Tuesday’s column: What to do with the Taubman?
The question of the day is, “What to do with the Taubman Museum of Art?
Our signature art museum is flagging.
Many people pinned many hopes on it, and it’s hard to ignore the fact that it’s gotten Roanoke a lot of publicity and spurred a small blizzard of art-gallery openings downtown.
But these days the museum’s visitors are rare as snowflakes in the summer. The museum has just undergone its fourth round of layoffs and Jenny Taubman, who raised a lot of the money for it, has waved goodbye to its board.
Now the media is sniffing around rumors it will be taken over by Virginia Tech, which already owns the Hotel Roanoke and the medical school building down on Reserve Avenue.
The whole idea of creating an ultra-modern museum that looks like a crash-landed flying saucer, and basing that around a collection of 19th century pursed-lipped portraits, always seemed kind of screwy.
But eventually, I came around because it appealed to my keen sense of the absurd.
I and my family have visited the place and we like it a lot. You should go, too, if you haven’t yet.
There’s something about the way art teases the senses and the soul. It can make a museum visit a profound experience.
For that reason it would be a shame if the Taubman shuts its doors. Nobody’s rooting for it to go under.
On the other hand, you know what Gen. (and later president) Dwight D. Eisenhower always said: “Plans are nothing; planning is everything.”
He meant you need to anticipate every eventuality. For that reason we should anticipate the Taubman’s closing and ask ourselves, “What would or should happen to that distinctive building?”
Allow me to kick off the brainstorming with some tongue-in-cheek ideas.
If the building is empty next fall, the Taubman would make a heck of a haunted house. It would rival Liberty University’s Scaremare — probably we would skip the evangelizing at the end, though.
In that setting the Thomas Eakins portraits could be very useful, assuming they were lighted properly. All of them have an old-world vampirish quality, you know? Even the women subjects look a little bit like Barnabas Collins.
But maybe it won’t be empty by then.
The Taubman Food Court could be up and running, and jammed with people and vendors such as “Burger in the UFO,” or “Big White Elephant Pizza.”
They could display the Thomas Aiken portraits in the newly refurbished City Market Building, a setting that’s a better match.
If. Gov. Bob McDonnell’s liquor privatization scheme goes through, the Taubman would be a great location for a booze bazaar. You could call it “Space Age Spirits.” I would invest in that, provided Spanky Macher didn’t tow customers’ cars.
Or perhaps they’ll sell the thing to Carilion, or the Rescue Mission, or the owners of Corned Beef & Co. — the three fastest-expanding enterprises in Roanoke.
The joint is so clean Carilion could use it for operating rooms. It would be the most futuristic surgery center in the nation. Health Facilities Management magazine would do a cover story for sure.
Or just maybe they will rename the whole place the Taubman Museum of the Absurd.
Can’t you imagine Mayor David Bowers cutting the ribbon on that one?
The building would be the primary exhibit, of course. But inside would be showcases for the new and improved Mill Mountain Incline and 4-star restaurant, Bev Fitzpatrick’s revamped electric trolleys, and a scale model of Larry Vander Maten’s Explore Park.
Every ridiculous idea that has come along in the last 20 years or so would get its own exhibit.
The movie “Field of Dreams” would play on a continuous loop at an exhibit titled “Build it and they will (not necessarily) come.”
Auto parts magnate Nick Taubman, who generously contributed millions toward the art museum’s construction, might even put up more money just to get his name taken off the thing.
I’m just sayin’.
What are your ideas, ranging from the ludicrous to the sublime?
Send them to me in e-mails with the subject line “Taubman” or by snail mail. You can also phone them in. Include your name and locality. Down the road we’ll review them in this space.
And don’t be shy about slamming me for slaying yet another Roanoke sacred cow.
Nobody else is.
Besides, the place already looks half dead.
October 12, 2010 - 6:00 AM
How about using the building for the new Blacksburg High School?
I think they ought to put Spanky Macher in charge of it, or at least in charge of the parking.
In all seriousness though, one has to wonder why things like the explore park and the Taubman museum continue to be done. I am no guru when it comes to feasibility studies but I never thought either of those would be a viable economic entity. It seems like these things get built, run their course, the people who have interest go to them when they open, then say to themselves “been there, done that” and then they aren’t drawing stink bugs. Then they want some local government funding or help, or some foundation to take them over. Museums do work in the right context (google the Walton’s museum in Schuyler which is still going and is in the middle of nowhere). This one did not have enough appeal.
FWIW, I always think of the building as being a jagged metal mushroom. I have never been in it and I don’t plan on going to it. Despte Dan saying I “should”. Not sure why he thinks I “should” but I think better for me than he does.
I have to agree with Bob H., this was a bad idea. The Roanoke ratio of Redneck to Smartsy Artsy crowd is 1000:1. They would be better off turning this place in to a sports bar, I might go there then.
Let’s tear it down! Use its scraps! Rebuild it on mill mountain as rockledge! the people must come then. community room and all.
Like most of the local population, I watched the museum evolve and scratched my head in wonder. The fundraising efforts took a lot of much-needed funds away from the other valley non-profits. I would guess that a lot of these dollars have gone back to the other non-profits since the art museum opened, as they should have. The zoo and the transportation museum are just as important as the art museum.
The Taubman and other museums around the country are great examples of what happens when you screw “the rich” as so many in here want to do with the tax structure. And it’s a great example of the “trickle down” effect.
All charitable enterprises are suffer when you stick it to the rich,, especially those for the poor. Contrary to the canard pushed by the left that the rich are “greedy”, they in fact give tons of money to causes the left claims to care about.
Dang it Blue John! I came here JUST to say that.
OK. So maybe they can take the steel beams and replace the one in Blacksburg.
Or they could use it to store Bowers’ ego.
BJ, I like your idea! But MCPS and the MCBOS will review it and determine that to properly upgrade the building it will cost about $12 million, increased busing would be $1 million a year, and they’d have to perform a structural analysis on the windstream exterior to make sure it meets codes, which would cost another $2 million for the analysis and possibly up to $10 million, maybe up to $20 million to retrofit and bring up to school code.
I think they need to call General Steel and see how much ‘The General’ can deliver a shell building for, and just let the kids have classes in a giant warehouse that the school system can then turn over to some unnamed data management company once the new school is built.
#5 So let’s see, according to troll, the rich are now giving less because they’ve been screwed during the past several years by the lowest tax rate in decades? Yeah, that’s troll logic.
Don’t you folks realize the real reason for that building ? Its a space ship sent here to harvest intellent life. As soon as they find some here in Roanoke they will fire the thrusters and depart. First stop was city hall, no luck. Then they took a trip to find our leaders, none were found. I hear they are looking for Dewane Howard don’t worry Dan your safe.
Plans are nothing; planning is everything. And the problem with the Taubman Museum, is the people that were in charge never had a contingency plan for failure, or a what if. To allow ourselves to be taken in by a bold design in architecture was a brave step for the Roanoke Valley. But it has strict limitations for it’s other than artful usefulness. The interior space for exhibition is challenging. It never feels like there is enough interior space to put out additional art. And again planning is everything. How about turning it over to the Blue Ridge Potters Guild. This past weekend successful show at Patrick Henry High shows that there is tremendous support for area ceramic artist.
5 Gdad
#5 So let’s see, according to troll, the rich are now giving less because they’ve been screwed during the past several years by the lowest tax rate in decades? Yeah, that’s troll logic.
And so your solution is to raise taxes for the givers. That’s leftard logic.
The rich were paying less prior to Bill Clinton, so I don’t know what the hell you mean by “lowest in decades”. You people are fixated on personal taxes but ignore the fact that our 35% corporate tax is among the highest in the industrialized world.
Well, on The Simpsons they transformed their symphony hall which looks remarkably similar to the Taubman Museum, into a jail.
I think we should turn it into a Studio 54 type club. On opening night VIP passes can be given out to Republicans.
Most area citizens did not like the looks of the building to start with. But, a few of the “landed gentry” of the community were hell-bent, as usual, in getting their way and building it. They always search for more ways to remake Roanoke into what they wish it would be and how they think it should appear. It’s blue-collar nature and somewhat low wage levels meet with their disdain, so they continue trying to put lipstick on the pig, which sometimes licks it right off!
It could become the new home of the Roanoke Weiner Stand, re-named as the Roanoke Weiner Slide. Heat the roof, put the dogs on it from an upstairs window, so they could cook as they slid down that huge metal roof. Load the buns on a railcar and form the world’s largest hotdog assembly line. Serve sausages also, known as Winston O’Links…..we could feed thousands!
It might help if the actual exhibit space was anywhere near as large as the promise of that huge exterior. Of course I realize that they’d have to fill that space if they had it; but still, even a larger space padded with lesser works would make it feel more like you’re getting your money’s worth.
Why would someone travel long distances to visit a building with nothing in it?
Dan-
It may be worth some home work- but the original plan and pro-forma included an I-Max Theater- The foot print for it is still within the building-I know one of the reasons it was taken out was that I-Max at that time was reorganizing – but the numbers I saw while on Council indicated the I-Max was going to be a big draw and would add synergy to the project-
It may be worth exploring the numbers to see if it would work- It would be a shame to see this whole project fail-
Bill
Why not donate it to the Roanoke Valley Astronomical Society, for meetings and displays. Since the RVAS has no working capital, there will of course need to be a generous endowment for daily expenses paid by the Taubmans to get their name off the edifice. The new name will be the Roanoke UFO Spaceport.
It’s horrendous. It does not fit in Roanoke at all. Tear it down and build the IMAX theater in it’s place.
Elena,
Haha! I’m glad someone else remembers that episode.
