U.S. Department of Transportation issue new rules requiring seat belts and other safety improvements on all school buses, including automatic emergency braking systems aimed at preventing crashes, event data recorders, electronic stability control systems, fire suppression systems for engines, and firewalls that prohibit flames or gas from passing into the passenger compartments. Jim Jordan: The Georgia district attorney who brought charges against ex-President Donald Trump is dismissing Ohio congressman Jim Jordan’s inquiry into her office as an attempt to interfere with an active Georgia criminal case, a move she described as “flagrantly at odds with the Constitution.” Willis’ letter responded to an Aug. 24 missive the House Judiciary Committee chairman sent her the day Trump turned himself in at the Fulton County jail, reports Sabrina Eaton. Abortion numbers: While the number of abortions in the last decade has held steady – around 20,000 performed each year on Ohio residents in the state – the figures are starkly down from 40 years ago, when there were sometimes twice as many. Laura Hancock reports the high mark was in 1982, when over 45,000 women had an abortion in the state. |
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Weird weather: From drought to floods and earthquakes to tornadoes, Cleveland has been through the wringer this summer on extreme weather patterns and natural phenomena. Zachary Smith sums up the season. Community Solutions: Center for Community Solutions Chief Operating Officer Emily Campbell has been named its next president and CEO, reports Julie Washington. The research and public policy think tank, which focuses on health, social and economic issues and solutions, has offices in Cleveland and Columbus. Bay Village priest: A longtime pastor in Bay Village has been reassigned to a church in Brunswick months after a man threatened to kill a person outside his church following a controversial homily. The Rev. Tim Gareau has been pastor at St. Raphael’s Catholic Church since 2002 and will join St. Colette Catholic Church in November, after Bishop Edward C. Malesic requested Gareau move churches, reports Molly Walsh. The church says the move is unrelated to the incident. Blackface incident: Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools in Summit County is investigating an incident in which students allegedly wore blackface at a high school football game earlier this month, Megan Sims reports. School Superintendent Tom Bratten released a statement to parents on Labor Day, a few days after Stow’s Sept. 1 home game against Massillon Jackson, saying that several students painted their faces black as part of their “spirit wear.” |
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City Club: The City Club of Cleveland next week will welcome the public to its new 14,000-square-foot space in Playhouse Square, just a few blocks from its home of decades at 850 Euclid Ave. Megan Sims reports changes are extensive, starting with a larger exterior sign that lights up in the evenings and extending inside to a new venue designed for more than 300 guests. |
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Bob Young: A Republican state representative from the Akron area says he is resigning following a pair of arrests tied to domestic-related criminal charges, reports Andrew Tobias. Bob Young, 41, in a letter Friday to Republican House Speaker Jason Stephens said he plans to fight the criminal charges against him, but called the arrests and surrounding circumstances a “distraction” to the work of the Ohio House. |
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Browns preview: Jimmy and Dee Haslam made it clear that they’re all in on the 2023 season and that they’ve pushed in all of their chips to try to win a Super Bowl. A third straight year with no invitation to the postseason party simply isn’t going to cut it, especially not with with hundreds of millions of dollars they’ve shelled out to reach the pinnacle. Cleveland.com’s Browns writers break down the new season. UNESCO site: Representatives from 21 countries are meeting this month in Saudi Arabia to decide whether eight ancient sites in southern Ohio will achieve World Heritage status – on par with Stonehenge, the Egyptian Pyramids and the Statue of Liberty. Susan Glaser reports a delegation of 12, including representatives from six Native American tribes, are traveling to Riyadh next week in support of the Ohio nomination before the 45th Session of the World Heritage Committee. Dog bar: Taps and Tails first opened in 2021 as an all-weather dog bar, reports Alex Darus. There is turf inside and outside, and the ladder is new as of summer 2023. House of the Week: Built in Hinckley in 2002, this home offers five bedrooms and nine bathrooms (seven full) in over 7,200 square feet, plus a 2,200-square-foot finished basement, five-car garage and in-ground pool. Asking price is $2,495,000, reports Joey Morona. |
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Fight leads to a fatal shooting 2 days later, police say Read more Man charged with shattering windows at Portage County Courthouse, sheriff’s office says Read more Man drops off bag of seven newborn puppies at Rite Aid in Brook Park Read more Brook Park to undertake 400-plus LED streetlight conversions Read more Lack of inspection approval leads to change of venue for University Heights City Council meeting Read more South Euclid residents invited to city hall open house Sept. 16 Read more Latest tentative date for Richmond Heights mall demolition is week of Sept. 18; some details announced Read more Orange’s Mulcahy looks back fondly in her final meeting of the mayors Read more |
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