CORNELL MUSEUM: AT LEAST IT IS OPEN AGAIN!
There was excitement in the air for the Grand Re-opening of Cornell Museum of Old School Square in the heart of Delray Beach. At least it is open again. I was curious if the disaster of last August 10th, 2021, when the Delray Beach City commissioners, in a divided vote, blindsided the community by terminating the city’s lease with Old School Square “without cause” could actually become a phoenix rising from those ashes. Well, not quite yet!
As I approached the museum with my husband, there was a buzz in the air a bit like the old days. I felt some excitement and anticipation. Until I walked through the door into Cornell. It was loud and garish, almost like in a busy train station. People were looking past each other, and not at the exhibit, snapping selfies. I had the feeling that I had time travelled into an old and very bad political cartoon. I saw one or two people I recognized as art lovers, the rest seemed to be politicians and curiosity seekers. Some may have simply been overflow from the Christmas tree and carousel who stopped by for the snacks.
I talked to a few visitors at the Re-opening reception. Some were there for nostalgic reasons, their relatives had gone to school there, some were DDA employees, several politicians and a few artists. All were cordial in approval of the exhibit with the most common phrase being ‘at least it is open again’. I am known for my frank opinions. I was underwhelmed by a sad old surfer exhibit with a token representation of local artists. And the selection of local artists was hardly diverse, the battle cry of the commissioners. But rather were chosen from those who rent city subsidized spaces. Once given an opening most I talked to agreed with me about the quality of the exhibit and the acknowledged the creativity was just not there. The spark of delight was missing. My husband was even more direct when I asked him what he thought, “AWFULL” that’s all I can say.
Art and science together with human ingenuity reflects the society and times where they exist. Imagination, passion, creativity, and hard work make mere possibilities into realities. This exhibit does none of that. Instead, it reflects the city’s political fabric. It seems to support the idea that art is kind of magic wand to be wielded for political favor. Wrong, wrong, WRONG!
The space still looks magnificent. Thanks to those who worked for, volunteered, or donated to Old School Square Center for the Arts. But it is a space now, not a museum. It is like a Broadway play that closes on opening night and loses money. Delray Beach cut your losses, and stick to the business of running the city. Turn the museum and other OSS property over to those with the passion, energy and soul for the arts. Joe Gillie said it best “Truth is there should be no reopening it should have never closed in the first place.”