And if I remember correctly, it was designed by the same guy, and he got the idea for the design by balling up a piece of paper.
Hmm… Maybe that episode cursed the architect and all inhabitants of his buildings.
Burn it to the ground…..this blog and paper been looking for a “Good Witch” burning anyway, so why waste an ugly money munching building on a good cause from the likes of spend, spend, & more spend, then figure how to cover the expense later…that’s the natural call of the wild liberal roaming the streets now days! Spend now and great grandchildren will pay later!
Give all the citizens of Roanoke a sledge hammer & that will put an end to the whole place.
Truth is, as much as all the jackals are chomping at the bit for the museum to fail, it reflects just as badly on the city of Roanoke and doesn’t make any of them better for getting to say, ‘See?? I got to be right!’ Congrats, you didn’t support an organization and it collapsed. Doesn’t make Roanoke any better – just more pathetic that it couldn’t handle having an art museum or fight to make it better if that’s what they wanted. And the citizens were stupid enough to rejoice in its failure.
I still can’t help but wonder, who in the world thought an art museum of the magnitude of what was done would be able to sustain itself in Roanoke?
The whole idea had failure written all over it from day one.
After locals have been a time or two, why go back? And, Roanoke is not exactly a destination location such that out-of-towners would be drawn here to do that. How many people do you run into that are vacationing in Roanoke?
Get Amtrak to the city and they can buy it and use it as a nice hub, the building design would fit a train station better.
If the Taubman hired me & gave me freedom to do what it takes, I’d make the museum a success – but I’m likely not affordable.
They lost my support when they changed the name.
#2, Bob H, Yeah, I guess it’s inevitable, though. Many, maybe most, small cities seem to want to support things they can’t truly afford on a long term basis. In Bedford, the D-Day Memorial rapidly got in trouble. Explore Park started in arrears, IIRC, and stayed that way until it had to end.
The best suggestion for Explore that I’ve yet seen is someone’s idea that it be joined to the Blue Ridge Parkway.
I was sorry to hear the Taubman is in trouble. The original intent was wonderful, but evidently the population base just is not here.
At times, too, I think there often may be just too much to do in the Roanoke-Lynchburg corridor. Check out early spring, summer and early and late fall activities listed on paper and on-line at the Roanoke Times, News & Advance, Bedford Bulletin, Smith Mountain Laker magazine. Every weekend is crammed with activities, both traditional and new, with overlapping dates and times. When I plan our Toys for Tots car show, I’m left to wonder just what competition we’ll have that particular day and time. There is always more than I can anticipate, because some events are more casual and more easily put together, and need less advance notice.
That has to mess up plans. I want to get over to see the model train club at the Transportation Museum this week, but family events may intervene.
Thus add a full list of activities outside the family to a list of family activities–in my case, one of my brother’s boys is in from Albuquerque for a just few days; too, one evening is devoted to a Marine Corps League meeting to plan some Toys for Tots work. I may have to skip the model trains. Because I’m semi-retired, I expected to have more spare time, which doesn’t seem to be the case because events have expanded to fill those hours.
That’s a long-winded way of saying whoever starts the next very special, and wonderful, organization needs to look very, very carefully at the level of commitment people already have. That’s probably being done, but with the problems I listed, there’s not quite enough research.
I think they should tear it down. It takes away from the beauty of the city and looks out of place. It’s ugly, overbearing, imposing, and I personally never understood why it was being built in the first place. It barely has any art, when I went 3 out of the 6 galleries were closed, and I wouldn’t pay almost $11 to walk around a half-empty building, just to say “Oh, look at the building” again. It was a huge waste of time, money, and space and I say good riddance. We need to focus more on renovating the attractions that we already have, preserving our historic sites, and creating practical, diversified attractions that will actually be marketable and make people want to come to our area.
Question? Why did the wonderful Roanoke leaders place this wreck next to the railroad tracks. When there are better sites in Roanoke.
Another example of waste for the City of Roanoke.
Tear it down, re-cycle the material, build a building that ALL the space is usable space and is comparable to downtown, Hotel Rke and other surrounding buildings. It looks like it landed here and became distorted when it hit ground.
Sell it. At least then we will be the fool who was reunited with part of his / her’s money.
I still think Virginia Tech should use it as an adjunct architecture school location.
Turn it into a Bar 4 in one Country,Rock,Blues,etc.
Like we all didn’t see this coming.
They could move all the Poff Building employees in there.
The museum should have never been built in Roanoke in the first place. Roanoke does not have the tourism to support it. It was a stupid idea by the “educated” society folks. Let’s turn the building into a nice convention center for education purposes (non Va Tech related). It would make a great place for seminars, religious conferences, etc.
I figured the museum was in a bit of trouble after they opened and one of the billboards I saw had Advance Auto as a major sponsor of the museum.
The Taubman Museum of Art, brought to you by Advance Auto Parts…sort of led me to believe that they’d have exhibits debating the merits of small block V8′s versus big block V8′s, and a collection of carburetors through the years to show the technological advancement used to aspirate internal combustion engines.
So I was deeply dissapointed to see that they had paintings and scultures and absolutely nothing to do with spark plugs or mufflers.
That thing is God awful ugly and was such a waste of money. Why is it that everyone but the people in charge predicted it’s demise before it even went up? What a joke and embarrassment to Roanoke!
A museum of that size in Roanoke needs to have more than just pictures. The City needs to take some of the spread out sites and but them in the museum. Look at your great museums like Toledo, Ohio: They a Roman exibit that was actually brought from overseas brick by break. Maybe try to combine some of the festivals with inside exhibits. At any rate one thing since I have moved here, I used to Travel all over the country and most City’s make the mistake of having exhibits all over the city instead of brought to one central viewing area. My 2 cents.
The museum is ahead of its time. Apparently from these comments, if a building does not have the functionality and economic viability of a Sams Club then it is not worth having at all.
People need to realize that sometimes public investment (yes, by pumping tax money in) can spur private economic growth and make the community better as a whole.
Who wants to go back to the days when the downtown market area was thriving with the vibrant free market of whores and adult video stores? If you want a town that you can be proud of then support the arts, public buildings and community parks with tax dollars. Your grandparents and greatgrandparents did. It will be good for you and the business that want to relocate to Roanoke. It will also attract workers that want to come to a place that people actually care about.
Why do I get the feeling that people are rooting for the demise for the Taubman? Why do native Roanokers want to see this beautiful city fail? Why is everyone so anti-growth? We moved here from the Northeast (outside NYC) three years ago. We love Roanoke! Look at the artists in your city? Do you see the innovation? Don’t you realize that a creative spirit makes our city thrive? The Taubman is a symbol of Roanoke’s future growth. It was a sign of the innovation to come.
Maybe you’re right and that the Taubman will fail. Maybe you’re wrong. But if the long-time natives of Roanoke celebrate its demise, then y’all need to sit back and let us newcomers turn Roanoke into a city of innovation and beauty and Southern-style hospitality.
By the way, the Taubman opened in one of the worst economies in decades. I don’t hear anyone talking about the lack of discretionary income and the impact that has on our local cultural institutions.
I think I’ll donate some of our hard-earned money to the Taubman. Here’s hoping other Roanoke newcomers do the same.
“Roanoke Weiner Slide.”
DING! DING! DING!! We have a wiener, err…winner!
One more thing: I’m reading a lot about Roanoke’s “blue collar” culture.
When we moved here in 2007, we joined various clubs and organizations to get to know our community and to make new friends. Do any of you realize how many educated people who demand six figure salaries are moving into the region? Did you realize that entrepreneurs are choosing the New River Valley and Roanoke to open or expand their businesses?
Wake up, people! Your city is changing and you don’t even see it. Open your eyes and look around. Who do you think is buying all the new lofts and apartments and condos downtown? Who do you think is pouring money into the Old Southwest neighborhood? Who do you think is buying the $600,000 homes in Southwest County? Why is Franklin county growing in leaps and bounds? You think the stereotypical “blue collar” worker is doing this?
Since the building now exists in a historical district, perhaps the ARB that allowed its variance may find use for it.
Heavens forbid that we alter this fine structure to resemble anything out of charcter with the early 20th century architecture that we preserve and promote to the point of preventing other buisnesses in this zone from changing store fronts or replacing windows for that matter.
And in closing, remembering the mannequin which startled visitors as it posed as a unfortunate street denizen lying among the hallways and corridors purporting art or the young long haired female whom generated more than one call to local authorities as a possible jumper.
Maybe the tradition of our fair city being a Mecca for the homeless can be augmented by use of these fine building materials and taxpayer revenue as a humble abode to house those in need.
Aaron, you’re right…it was designed by crumbling a piece of paper. LOL. I sometimes wonder if Roanoke is the “Springfield of Virginia” and suspect that Matt Groening has relatives living amongst us.
Two questions stand out in my mind. The first is how do we create a thriving economy to Roanoke? We need an influx of money. The second is what to do with the building? What if the Taubman was converted into a first-class childrens museum? Think of all the revenue generating activities that would promote! Not only could it be a draw for the local populace, but it would also be a unique attraction that would bring folks in from all over. It could be enjoyed by a diverse socio-economic population. It would also have the ability to reinvent itself over and over, thus ensuring that it never became stale. Interactive activities, exhibits, classes, food, music… I could go on and on. What a symbiotic relationship it could have with local business owners!
I’m sorry but if the citizens and corporate leadership of The Roanoke Region
can’t support this amazing museum then we all have a major problem. If the citizens
even spent a fraction of the energy supporting the museum that they did moaning
about the design (which, by the way, outside of Roanoke is viewed as pretty great)
It says a lot about what we consider to be of value for our quality of life — Translation:
Backwater Bottom Tier City.
