Take down requests and C&D letters will be forwarded to my attorney Marc J. Randazza.
Christopher L. Jorgensen
PO Box 546
Ames, IA 50010
February 1, 2009
Seattle Art Museum
1300 First Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101-2902
Dear Seattle Art Museum,
I want to thank you for lending your Edward Hopper painting “Chop Suey” to the Des Moines Art Center. My girlfriend adores Hopper, so it was quite a treat to get to see another of his works!
We made a $5 donation while were were there, so I figured I’d go ahead and send you $5 as well (for being so cool).
Seeing “Chop Suey” was enough to make me wish I’d made better choices in life and had become an art thief. I’d sneak in, and in a daring daylight art heist, the painting would be mine! (I’d also take “Automat,” which is my girlfriend’s favorite, and “Study After Velasquez’s Portrait of Pope Innocent X” by Francis Bacon, which is my favorite.)
I’m sure security isn’t as lax there as it looks though, so I’d probably end up in jail if I tried it, so I assure you I won’t! If, by some cosmic chance these paintings do come up missing, don’t look at me! How dumb would I have to be to write a letter like this and then do something like that? I just like to dream. Though you do have to admit the Hoppers would look great in my girlfriend’s living room.
All the best,
Christopher L. Jorgensen
SEATTLE ASIAN ART MUSEUM
SEATTLE ART MUSEUM
OLYMPIC SCULTURE PARK
February 11, 2010
Mr. Christopher L. Jorgensen
P.O. Box 546
Ames, IA 50010
Dear Mr. Jorgensen:
Our membership office shared with me your lovely letter, and I felt I had to write with my personal thank you to you for your enthusiasm. When we share works of art with other institutions, and they travel other cities, we assume they are reaching an audience, but we never get the kind of response that you have sent. It is gratifying and touching.
So, it is I who thank you, with the enclosed copy of the Hopper catalogue. Maybe you already have one, and, if so, then feel free to give this to another Hopper enthusiast. And, by the way, I understand perfectly your coveting these paintings. I do what I do so that I can vicariously “own” such works myself.
I will be speaking about Hopper in Des Moines very soon—Thursday evening, March 4. Perhaps I will meet you then. Meanwhile, thank you, once again, for your letter.
Sincerely,
[signed]
Patricia Junker
Ann M. Barwick Curator of American Art
SAM
1300 First Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101-2003
P 206.625.8900
F 206.654.3135
seattleartmuseum.org
Keywords:Hopper, Bacon, painting, lecture,
Description:Only original oils by master painters are worthy of Christopher.
Respondent Website:
Seattle Art Museum
