A new report from the New York Times revealed that Richard Grenell, the former director installed by Donald Trump at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, had planned to remove many pieces of art gifted from foreign nations in honor of John F. Kennedy and replace them with art pieces approved by MAGA patrons.
E-mails and documents show that Grenell began the work late last year to replace the center’s art collection, making clear that the removal “may include disposal via the following means: return to country of origin, transfer or exchange with another institution, public sale or destruction.”
Grenell had hired a curator, Josef Palermo, who planned to recruit Trump-friendly philanthropists to a new “Collectors Council” who would replace “outdated or inappropriate artworks” with works that reflect “shared American values.” Participating donors would pay $100,000 to join the council.
More than 20 pieces of artwork were targeted, including the sculpture “Blue” that was hauled away without notice. The piece was sold to the former chairman of the Kennedy Center ousted by Trump, David Rubenstein.
Of the 20 works targeted for removal, 15 of them were inside the African Lounge, an events space located near the Opera House which was closed by Trump soon after his takeover.
The textiles, artwork and a carved wood sculpture from Ghana representing Africans’ grief over Kennedy’s death were removed without public explanation.
This summer inside the Reach, a newer Kennedy Center annex that is slated to remain open during the main building’s closure, various Trump-friendly pieces have gone up on the walls.
There are several gold-plated reliefs depicting Trump and acolytes, including Elon Musk and Robert Kennedy, Jr. The artist is believed to be Trish Duggan, a Trump donor and prominent Scientologist.
Renovations also began at Trump’s three theater boxes in the center.
Workers replaced newly laid tile that was not Trump’s color preference, and installed gold plumbing fixtures.
Read more at the Seattle Times.