Lon Hodowal

Review of The Phillips Collection

Ok, I'm not the CEO of Lockheed Martin, a board me...

Ok, I'm not the CEO of Lockheed Martin, a board member of Wells Fargo, or an AT&T exec. We just have a family membership to The Phillips Collection, so I don't really expect a red carpet when we arrive. Nevertheless, I do hope to be greeted buy the ticket people with a hello, perhaps, or just a glance in my direction.

Instead, after a few minutes in line at TPC, I was next. I walked up to the counter to get our tickets; no look up from the clerk. She mumbled 'just a minute,' and walked away.

I moved over to the next clerk, and asked for two tickets. She did look up.
"I only do membership." She lifted the desk sign toward my face. MEMBERSHIP, it read.

"But I am a member," I said, incredulous.

We left...we left an art museum for god sakes!
.
The conversation outside went like this: "I was just looking for a nice Sunday afternoon, a la The Boating Party. What did we do to deserve this?" "Well you know honey, we only have the family membership." "Maybe they all had unfortunate dates last night." "What are the chances all three had dates if they behave like that?" "Maybe their leave requests for a long beach weekend were canceled." "Don't let it bother you, honey, they are probably just wronged, underemployed young people with art history degrees and large student loan balances." "I'll write a letter....."

You get the point: No civility, No manners. No eye contact. Rude.

My advice....., no sense going to an exhibit of Ellsworth Kelly expecting to be transported, instead getting your balloon pricked. No need going to see some Braque still life masterpieces only to leave furious before getting through the turnstyle.

Unless you are in the financial position to be a corporate sponsor (who I assume they treat better), or an old rich guy on his deathbed with a lot of money and no heirs to leave it to, I say give your money to a friendlier organization. Pocket the gate fee and spend it on a couple of beers after a show at the National Portrait Gallery or the National Museum of American Art.

"Don't crumple your Phillips Collection membership card, honey. Let's go to the National Gallery and try to salvage the afternoon. Breathe..."