Just for you Dan, an indoor shooting range (concealed carriers welcomed), bar (smoking allowed), Tea Party Headquarters and as a bonus- a special location for the Texas Tavern right up there in the peak of that goofy roof. With improvements like that you would finally love Roanoke.
Most people (I know I did) saw this coming since it was first announced. That’s all we need another vacant building for years in Roanoke….. When will people in City Government wake up and stop wasting out money?
Norah, while I agree with your statement that there are people in Roanoke just waiting for the museum to fail so they can say ” I told you so” and I hate this mindset but you cannot place the blame on the community alone.
I know many people who have supported and continued to support the museum in numerous ways from donations, pay admission, Dined at Norah’s, which perhaps you own, and offering their free time only to be treated by the staff/board as if their efforts meant nothing and to be treated rudely. I asked to try on a necklace once and you would of thought I asked the associate to move a mountain. She clearly was not interested in helping me or the fact I could have potentially spent money there. Its a shame she treated me that way I loved the necklace and left without it.
I LOVE art and have since I was a child and my family is are strong supporters of all forms of art and ingrained in me the importance to museums in communities and how importance the art world is. I was beyond excited we would have a museum of this size in Roanoke, Roanoke needs this culture. It had potential to draw people in to Roanoke, create tourism and help our local economy. We now have great building and poor leadership, that in my mind shouldn’t be there. My opinion I am sure means nothing to these people and that is fine with me but why were the good apples let go and the bad apples remain. Since the layoffs the museum seems to be failing more and more not improving. Wouldn’t you think the current staff would be fighting tooth and nail to make a successful business? I don’t see it, maybe its not publicized and if it is why isn’t that front page or roanoke.com? Should we have something positive about the museum to show Roanoke it is something important to the city?
Why are they not bidding for major artwork to bring their tours here? Maybe they are but I am not aware of it? Maybe they tried once and failed so then they gave up because it wasn’t worth their time but I think Roanoke deserves to see amazing art someone should fight for us to have it. Easier said than done I am sure but it would be nice to know they perhaps tried. Has this already been done, why is there a lack of advertising telling Virginia about it, not just Roanoke? Is it money? if so why turn down offers for help and support?? I just don’t get it.
Why they don’t they seem to care? If they don’t care why should the people in Roanoke care? Maybe the museum only cares what their major donors and what “high society” Roanoke think and if that’s the case they don’t need my $10 entrance fee and will continue to fail themselves and Roanoke.
Art is an essential part of life and we need it in Roanoke!
Steve… I like your idea of a children’s museum. There could be art sections… and science and history. It could be a place where kids could have parties and spend the day doing various and changing activities.
Both Baltimore and Boston have amazing children’s museums. I think you are right in that the trick has to be in reinvention. It can’t be stagnant or kids will easily tire of it.
This building would make a really cool Apple store. Hidden somewhere inside could be an art gallery. Cash flow PLUS art. What’s not to like?
Can’t Bob Goodlatte come in and save the day? I mean seriously, he has supported that piece of crap since the very beginning. Not to mention the Taubman’s are some of his biggest financial supporters.
Eh, the Taubman is a blight on the once beautiful downtown area, and it typifies everything that local Roanoke government gets wrong.
I’d like to extend special kudos to this “Margaret” person. Congratulations on being another self righteous elitist idiot from New York. It’s not YOUR city. Get over yourself. But thanks for doing your best to turn Roanoke into what you moved to get away from.
Boy there are a bunch of haters on this list! Steve and Margaret, I’m with you. There are a lot of smart and creative people in Roanoke. I’m sure there is some feasible future for the Museum. Maybe a Discovery Center type thing for the kids like they have in Charlotte, NC. A place where kids can go all times of the year. Roanoke has a lot of potential if folks would just adjust their attitudes and think outside the box.
This trainwreck of a building cost about as much as the new William Fleming High School and Stadium. Let’s compare the size of the two buildings and see where lots of money was wasted. Doesn’t take a genius to figure that out. The building is so out of place in downtown Roanoke it’s almost hilarious. What are they going to do next, put a bullfighting ring beside the Wachovia Tower?
Reading through a lot of the criticisms of the Taubman, I recognized a feeling that came once before, when NYC first got the Guggenheim. I first got a chance to go a great art show–Van Gogh–at the Guggenheim a long time ago, 1962, with a girl I was then engaged to. She enlightened me as we went up the winding ramp along which the art was beautifully spaced and lit. I’ve yet to tour the Taubman, but I have to wonder if maybe the results might be the same in a few years, though of course reduced in scale.
See if the space aliens will take it back.
I bet that “Margaret” and Suzie could be fast friends!
I love this article. I think we all knew this day would come for the Taubman. Well, at least I did.
mac-r……….love your idea. That sounds worth the price of admission!
I was disappointed when I went to the opening and haven’t been back since. Not an art museum at all. Change it to a museum with history, art, and other things. Why don’t they have some traveling museums come and set up for a month or so? Seems like people would go if there was more to see. They could add a Planetarium. I have been to the Pittsburgh, PA museum of history many times and each time there is something I haven’t seen. Back in the 1980s I visited the old museum while here on a visit. Imagine my surprise that this new art museum contained the same exhibits there. Pictures of the same family.
I’m with Billy Bova on this, a certain group of people are trying to make Roanoke into something it has never been. Roanoke is still a railroad town that likes high school football, neighborhood bars, and maybe Pro “Wrasslin.”
There are some here who would like to have more culture available, but apparently there aren’t enough “cultured” people to support it. Maybe the people who want to help the museum could have a tractor pull on Salem Ave. to raise money for the museum?
Thank you for your intelligent and well-spoken words Margaret. I’ve lived here my entire life (only 27 years) and all the continuing negativity surrounding the various museums and town in general for that matter, (which always comes from the locals) blows my mind!!! Heaven forbid we try to have anything nice or new or different here. People always ask me why I’ve never moved away. And for so long I’ve thought and said to myself its because this place is so beautiful and new things are just around the corner. But how long can you really chase rainbows when you are continually disappointed to see that they just disappear? “Change is Coming!” I would tell myself. The art museum was another such glimmer of hope for me. Roanoke really is a gorgeous place to be. Artists love places like this where there is a ton of natural beauty and inspiration. That’s why I’m so confused as to why the museum hasn’t thrived!
Right now, in my life, I am currently jobless, after (gee, shockingly) being laid-off from another non-profit arts and culture organization in the valley. I worked in fundraising, so I know how difficult it is out there and my hats (because I wore so many) are off to the few that are still maintaining the museum. I’ve decided to return to school as an adult to arguably one of the best Graphic Design programs in the state. Guess what? It’s not at Virginia Tech, its not at Radford, it’s not at JMU, its right here in Roanoke, Virginia at an unlikely source– Virginia Western Community College. The place is swarming with art students! There have never been so many in the history of the school!
So don’t say there isn’t a crowd in Roanoke for an art museum. I’m not buying it. What I’m also not buying, is the fact that in my summer Art History class of about 30, I was the only person apart from the professor that had set foot in the museum. What’s wrong with this picture??? And there weren’t just teenagers in that class mind you, many were working adults. One in thirty? And this was only one class. I’d love to know the actual number of students enrolled in the humanities departments. And the number of students in other local schools. AND the number of those who are supporters and like to look at pretty things!
The question shouldn’t be “What to do with the Taubman?”, it SHOULD be, “How can we as a community make this museum thrive for the many in the valley that could learn to love it?”
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my thoughts.
(But maybe I should just go ahead and pack up my things and be yet another of the large statistic of young professionals that leave the area.)
Oh, and to the Realist- it’s Margaret’s city now too. I’m sure she pays just as much to live here as you do, if not more. So just stop. It’s “MY” city too, and I say, “Welcome Margaret!”
Lock Dan inside forever!
It was doomed once they pulled IMAX out of the design. Some type of a museum for children would be a good fit. I like art. I am glad we have a museum. But did the people that came up with the idea for the Taubman ever think just how many people would visit this thing every year? The art museum was never even 10% as busy as the science museum when it was in Center in the Square so what did they think would happen anyway?
In response to a few of these posts – yes, culture is vital to Roanoke’s survival & i think it offers the one last chance for the revitalization of this city.
Roanoke has many, many, folks who are working so hard creatively & culturally to further this city, and their efforts are increasingly being recognized within the city and further afield. But here lies the problem: very few of these folks are engaged with the Taubman in any way (I’m not going to suggest the reasons for this here). Practically, the Taubman stands as an entity to itself, without meaningful connectedness with the bustling, flourishing arts & cultural community surrounding it. Really, so far, the Taubman has been irrelevant to most of the recent progress culturally in Roanoke – and no, the Taubman is not the reason for the current flourishing art scene in Roanoke.
Roanoke is not being disloyal to the Taubman during it’s current apparent difficulties, it is simply not, nor has ever been, involved with the Taubman in meaningful ways. The Taubman’s continuance or closure means little to the hard working, creative, Roanoke-developing community. This can change, and I hope it does, but as it stands now, the Taubman’s survival depends on the Taubman alone.
Boston
New York
Philadelphia
Richmond
Charlotte
Atlanta
Nashville
Dallas
Houston
Des Moines
Pittsburgh
Milwaukee
Chicago
Minneapolis
Omaha
Denver
Los Angeles
Austin
San Antonio
Aspen
Portland
Seattle
San Francisco
Phoenix
Madison
Kansas City
Some major cities, some medium to small cities
each of them PROUD to consider art a critical
complement to their community and quality of
life. And Roanoke…it’s time your citizens stood
up, had some pride and got in the game instead
of always being left behind.
