Boy, 12, Sticks Gum on $1.5M Painting - Dallas Cowboys Forum

**WoodysGirl** · 03-01-2006

Tue Feb 28, 7:40 PM ET

DETROIT - A 12-year-old visitor to the Detroit Institute of Arts stuck a wad of gum to a $1.5 million painting, leaving a stain the size of a quarter, officials say.

The boy was part of a school group from Holly that visited the museum on Friday, officials say. They say he took a piece of Wrigley's Extra Polar Ice gum out of his mouth and stuck it on Helen Frankenthaler's "The Bay," an abstract painting from 1963.

The museum acquired the work in 1965 and says it is worth about $1.5 million.

The gum stuck to the painting's lower left corner and did not adhere to the fiber of the canvas, officials told the Detroit Free Press. But it left a chemical residue about the size of a quarter, said Becky Hart, assistant curator of contemporary art.

The museum's conservation department is researching the chemicals in the gum to decide which solvent to use to clean it. The museum hopes to make the repair in two weeks and will keep "The Bay" on display in the meantime, she said.

"Our expectation is that the painting is going to be fine," Hart said.

Holly Academy director Julie Kildee said the boy had been suspended from the charter school and says his parents also have disciplined him.

"Even though we give very strict guidelines on proper behavior and we hold students to high standards, he is only 12 and I don't think he understood the ramifications of what he did before it happened, but he certainly understands the severity of it now," said Kildee.

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**trickblue** · 03-01-2006

WHo would do somehting THAT stupid?

**WoodysGirl** · 03-01-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by trickblue

WHo would do somehting THAT stupid?

Good to know u think I'm worth 1.5 mil. Pulling the gum off only devalues it by oh $0.75. So I'll still be worth 1,499,999.25

**trickblue** · 03-01-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by WoodysGirl

Good to know u think I'm worth 1.5 mil. Pulling the gum off only devalues it by oh $0.75. So I'll still be worth 1,499,999.25

You're still worth 1.5 mil in my book...

Rack Bauer · 03-01-2006

Ok you two, get a hotel room already.

And about that kid... f'in hilarious. That's a story to tell his grand kids.

ConcordCowboy · 03-01-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by trickblue

WHo would do somehting THAT stupid?

Where do you get that stuff...

That dumb kid needs his beat...what a idiot!

Rack Bauer · 03-01-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by ConcordCowboy

Where do you get that stuff...

That dumb kid needs his beat...what a idiot!

Please, don't ever have kids.

ConcordCowboy · 03-01-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rack

Please, don't ever have kids.

I will and if he did that I'd beat his .

Gibby! · 03-01-2006

You're going to be giving a lot of 'em then

ConcordCowboy · 03-01-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gibby!

You're going to be giving a lot of 'em then

I doubt very seriously that my kids going to be going around many times sticking gum on 1.5 million dollar paintings.

joseephuss · 03-01-2006

A 12 year old probably doesn't comprehend that an abstract piece of art is very expensive. I can't quite grasp why certain paintings cost so much. A 12 yera old does understand private property, rules about not touching stuff that doesn't belong to you and how to dispose of gum. Sounds like a little punk to me.

**trickblue** · 03-01-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by joseephuss

A 12 year old probably doesn't comprehend that an abstract piece of art is very expensive. I can't quite grasp why certain paintings cost so much. A 12 yera old does understand private property, rules about not touching stuff that doesn't belong to you and how to dispose of gum. Sounds like a little punk to me.

Probably a young Redskin fan...

ConcordCowboy · 03-01-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by joseephuss

A 12 year old probably doesn't comprehend that an abstract piece of art is very expensive. I can't quite grasp why certain paintings cost so much. A 12 yera old does understand private property, rules about not touching stuff that doesn't belong to you and how to dispose of gum. Sounds like a little punk to me.

I remember when I was 12 and I sure as Hell knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that I was never to stick gum on ANY painting let alone one at a Art museum.

12 years old is old enough to know better...No excuse.

bbgun · 03-01-2006

That kid must meet the gas chamber.

ConcordCowboy · 03-01-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbgun

That kid must meet the gas chamber.

....