Visitors Vote on Scumak to Add to NAMA's Collection

Acquiring new art for a museum's permanent collection can be a complex, and sometimes political process. When the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art found out they'd be able to keep three of New York-based artist Roxy Paine's Scumak sculptures, they decided to open up the decision to the public.

By Laura Spencer

Kansas City, Mo. – Acquiring new art for a museum's permanent collection can be a complex, and sometimes political process.

When the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art found out they'd be able to keep three of New York-based artist Roxy Paine's Scumak sculptures from a current exhibition, they decided to open up the decision to the public. Note: the sculptures were donated by Paine and James Cohan Gallery.

The board of trustees, the museum's staff and volunteers, and the public (at a ballot box at the museum and on the Star's website) voted on the three Scumaks to add to the collection. And the winners are:

"Roxy Paine: Scumaks and Dendroids" in the Bloch Building lobby, opened April 29 and runs through August 28, 2011. The exhibition opened in conjunction with a new addition to the Kansas City Sculpture Park, Paine's "Ferment," a 56-foot tall stainless steel tree.