Hey folks — thanks for all the hate. Whoever said that Roanoke was a friendly city obviously never ran into you people.
And for the record: I’m not from NYC. I’m orginially from Northern Missouri. My husband’s company moved us to NYC. My husband took a great job in Roanoke. (It was one of those growing creative type companies. God forbid a person work for someone other than the railroad.)
You can fling all the hate you want. I can take it. (I did live in NYC for six years.) But make no mistake: your city, my city, is changing. It’s moving up. It’s gainin lots of attention. People like me are moving in and people with closed minds and the “dont-change-anything-ever” attitudes are moving out or dying out.
In 15 years, this city will be transformed. It will be still be small. It will still be friendly. (Let’s hope y’all read your comments and see how hurtful you are to newcomers and change your ways.) But we’ll be more nimble. We’ll have opportunities for our children. (They won’t have to move to NOVA or Charlotte for professional jobs.) And we’ll have economic growth.
I don’t want Roanoke to be NYC. (Nobody does.) I don’t even want it to be Boston or Charlotte or Raleigh. I want it to be a city where my kids can stick around after college. That would be nice.
One more thing: You may be able to hide your identity on this blog. That’s fine. But remember that your words have impact and that they can hurt. I don’t like feeling unwelcome. We spend our money in Roanoke. We visit the restaurants — the cheap to the expensive. We support our local institutions and have become members. We shop at locally-owned stores and we visit the farmer’s market every Saturday during the summer months.
I’m a Roanoker, too. And I deserve to express my opinion without being called names.
There are a lot of little community museums throughout town. We could combine this gigantic space into a multi-cultural arts and history museum.
How about opening CSI Roanoke? It looks just like the CSI Miami set, so roll with it. I can see David Caruso on top of it staring into the sun every time I look at it.
@river – (I’m not going to suggest the reasons for this here).
River, honestly I’d like to see a few if its not to detrimental. I think that’s exactly one of the biggest issues with the Taubman – its complete disconnect with the City’s actual art scene and grassroots arts movement and direction. Which in my humble opinion is 3,000 times more exciting than the exhibits I’ve seen come and go there.
And I agree, “the Taubman’s survival depends on the Taubman alone.” Other than its complete disconnect within its own industry and sector of this city, I believe the majority of its revenue was supposed to come from special events and catering if I’m not mistaken. Economic factors have certainly played an influence there, but at the same time this should have been forseen upon opening. It’s up their team to keep it afloat with the business model they’ve laid before it.
That, or maybe the people of this City clearly indicated that it wouldn’t work and was ridiculously laid out from the get go. To all “anti-hater posts” – I don’t think its a negative/hater attitude as much as its a realist attitude and coupled with the no holds barred mantra of this blog, we can get as real and un-PC as possible, which while uncivil at most times, needs to be said and is the down right beautiful thing of this blog.
Personally I hope it stays alive and prospers for the sake of the energy laid into it and the value the City and Tourism groups here have on it. But its quite obvious the dynamics needs to change overall and I feel River’s post may be a key role to turning it around.
As one good ol’ boy said to the other good ol’ boy when the alien got out of the spacecraft that had landed in their yard: “It don’t look like us. Let’s kill it.”
To Margaret and Megan:
I think Taubman got off to a bad start with some of their first exhibits. The worst was probably the manakins portraying the homeless in Roanoke. I always questioned the “artfulness” of this. Yes, it’s a concern, yes, something needs to be done, but glorifying it in art just didn’t ring with the masses. Trust me, if you walk around downtown much, you don’t need vagrancy shoved in your face any more than it already is.
Another sticking point was as most have already said, the overall design of the building. How was the museum allowed free reign in design when neighboring buildings are stuck with historical code requirements. You can’t even replace metal roofing with shingles, or vice-versa without a permit and an approval from the historical society.
And then there was the parking debacle. If not for Spanky Macher’s other activites, he might have gotten elected mayor over his enforcement of parking.
The unfortunate fact of a building like the Taubman is such a unique design and purpose becomes an equally polarizing symbol of Downtown Roanoke. You are forced to either love it or hate it. I truly hope the museum survives, not for the sake of the museum, but to prevent another empty building sitting in town for 20 years.
“So don’t say there isn’t a crowd in Roanoke for an art museum. I’m not buying it.”
This right here is the problem with your thinking. Why? Because there IS an art museum, and it can’t keep the doors open. How much more black and white does it need to be made for people to get that? Ecomomic reality is what it is. You cannot make people support something they don’t care about, and you sure can’t make them care. Maybe if the folks who decided that HAD to have a museum had listened to all the average people out there who buy the tickets, and not pissed off 75% of the valley by building it where they did, the whole situation would be different. At the end of the day though, it’s still an art museum in Roanoke. Roanoke, in case you missed the news, is not a large city. It will never be a large city because it’s in a terrible geographic location. It is what it is, and what it is doesn’t automatically support building giant ugly buildings where beautiful brick structures once stood.
If you need a really nasty example of what culture can do to reinvent a city, take a trip to Detroit sometime. They’ve got a HUGE exhibit hall, three professional sports teams, museums out the wazoo, and no one wants to live there. Not even me, even though Detroit is my favorite city in the world. Poorly managed art museums, sports teams, blah blah blah, none of those make a city a better place to live for the average person.
Don’t get me wrong, I love art. I do big noisy art for a living. But I’ll never give the Taubman a dime of my money. My good friends Southern Culture on the Skids played a benefit there recently and asked me to come, I stayed home. Vote with my dollars? Yes, thank you.
I had not realized, until reading your article, that the fairly new Taubman Art Museum was closing down or at least in dire staits. You asked for ideas. My thinking on the Taubman Museum is partly based upon my prejudice. Years ago my wife and I visited the very excellent Forry Ackerman Museum of Science Fiction and Fantasy. This was in Los Angeles. Sadly at his death the city and state short sightedly didn’t want to make it a government operated museum. So the whole collection, and I mean a mega collection, was crated off and is gradually being sold in small sections. Lost to us all is the wax figure wearing the original outfit that Boris Karloff wore in Frankenstein, Bela Lugosi’s ring, models used in countless films as spaceships, aliens and monsters. That is just a few things out of tens of thousands of things from great films ranging from the twenties to the nineties. I myself have part of our home set up as a film memorabilia show place for friends with items ranging from a Star Trek Christmas tree (all the ornaments HallMark has put up) to a sword from Lord of the Rings plus thousands of autographs, a number of models and film related toys. Not just science fiction by the way. I am sure that there are fans who would be interested in a museum devoted to the performing arts. A place that could also have plays and film festivals. We are having films made in this area now and we have several outstanding theater groups. I am sure that drama teachers like Carol Webster and film connected people like Bootie Chewning would have a number of good ideas. I know of several people right now who would be tops in this area, for advice if nothing else. You put your finger on it when you described the architecture of the building looking like a crashed flying saucer. Not exactly a draw for people who believe art should only consist of serious and stern looking paintings. Basically your words. I think media related folks could make the Taubman Art Museum into a real draw. However a definite name change is needed. Think about it.
Instead of building a new library, they could move the stacks into the Taubman. It already has a state-of-the-art A/V room for presentations along with a mini-auditorium for educational workshops.
Something tells me I shouldn’t jump in–but I must.
I’m a native Roanoker, took art lessons & participated in teen shows at Cherry Hill (the Taubman predecessor). Also, long story, know my way around small cities and bright museums. I have to admit I’m a bit appalled by the ‘level’ of some of the discourse on this blog, and at Dan’s crossed eyes, but then discourse on just about every political blog these days is appalling.
I thought seriously about being involved in some way at the Taubman when I first came back to town, but life quickly intervened in a major way. I have a feeling life and its pulls and tugs often make visiting a museum way down on the list of many folks, everywhere in the world. Certainly that’s an ongoing dialogue in the museum community nationwide, with museums tiny to huge: where are the visitors, and how do we keep them coming back?
And yes, the economy is very rough on most of us, who need to worry about groceries and house payments more than a Saturday art show.
But there certainly are a few nuggets of real interest in your comments, and possibly truths, and I would bet the Taubman folks are thinking about them at this very moment: The reddest flag was about the unfriendly shopkeeper–a museum is a business too, and its customers must always be treated as royalty; Next was the comment about the art collection and repeating/or continuing shows–there are ways to make those more relevant or to teach their importance to visitors, and there are also ways to develop intriguing exhibits at a very reasonable cost. On my visit (I’m a member at a very reasonable, competitive rate) recently, there were also a couple of fascinating shows, but yes, relevance to the region and/or local art scene probably is an issue with which the Taubman needs to wrestle. On the other hand, I know all too well the incredible cost of mounting ‘sexy’ world-class exhibits–would you believe a couple million bucks if you’re lucky in the negotiations?
Lots of us also have grown children and grandchildren who have stayed in, or moved to, Roanoke as young professionals–they love the music and the mountains and the sports, etc., but some of them are also looking for art and culture.
I did get a chuckle from some of you–the new Blacksburg High School? Loved it. Weiner Stand/Texas Tavern? Maybe so–wait, now I’m hungry. And the name–well, yes, I have an opinion on that but sometimes those decisions have many layers of reason behind them: I certainly couldn’t donate tens of millions of dollars, at least not in this lifetime. But the best and most realistic possibilities also come from your many comments, including: a partnership with Virginia Tech (why not?) including possibly the VT art gallery; indoor parts of outdoor, popular festivals; more frequent and locally-appealing exhibits; and most of all, finding a way to reach out in a serious manner to the neighbors while offering a welcome handshake (and hug) by the neighbors inside.
Location, location, location. Never thought it would make it. Money wasted. Plain and simple.
It has always seemed to me that the Taubman Museum was either the wrong (design) building in the right (location) place – or the right (design) building in the wrong (location) place.
Its futuristic design just doesn’t fit in at this location, not to mention that there is no convenient parking location. It would have been a far better fit – and probably room for parking, too on the southeast corner of Williamson Road and Campbell Ave where the tire store is located. Still not great, but better.
Roanoke promotes the “historic” Market Area and then plops this (insert whatever adjective you please) right down in this spot. Could no one associated with the art museum or city planning see the absurdity of this move? Mark this one down (yet another) “historic” blunder. In that context, I guess it fits right in.
Maybe I should list the other mis-fits, starting with Dominion (er, First Union, er, Wachovia, er, Wells Fargo) building. Should have been on the northeast corner of Jefferson & Campbell replacing the modernistic monstrosity built by Colonial-American Bank. Then we would still have the truly historic art-deco A&P building and the viaduct ramp from Williamson Road to Jefferson St.
Then there’s Hotel Roanoke Convention Center that defaces the truly historic facade of the Hotel. Should have been built on the opposite side of Wells Ave. with a bridge above the street connecting where the convention center foyer now is located.
But what to do with the Taubman . . .
Let those who just HAD to have it built right there, right then figure it out. No wait – maybe that’s not such a good idea – but at this point, what do we have to lose?
Roanoke has and always will be a small, quaint town. The amount of corporate opportunities that Roanoke has turned away and run away over the past 30 years, has led to the demise of this ONE-HORSE town!!
If it weren’t for Carilion…..the tumbleweeds would roll!!!
A $50mil+ museum……REALLY??! LOL!
I will be the first to admit I am not nor have I ever been a fan of the Taubman. To me it looked like an albatross totally out of sync with the downtown skyline. I vocally denounced the the price tag attached to it and predicted that it would just be a place for second grade field trips. I had written editorials previously published in the Roanoke Times on this subjects.
That being said, I have never rooted for it to fail! I have witnessed some events that were hosted there, that were awe inspiring. I am a big supporter of the arts in every form. I have just always been of the opinion that there were more than enough venues/museums/galleries available in the city already and that another was not necessary. There are several historical buildings that could have been revitalized and utilized within the city than the money pit that the Taubman became. It is sad that it is not living up to the vision that its creators had for it.
Even rich sophisticated people in New York are not immune from stupid Taubmanesque vanity projects.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/20/arts/19cnd-hartford.html
The line for “People Who Thought This Was a Dopey Idea From Day One” forms behind me.
Simply give it the Science Museum, the building fits its exhibits and would sure attract more visitors than the art. That way the money the Science Museum was getting for rennovation can be diverted to a TRUE Roanoke Museum that ALWAYS gets the short end of the stick. The Virginia Museum of Transportation is the only Museum in Southwest Virginia the DOES attract world-wide visitors that spend money. Besides the VMT is the largest representation of How This City Was BORN! Roanoke was not built on ART.
Dont blame the taubmans entirely it is also the legacy of our once always right city mgr darlene burcham
First off fire whoever thought we needed this atrocious piece of junk. If it was turned into a bar the drunks would never find their way out to drive home that would be a good thing. Maybe it could be hooked up to the sewage treatment plant Roanoke would be known as the only city in the country with the first modern art STP (sewage treatment plant). Hire the guy who told Roanoke you need to move the piece of art work??? at the Poff Building if construction is going to be going on. DUH!!! See what he would say for $5000. Roanoke I could have told you that for say half of what you paid that guy. Next time you need advice that is as plain as the nose of your face give me a call BR 549. Someone needs to get up a pool to see how many more White Elephants Roanoke can stand.
#25 Mrs. Stallman. That is a very good idea. A train station would be perfect. Decent or even high speed rail service would be awesome with the Taubman as the train station.
“Nothing ventured, nothing gained”. It is easy to slam them now, but the grandiose idea to add yet another “destination” in Roanoke was never a bad one. The management should have had more “open house” and “community building” events to build a rapport and support group. Like many other things, Roanoke does not have enough rich and powerful people to support the museum alone. They needed to make it a destination that locals wanted to go to. Parking is a problem, and it is still a big, ugly mystery to far too many people IMO.
The board should reach out to local businesses to have more functions there, local DJ’s, groups and activists need to have events there and we need to make it more of a multi-cultural, multi-use building than simply a stand alone museum. The library could host book signings, the Chamber could host events, groups could have fundraisers, Comedians, speakers, dances, poetry slams, there are things to do and people to do them. Everything is not about profit, comfort, support and acceptance can be won and with the loyalty dollars needed, IMO.
It would be beyond a shame if the people who fought so hard to bring it here now choose to abandon their efforts and investment and it would be sad to see it close or be completely something else.
Do what you have to do to survive until better times and the dividends will come and the generations who grew up with it will consider it special one day.
Honestly… I hear a lot of complaining and very little discourse on what to do now. Bottom line is that things can’t stay status-quo over there. I argue that the Taubman is putting the carriage in front of the horse. Culture usually follows money… not the other way around. When we get a thriving economy in Roanoke the culture will follow. It seems that the Taubman project was created to bring culture to the city. A noble venture! But a viable revenue generating business plan seems to be lacking. A lot of people in this town can’t afford to spend their hard earned money on anything other than life’s necessities. Many in this town are simply not that interested in the arts. That is apparent by the lack of folks who come out to Art By Night, which is a free event. These are not criticisms, just unfortunate facts! The idea of a grand, expensive art center just doesn’t make sense… at least not right now. So what are we to do? I feel like we can’t turn the ship around. We certainly don’t want to sink her either. Let’s steer her in a new direction. How can we make the building “fit” in downtown? What sort of revenue generating activity would make the most sense and appeal to the most people? What should be Roanoke’s “value-added” appeal to the rest of the Commonwealth, region, country? Once these questions have been answered then we will really have something great!
Well one has to wonder as some of you may remember,a man in S.W. was replacing his old tin roof with a shingled one and the city made him quit in the middle of it being that it was an historical neighborhood. The city stated that any remodeling must be done to closely resemble the original. Exactly how did this eyesore of a museum fit into that category downtown? Double standard I guess. If it closes,knock it down and sell off the scrap metal and divide the proceeds between the taxpayers that “unwillingly” gave their share of tax money to this miserable failure. Yes I’m well aware tha only a fraction of the costs came from us,but we had no say in it did we?
Let’s face it. We knew this day was coming. Roanoke doesn’t have the demographics (a certain education & income level–no offense, this is their argument) to get a Trader Joes so it amazes me to think that someone actually thought an art museum of this type could survive here. Whoever planned this did not do their research! It was a pretty bold move that, unfortunately in the end, will not pay off. Best idea yet is a joint venture with Virginia Tech, maybe the school of architecture. Housing a GOOD space museum with an IMAX would be wonderful too. And I disagree with the idea that high-income earners correlate somehow to interest in or appreciation of art/culture. High income earners may be educated, but they may have not expanded their appreciation of art along the way. I know several six-figure earners who could care less about art and cultural events.
The problem is that the Taubman Museaum is a facility looking for a mission, with no endowment for facilities management or programs and scant gallery space for a mediocre collection. Responsible and successful arts organizations, like the Roanoke Symphony, continue to balance their budget, do significant education and outreach work, and have never asked the community to build a building or bail them out for lack of planning or foresight. This is why the symphony is growing and garners broad regional support.
Just leave it exactly as it is and let it be a constant public reminder to those who were so rich and so out of touch with the reality of this wonderful little community.
Some honest impressions after my 1 visit last year: I love the structure and after having seen similar-sized and larger world-class venues all over the country, it’s my favorite. It’s a forward-thinking statement buliding that I think the region should be proud of. However, I understand the criticisms… that design will never be for everyone. I don’t think anyone would argue that aesthetics is what’s killing the Taubman though.
It seems there are several behind the scenes factors working against it, but for an outsider who has to travel 45+ minutes to get there, I have a few complaints. Though the small collection was top notch, it was just that — small. The building did seem ridiculously underused. I agree with other posters that at the very least they should open those rooms up to regional artists. And though all museums seem to keep the same hours, I can never understand why they all close at 5pm sharp. Especially if your potential customers are more blue collar than in larger cities, you should extend hours to let people go after work. I will never understand museum hours.
I regret that I haven’t been more, but it’s mostly been about finding the time, rather than the interest. I would like to see them do more advertising in the NRV area — I don’t think 99% of the students here even know about it.
That thing looks like an erector set threw up. Get rid of it.
And, before anyone accuses me of being uncultured, I have been through the whole thing. Twice. I found it overdone and unimpressive.
“Don’t get me wrong, I love art. I do big noisy art for a living. But I’ll never give the Taubman a dime of my money. My good friends Southern Culture on the Skids played a benefit there recently and asked me to come, I stayed home. Vote with my dollars? Yes, thank you.”
Why? Is it just the appearance and location? It’s totally ok if you say yes…I’m just wondering. Wondering if there’s something else going on here.
Why is this still a sore subject with everyone?? What’s done is done. I understand wanting to maintain the historic appeal of downtown Roanoke. But why not squeeze in the best of both worlds? Contemporary AND Classical Art! All in one place. Was there a particular landmark that was destroyed in the making of this museum? No??
What’s done is done. It is where it is. Why not go and support your friends? And support your community in the process.
I could whine all day about how sad it is that they tore down (insert gasp here because she’s about to say it) Victory Stadium, but it wouldn’t keep me from enjoying a fantastic PH football game at their shiny new stadium on campus!
I feel pretty confidently that the programming ideas thrown around on this blog have already been discussed at the museum, are being discussed and are even being taken for a spin. Of course no one wants another empty building…especially not one as visually interesting as this one is. I also know not everyone wants or cares about art. That’s not the point.
—-Insert drumroll for the point here—
The point is SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY! (This does not apply to those that already do that) Sometimes if you try something new, you might find that you enjoy it and want to keep going back!!! And then everyone would be happy! It doesn’t mean that you have to see the same exact thing constantly, because I know that would be silly and boring…but check back and see what other things are planned throughout the year. If there’s something you’d like to see, get involved! Make it happen! If everyone picked out just one thing that looked interesting to them and gave it a whirl, things might be in a different situation. No promises of course, but it’s a nice thought right? And who knows what other fun local things you might stumble upon on along the way.
Unrealistic pipe dreams…I know… I’ve always wanted to see the positive side.
It can’t be used for the library. There is even less parking at Taubman than at Elmwood Park!
(I think I’ll stop talking now)
Petition the state to legalize gambling and turn it into a casino – that’s what it looks like – a blingy casino. The next Caesar’s Palace?
The Taubman was a terrible idea from the beginning. Tens of millions of dollars spent on an “out of this world” looking museum, all the while, the historical fanatics of downtown are giving construction companies the what for when they inadvertently make a minor change to the exterior of a building in downtown, because it does not keep with the downtown historic “look”. No one (hardly) went to the old museum save for the occasional field trip, and out of towners that may have happened upon it, and it was 10x smaller than the Taubman, and had a much smaller budget! I have said from the beginning that when the initial intrigue of the Taubman Museum wore off, and the initial influx of donations were spent, the museum would close. I am sorry to see that I was probably correct to some degree. I hate that people have lost their jobs, and we have lost a museum, but maybe now Roanoke will open their eyes and realize what this town can, and can not sustain. Please get some sense Roanoke! This is another sad case among a list of many in this town that was bad planning and poor execution. Shame on you…again
Nick Taubman and Governor Mc Donnell need to meet – and leverage the building, combined with economic incentives, to attract the corporate HQ of a Fortune 500 tenant to lease the space, provide a good paying jobs, using the lobby as a showcase for art, and homage to the best intentions of Nick and Jenny Taubman.
It should not be that hard.
There is always “a win” in every situation.
You go Megan, the world needs more people like you! Thanks for your comments here.
I do like the idea of the building to be used for an Amtrak station. That is one way the building can be used to increase traffic and yes TOURISM to the Roanoke Valley. Any of you city council members read this forum? I also have to say the the museum would have done MUCH better had it been built in Salem!!!!!! Proximity to I-81. Salem has the leadership and community support needed to keep it going.
Love Taubman and the Taubmans. I also love the paradox that the hate-filled responders to this thread, will certainly vote for Talban’s pals Bob Goodlatte (nee Connecticut) and Morgan Griffith (allegedly from Salem).
Cut a big hole in the side of the building and give it to William Gasser (Danville tank museum). Bring the German Panzer to downtown Roanoke!
The Taubman looks like a life-sized Transformer…one that has fallen and cannot get up. It was never a good fit for our area. There are many other places that could/should have been used to exhibit art.
There were some good ideas listed in the blog, maybe the powers that be should actually listen this time.
And Margaret (#’s 42 & 44) please…as a native,not a 3 yr. transplant, I can say that yes, we are aware of our town and that it is changing.
We do not want our city to “fail” as you stated, but ARE intelligent enough and have lived here long enough, to know what will make and it and what will not.
I am just shocked it failed. Cause I remember the last time I went to the art museum when it was in Center in the Square and thought to myself wow this collection would work if it only had fifty times more space. I was the only visitor there. I was sure my entrance fee would have paid for it.
Back in the summer my husband wanted to take our teenager and two elementary-age children to visit the museum. But when he found out the tickets were >$10 each, he quickly changed his mind and went to the zoo instead. I would cut the price of tickets in half and increase efforts to host more private events.
@Steve and LyndaK – please visit http://www.childrensmuseumofblacksburg.org. Our location is not yet determined!
That’s really cool, Melissa. Good luck!
Hey, Dan, here’s an idea. Since you are so clever, why don’t you try to do something positive with your typing skills instead of denigrating one of our city’s most valuable assets?
Megan-
“Why? Is it just the appearance and location? It’s totally ok if you say yes…I’m just wondering. Wondering if there’s something else going on here.”
That’s a good bit of it, sure. The Taubman is a blight on the cityscape. A lot of folks like myself love to look at nice old brick buildings, and rather cared for the skyline of Roanoke such as it was. The stuff thats actually in that building would have fit in any number of existing structures downtown, and with way more character. Right now it’s more like the “Monument to Architects that Make a Killing On Wannabe Big Cities” with a few art things thrown in for fun.
The bigger issue though is that it’s really a crappy museum. It always will be, the Taubman doesn’t have the clout or the funds to get any of the cooler traveling exhibits. That’s not the fault of the public not paying $10 to visit. Thats the fault of idiots running something they have no business running. You can’t build a museum with operating costs of what, 7 mil a year in Roanoke. Just a STUNNING lack of common sense. It’s lame, and as such I’m not going to reward failure by forking over my money.
“The point is SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY! (This does not apply to those that already do that) Sometimes if you try something new, you might find that you enjoy it and want to keep going back!!!”
Well, right theres another big problem. The Taubman really isn’t part of the community. It hasn’t been since before they built it. No one I know wanted it there, but it HAD to go there and the City put on a blindfold and handed out variences like candy. I promise you that if they had renovated an existing brick structure, they’d be doing twice the business with half the overhead. Don’t tell me about community when the museum itself cut community in half with a chainsaw. I support MY community like crazy, the Taubman just isn’t part of it. I actually feel sorry for a lot of the folks that DO donate. Most of them don’t really care, it’s just another merit badge for wannabe big city socialites.
I will probably be up all night waiting for an explanation of why the Taubman is one of roanokes biggest assets. Kudos to the poster for correct useage of “denigrating”.
Whomever came up with the “wreck of the flying nun” should get a years free pass.
@ City Girl
Okay, just so I can get this out of the way: The Taubman is one of our city’s most valuable assets? How do you figure that? They’ve gone through 4 layoff rounds and a board shakeup, which saw one of the museum’s namesakes leave.
If it was so much of a “valuable asset” as you say, then wouldn’t it be actually making money instead of losing it? Wouldn’t it be drawing visitors here in troves? Wouldn’t it be generating excitement amongst the community? Ideally, the answer to all of those questions “yes”. But as it stands, the Taubman can only answer “no”.
It cost over 50 million dollars to build, and it’s been open how long now? Tell me this, how much revenue has the museum generated for the city in that time? My guess, seeing that the museum is in the situation that it’s in, is that it’s not enough to justify its existence. And the underlying fact in that, is that there’s just not enough interest.
You people can spin it any way you want, but it all comes down to a point, and that point is that the Taubman was/is a complete waste of 50 MILLION Dollars.
Now spin that.
When we forsake the arts we are all lesser for it! Like NASA the
cost is large but the spinoffs are greater.
#116, I agree. But I didn’t notice Dan chiming in all that much. My comment will be #118, and is not denigrating the Taubman, but wondering if I missed something Melissa saw.
In fact, Dan said he and his family like the museum, but from my reading, about 70% of the rest of the respondents didn’t while many of the remaining 30% wished they could find a reason to like it.
That doesn’t strike me as Dan’s fault, except maybe for starting the subject and not drooling all over the museum’s design.
Suzie could put her private collection of velvet paintings on display! Gotta love dogs playing poker.
To dispel some myths: 1) Hardly any tax money went into this project. This is NOT a public museum operated at the expense of our tax dollars – yes, some city land was donated to this project, but that is just about it – relative to the price tag of $66 million, tax dollars make up only a very small fraction. The Taubman’s donated almost half of this – and Mr. Fralin donated almost an equivalent amount in art and other funds in memory of his brother.
2) Waste of money? Well, due to mismanagement, maybe, in regard to the museum possibly closing down. But how many construction workers, electricians, and contractors, among others, found work in the over 2 years it took to build that museum because of that project? How many of those workers spent money in the downtown area? And how much of that money ended up going . . . to the government through taxes? Income earned off of that money – taxed. Purchases bought with that money by workers – taxed. Some of that $66 million went to local, state, and federal governments. The $66 million did not simply vanish – it was dispersed locally and nationally – even internationally. So for two years, there was a positive short term economic impact – and I dare say the government got more from that project than it gave.
More importantly, though, how many children have benefited from being exposed to some great art? How many children have benefited from Roanoke Children’s Theater, operating separate from but within the Taubman Museum? If but one child – just one child – has had a life changing experience through theater or the art found within that museum then that is worth something – if it were your child, would that be worth $66 million to you – money that basically the bulk of which came from two, maybe three, families? I have to say, seeing my little girl perform in a small play during a Roanoke Children’s Theater summer camp was worth the Taubman’s and Fralin’s donations!
I don;t know, but I think we as a community were given a gift – maybe it was one many of us did not want, but it was given to us nonetheless. Were we not taught better than this? Taught to graciously say thank you?
So many have joked about all of us natives as being into wraslin and car racing – good ole southern culture. Well, the South with which I associate has another important part to it – its manners. “We say grace, we say ma’am, if you aint into that we don’t give a —.” Where is this Southern hospitality? It sure is not found on this blog.
If you have gone to the museum, you probably have valid complaints: parking, too expensive, not enough gallery space, etc. In a sense, two directors now have squandered our gift – they have failed us as they have not been able to keep this gift thriving. They have made poor decisions. They failed to provide strong leadership. They have perpetuated an offensive elitism. Shame on them!
But with all of this – if everyone could move past the building, past the elitist persona, past the many mistakes, past the hatred – and past the desire to scream “I told you so,” and focus on why the building was built . . . the art . . . I think you might find something valuable in that building and understand why it could be, or should be, an important part of our community.
In World War II the British moved the works of art out of the National Gallery in London due to fears that constant German air raids would destroy its collection. Works were moved to safety outside of the city. The culture had to be preserved, and no one wanted to see a German bomb hit the museum and destroy its collection. Yet something amazing happened. The people of London – many of whom were not, on average, as educated as are we today, demanded that the art be returned. In the midst of the horrors of war – of facing near death almost everyday at the hands of the German Luftwaffe, the people of London wanted . . . art! They wanted something to remind them of civilization; something to help them escape the horrors of war. They wanted: something to give them hope. The museum met their demand and began to rotate one work of art through the museum – so the people had something to help them escape the horrors of war while still protecting the bulk of the collection.
Art is a powerful force. There are powerful pieces on view now at the Taubman Museum. Maybe it is a “pursed lipped portrait” that emotionally conveys how you feel. Eakins’ father-in-law, painted in amazing detail, looks as if he has seen much over his life – he almost looks as if he is contemplating his life – reflection is suggested in his expression – had he led a good life? What mistakes had he made that he should not have made? Have we not all thought this?
Or maybe the memorial to those who have fallen for us in Iraq can help you better understand the sacrifice our soldiers are making on a daily basis for us – sacrifices that allow us to express our opinions on this blog with no fear of government retribution. Each leaf – a lost life – someone’s son, daughter, sister, brother, husband, wife – lost due to war – lost protecting us – something that is sadly timeless.
Or possibly a hard day at the office forces you to take a lunch break and stroll the galleries – marveling at a wonderful re-creation of a masterpiece – in cardboard! Or possibly examine a young girl swinging on a gate – the freedom of being a child! Can you think back to your childhood – escape your boss for a moment and simply remember what it was like to be . . . free? Or at least as free as a child can be.
Or do you think you are having a really bad day? Imagine being adrift on an iceberg, floating along, not knowing if you will survive. Just look at Voyage of the Polaris and you don’t have to imagine too hard – those unlucky souls disembarking from the ship are about to embark on a perilous journey, possibly foreshadowed by the dogs fighting over red cloth. The artist’s use of color almost makes the viewer feel the cold those souls would have to endure – but don’t worry, they all survive – all except one – the leader of the exhibition. Him? Oh he was . . . murdered! What a story!
I know – any realist will state that not everyone attaches himself or herself to art in this manner – heck, I don’t always. That is why programming is so important – something that has dramatically declined the last year under the new director. Again, shame!
I hate I even have to state this, but sadly somehow some of the posts have tried to take this discussion in a direction driven by class – as if somehow art is only for the rich or that only the rich were meant to enjoy the museum. I am not rich. I am a hard working, middle class guy trying to raise my children and do good for my family and my community. Some might say I am a schmuck.
But you know, schmuck or not, I am thankful to the Taubmans and to Fralin for what they tried to do by donating so much of their wealth and time to this project. I want to say, in good Southern fashion, thank you to them.
For those that told us all this would fail – congratulations. I hope your soothsaying talents can translate to the stock market. But most of all, I hope that whatever replaces this museum, should it fail, will fill any gaps you have in your life as the art in this museum filled for me during a wonderful time in my life.
Build it and they will come, they came they went and they are not coming back. I think this museum would have looked a lot nicer someplace else and not on the market. It seems a bit of an eye sore there is nothing around it that makes any sense. There is no parking, what a waste. It looks like a flying saucer out of place like the rocket at the transportation museum.
Sell it to Carilion I hope not. Then when you receive your next bill there will be a charge on your clinic bill for that too. Don’t worry about selling it to Carilion if it sits there long enough not making any money then they will condemn the property. Funny is the comment to make it a surgery suite the building is not that big. Put it this way, it is a lot of wasted space but not enough to do a lot with.
I have not gone in not one time and I have no plans too. The fee to visit could be smaller and perhaps more people will come. Like the transportation museum once you have been there what reason would you go back? In most large cities visiting museums is not expensive, they are plentiful their zoo’s are fantastic we have a little bitty zoo, out of the way and you have to pay too much to go there. If the fees were smaller then you would see more people. I used to love taking my daughter to mill mountain when she was small going through that big shoe was so cute, now it is a boring entrance amd has not grown over the years. A motel or theatre would make you want to visit, stay a while enjoy the view.
The City spent a lot of money on the inside of the food court, now the darn thing is closed I am sorry but that little place is just not worth all that money. But then if they don’t make it better, then where will Carilion employees go to eat since they ride the free trolley.
I liked the fact that the former City Manager tried to bring some changes to Roanoke we spent a lot of money but employees are not getting even cost of living raises and those in administrative positions are still getting higher salaries but the citizens are getting nothing. Buy paper bags for your leaves we could save money (the city) who cares about the citizens.
To me, from day one, it has looked like a plane wreck in the middle of what “used to be” a really unique downtown environment. I’m from the American Southwest, and the “turn of the century” look of downtown was a real attraction to me. Now, it looks like any other city that really doesn’t care what it’s skyline looks like.
The building itself, being as unique as it is, would probably be “acceptable” in some other location. In fact, with a little planning, a little work with landscape ideas and an innovative committee, it would have been quite the success story, instead of an ugly money pit.
The downtown skyline should have been preserved. There is plenty of area around here to “innovate and modernize” this community without taking away a part of the town, that made it unique and attractive.
My suggestion…even though it won’t be very appealing to most, bulldoze it, cut your loses and build a parking structure that is designed to “enhance” the downtown skyline and provide a badly needed community service.
~~ Expanded idea ~~
Incorporate a “car wash/detail shop on the lower level. Offer a car wash or detail job while the driver is at work or shopping. (discounts to parking fees could be offered with a set number of washes)
Driving into Roanoke for the first time on 581, the lovely city unfolds. The Catholic Church, Hotel Roanoke, Wachovia, and the Taubman museum greet newcomers by saying we honor the old and welcome the new. Before moving here just a few months ago, I looked online for cultural avenues and joined the Taubman museum. I saw the modern building as a symbol that Roanokers embraced the new – ideas and people. This corner of Virginia seems blessed with artists. Let the Taubman be their venue for exhibiting and promote this to tourists. I see this city as a diamond in the rough…it could easily become a tourist destination. Tourists = $$$
@ Melissa: Yes!! That’s exactly what I think would work. I would like to know how much revenue Center in the Square gets from school field trips. I’d imagine they do pretty good catering to children. Now imagine that on a greater scale. For all of those who commented on bringing culture to Roanoke, why not start with our children. Instill in them a sense of wonder and amazement in the arts.
I attended the opening night festivities of the Taubman. There were many people present for the event. Why didn’t they come back? Why wasn’t there at least a modest sized crowd of visitors after the grand opening? There are many reasons, most of which have already been posted. But the lack of support from the local community cannot be a reason. You don’t open a business and then complain that no one is coming to your store because they are not interested. You build the store with the interest of your consumers in mind. You satify demand, not create it! If any of the people who planned the Taubman had actually attended business school, or at least paid attention in business school, they would have known that you can’t create demand. Stop blaming the local populace!
About time we had some meaningful and honest discussion about this. Let’s take off the Rose Colored Glasses and look at things clearly, even if there is a powerful element of the community that wants us to put them on and keep them on.
Statements referring to removal of collections and namesakes resignations, not being important to the Museum, are wrong, so wrong. This is a big deal. The Lady could have just quietly apologized for not attending Board meetings until the end of her term, she chose to resign and take her stuff with her.
Volunteers have been under appreciated and driven away. Ideas and actions from folks that wanted so desperately to help were rejected. Great Local Artists have felt shut out of the environment. Opinions of those outside of the group have been ignored. I could go on.
It’s time for a change, whatever it is. This can’t go on. We had an Arts Museum, now we don’t. A Sports Museum or a Medical Library and Museum, horrifying thoughts, but viable ones, when thought through, either would bring funding, people, events, academic interest, etc.. Think of the Hokie weddings, The Imax history of the VT team. Receptions, medical conferences etc.. Paying work for many would arrive. Downtown would thrive.
On another thought, let’s try and make it work as an Arts Museum. why not invite serious ideas from people and see if we can get them to listen.
One thing is certain – the windows are not going to be cleaned in the foreseable future.
River is quite right the success depends on them. Roanoke (and I need to say this – the Valley,) has a vibrant Arts Community with great people and works. Its people own great collections. Complaints that there is very little in the Musuem are valid. We have Art, its in crates. I personally know of three collections that have been offered for exhibition, offers that have been ignored or just put off. This is more evidence of the Taubman not embracing its own locality. Arrogance, Hubris, Insulation, call it what you like, the vast majority of people (as displayed in this blog) living and working in this area have felt aliented by the Taubman. I do and I know many that do. For those that don’t want to read this and think we are all negative and ungrateful (some are, just this) take your head out of the sands and lets get this thing fixed. A comment above, stated that this is an embrassement, it is, lets turn it into a pheonix.
Change resistant, No. this needs to be changed. and it not all about money. It’s attitude. Open the doors and let Roanoke in.
Dan did his job, he started a debate that should have been started a long time ago.
Let’s get together and see what can be done. We need positivity, but we have to listen to opinion from all directions, as here lies the solution.
So many have chosen to write here, this is an awesome thing. People are still thinking about the issues. I have been asked ‘why do I worry about this, no one cares about the Taubman, it not relevant.’ I do care as many others do, but many don’t give the place a second thought. Art must be accessible and available to all members of the community and not just the few.
I could go on, but I am already boring you all. Yes the building is wrong. (and I love modern buildings) Yes, it is in the wrong place, Yes it is not good exhibit space, Yes it was a crazy idea etc… but it’s what we have, We need to ‘Make It Work’.
“My good friends Southern Culture on the Skids played a benefit there recently and asked me to come”
I can’t picture me walking like a camel in an art museum..
Marcus… The Taubman does bring in the crowds, when they offer something unique for people to attend. They always have a decent crowd at the art show to benefit the SPCA and just a few weeks ago they hosted a small concert featuring David Archuleta. The photos showed people lined up down the street. Maybe the key is for them to offer a variety of affordable activities to attract visitors.
I’m not a fan of the building. It’s beautiful, inside and out, but totally out of place where it sits. As for the art… the times that I have been there I have seen much of the same. After a while, it’s just the same old thing.
I agree with you that much of the onus to keep the museum profitable, lies with the museum.
I found your comments ditasteful. We should appreciate and not ridicule the museums and artistic endeavors we have here. If you would say the museum should become a multdenominational house of worship, that would be just. The problem is not the shape of the building but the paucity of art works it displays. We need to support the very little bit of culture in this valley, and not get excited about so much foorball,
Do they sell an 8-piece box at Norah’s?
“We need to support the very little bit of culture in this valley, and not get excited about so much foorball,” – Agnes
Agnes, do you mean Foos-ball? Buncha overgrown monsters man-handlin’ each other? Foos-ball is the debil…
…and by the way, Agnes, alligators are ornery ’cause of their Medula Oblongata!
The building itself and, even more so, the way it’s been curated, is an absolute treasure. When I have out-of-town friends come to visit, the first thing I do is take them to the Taubman and as a member, I look forward to every new exhibit. And Norah’s cafe is one of the best places downtown to eat lunch. I, personally, will mourn deeply if we lose this gem…let’s spread the word and take our ‘in-town’ friends in for a visit. There’s something there for everyone!Roanoke needs the Taubman!
@ Madison : You didn’t bore me. Your post was insightful and thought provoking, as was the one from Iluvart4evr. Thank you both for providing some constructive dialogue.
I have a Master’s in Art and have been fortunate enough to visit some of the world’s great museums over the past 20 years or so. So I appreciate art. The interior of the museum is lovely, but as many have said, the exhibit space is small. The museum shop is as large as the permanent gallery. I realize the Eakins paintings are fine pieces, but they don’t call to me to come back and see them again and again. I think the museum has made a number of mistakes in scheduling of the temporary exhibits. Remember the tattoos and the homeless mannequins? Not a big draw for anyone other than the smallish local artsy crowd. On one visit to the museum for my son’s field trip, we had lunch in the special event section. Lunch was bland- peanut butter sandwiches and water. But I was appalled that the ‘Rape in the Congo’ promo shots were shown on a loop continuously during our lunch for second graders, despite the polite objections of myself and others. The employee running the AV equipment looked at me like I was a culturally lacking moron when I asked him to remove the rape images and quotes from the loop, or at the very least, just turn it off. That should show you some of the disconnect the Taubman employees (particularly Kimberly Templeton) have with the city that supports (or in this case, doesn’t) them. I have not been back other than for a few private parties- where I was amused to see that the art was the same as the last time I was there months earlier. I’m an art lover, but this place needs to have its house cleaned to move forward.
A Master’s in Art. Now there’s a degree.
@pt3 – Bingo! You hit the nail on the head! The Taubman (those running it) do not care about the local community. They have built a monument to their own hubris and are now trying to blame the community for its downfall.
@Lynda – I agree with you that those events did draw a good number of people. But the Taubman itself cannot command that kind of crowd. If special events draw a large crowd then would it be safe to say that they also draw large revenues? If so, why aren’t there more special events? Seems like that would be a good way for the Taubman to keep its head above water.
I think it is a big mistake for those of us who thought that this was a dumb idea from Day One to be branded as mean spirited nabobs of negativism.To me, it was a simple marvelous grasp of the obvious. Roanoke is a blue collar, NASCAR kind of small town. We don’t have much history or a big college or university to make us hip. Roanoke is a great place to leave. I did that once. But it is also a great place to come back to. I did that too. But no one is coming here to look at average old art no matter what the package. Don’t blame the architect but you can blame the people who bought into his poor design of interior space. Don’t blame the scanty art collection but you can blame the people who thought those old Topps baseball cards deserved to be showcased in a glitzy Faberge box. Don’t blame the people who live here, we did not ask for this museum and we have shown our disinterest with our feet. I love the RoVa but don’t feel the least bit guilty or irresponsible for my share in letting this thing go ker-plunk.
I love art and architecture, from Van Gogh to Frank Lloyd Wright, I also love Roanoke and like so many of its critics, I thought the building was in the wrong place and time for Roanoke.
The building alone cries out to be placed in a setting of the grandeur of rolling lawns, trees, fountains, park benches that would bring out some of the high lights of nature and natures art.
You wouldn’t put and display the Mona Lisa beside a freeway and railroad tracks. They built a work of art up against a freeway and along railroad tracks. The outside cafe is up against a highway bridge wall, along the railroad tracks. Talk about a receipt for failure! Who doesn’t know and understand, It’s location, location, locations yet they built it anyway in the worst possible location.
I have long proposed to bring gravity sports to Roanoke. Here’s our chance, the worlds most modern indoor skate board facility Sure would get the kids off the street and from tearing up all the building corners, edges and railings. Put a jump down to the Rail Walk and “off they go”
E. Duane Howard
Suzie,
My degree has served me well. I’ve been well employed since earning my Master’s in 1992. Not sure what your comment was supposed to mean…
I love art, but I am saying “I told you so”. If we can’t support what we already have, how are we to support that monstrosity? The Transportation Museum, the zoo, etc. are wonderful places that should be kept alive. The TM is an eyesore, and I will never step foot in it.
Welcome pt3! No worries, none of us ever really know what Suzie’s comments are supposed to mean. Think “insult” and go with that, it is never wrong. Beyond that, there is no use trying. Nobody’s home, trust us.
I think you hit the nail on the head with your post. The people running the Museum seemed to be disconnected from Roanoke in a way that is not what Roanoke is about. This is not NY, Philadelphia, LA or Chicago, being aloof, indifferent and non-accommodating will never sell here. Like I said, they have missed many opportunities and only a massive effort will save them now.
pt3,
Don’t take it personally. Our emotion-challenged (by her own description) Suzie frequently pooh poohs degrees of any sort that are in the arts or education as not worth the paper they’re written on.
#141 Suzie’s just being the buttwipe she is. Ignore her.
pt3, please don’t take this wrong – I am all for higher education and I recognize and appreciate the contribution that art has made to the world throughout history – but does the company which pays you well receive federal/state/local subsidy money to stay afloat? I don’t agree with that use of tax money.
Perfectly said, Honestjohn.
If anyone is interested in a stellar art museum in Roanoke with amazing shows, have a look:
http://www.hollins.edu/museum/index.shtml
And best of all, it’s FREE!
i am so disgusted by the degeneration of downtown. i remember a time when it used to be such a vibrant place full of businesses and life. i used to spend entire days wandering through museums, exhibits, eating fantastic food and shopping. now it is simply pathetic. i am so much more disgusted by everyone’s “aw gee, now. we don’t need no such place o learnin in our little ol city. that thar just looks like a big ol space craft” attitude. broaden your minds. the museum is beautiful. the building itself is a work of art. we need art. we need theater. we need music. we need a little *GASP* culture.
and by the way, to you @Marked Man: alligators are so ornery because they got too many teeth and no toothbrush.
Man I missed that…good one Mark., and b53.
Don’t worry pc3, Suzie has a masters in construction of doublewides.
She even built her own.
It’s pretty funny. All I said about mp3′s Master’s was “now there is a degree” and all you people read all sorts of negative stuff into it. It’s like Patsy saying “I don’t read her posts, but I can tell she’s a racist”.
All Girl has to do is show up to set you clowns off on some hateful tirade.
dave…if you’ve seen modern double-wides (houses, not a$$es), that would actually be quite complimentary.
pt3,
Pay no mind to the high priestess of white trash that goes by the name of suzie. She pulls the same crap with everybody so don’t go thinking that you’re special or anything. She’s also our resident expert on everything single topic introduced on the board and is compelled to opine whether her input is asked for or not. We’re passing the hat to get her back in anger management classes. Can you pitch in a 5 spot?
153
“girl”???? Hag, troll, vile spewer of hate maybe, but ‘girl’??
I enjoyed your article on future uses for the museum. My suggestion is with the futuristic look of the museum, you could host Comic Con in the future and bring all that tourism business here to Roanoke. Each sci-fi venue would have its own exhibit. The X-files, Lost, Star Trek, the list is endless. There could be a whole section devoted to “Ringers” , the Lord of the Rings fans. Who wouldn’t enjoy a trip to Middle Earth and Mount Doom? The Trekkies could have their own section with Klingons, Tribbles and a possible in person apperance by William Shatner himself. Star Wars fans would enjoy the original cafe from the first installment, and jobs could be created for staffers to dress as Wookies, Ewoks and Yoda. Think of the business that the Twilight series could bring in. Have an IMAX theater inside and have weekend marathons of all the sci fi hits. Business would be great and the only person in danger of a layoff would be the guy hired for the JarJar Binks costume