Tragic proceedings - BSA looking to sell precious Norman Rockwell collection

[Eagle1993]

13 hours ago, mrjohns2 said:

Does selling them transfer the trademark rights to the new owner?

Good question.  From what I can see, copyright ownership is separate from physical ownership.  That said, when I searched the copyright owner of various Norman Rockwell Boy Scout paintings, I don't see BSA listed as the copyright owner. Saxon Industries and B&B Communication Corp are listed as the owner of several.

[RememberSchiff]

Previously, as part of its bankruptcy plan of reorganization, BSA’s artwork was transferred to the BSA Settlement Trust.

Hon. Barbara J. Houser (Ret.), the Trustee overseeing the administration and distribution of the funds to survivors, ordered the start of the liquidation process last week, picked Heritage Auctions to handle the sale, and remarked  “These Survivors have waited decades to be heard and acknowledged, and the sale of these works will aid us in providing a measure of justice to them. Buyers should be proud that they will be contributing to rebuilding lives and helping to right past wrongs.”

“Heritage is deeply grateful to have been entrusted with what is undoubtedly one of the most significant collections of Golden Age illustrations to emerge on the market in recent years,” said Aviva Lehmann, Heritage’s Senior Vice President of American Art. “We are honored to present this museum-caliber collection, which not only celebrates the artistry of Norman Rockwell and other luminaries of the Golden Age but also embodies the rich cultural heritage at the core of our mission as America’s largest auction house. Equally important to us is the privilege of supporting the Survivors, underscoring our commitment to both the arts and social responsibility.”

..."At confirmation of the plan, the Trust’s compensation fund was valued at approximately $2.5 billion. Other causes of action against third parties may increase the fund further. To date, the Trust has paid more than $25 million to over 6,800 Survivors." The art collection itself has been valued at $130 million.

Reminder, the collection is on view at the Medici Museum of Art until this Sunday September 1. 

Sources 8/28-29/2024:

https://www.tribtoday.com/news/local-news/2024/08/medici-scouting-for-a-new-collection/

https://www.ha.com/heritage-auctions-press-releases-and-news/heritage-to-auction-boy-scouts-of-america-masterpieces-to-compensate-survivors-of-childhood-sexual-abuse.s?releaseId=5034

[RememberSchiff]

Update:

"Heritage’s November 15 American Art Signature^® Auction will include 25 landmark works from the Boy Scouts’ collection. Among the historic lot: Norman Rockwell’s Homecoming and Beyond the Easel (the latter a self-portrait placing the artist among his Scouting students); Joseph Christian Leyendecker’s Boy Scouts Signaling with Flags, a Saturday Evening Post cover from September 1911; Monte Crews’ Boys’ Life cover 1939 World’s Fair and Joseph Csatari’s 1976 Scout Handbook Eighth Edition cover.

...

In total, Heritage will offer 59 of Rockwell’s most beloved Boy Scouts pieces, all of which were included in the BSA’s collection during a lengthy exhibition at The American Scouting Collection at the Medici Museum of Art in Howland, Ohio. Over the summer, those works were transferred to Heritage, which will continue offering additional artwork from the Trust in future auctions."

 

Source with photos:

https://intelligentcollector.com/auction-of-boy-scouts-art-collection-to-benefit-survivors-of-childhood-sexual-abuse/

 

[RememberSchiff]

CBS News Texas report with comments from Trustee Barbara Houser.

 

[skeptic]

This is sad, but we have known this for over a year.  An example of how the Media regurgitates things for the emotional hit.  Of course, that propensity is partly why this became necessary, along with the broken legal system and irrational ideas that you can somehow fix the past.  We should be glad the images are already saved, even if not the originals in hand.  

[RememberSchiff]

Nov 15, 2024:

Heritage Auctions sold 25 works, raising $3.7 million for the settlement fund.

...the organization (BSA) also sold more than 30 council properties as of last month. 

“The reality is for most survivors, all this resolves is the bankruptcy, it doesn’t resolve their pain and it doesn’t resolve what was taken away from them,” Doug Kennedy, a survivor and co-chair of a committee representing victims, told the AP. 

More details at sources:

https://apnews.com/article/art-auction-boy-scouts-norman-rockwell-e1d4b54ac1941c00494c99a8bbb1660e

https://www.elpasoinc.com/first-batch-of-boy-scout-art-raises-over-3-7-million-for-those-abused-while/article_ea2895f7-f26f-54b6-ab42-44bc52a024c5.html

https://thehill.com/homenews/4993294-boy-scouts-norman-rockwell-sale/

Edited November 16 by RememberSchiff

[skeptic]

4 hours ago, RememberSchiff said:

Nov 15, 2024:

Heritage Auctions sold 25 works, raising $3.7 million for the settlement fund.

...the organization (BSA) also sold more than 30 council properties as of last month. 

“The reality is for most survivors, all this resolves is the bankruptcy, it doesn’t resolve their pain and it doesn’t resolve what was taken away from them,” Doug Kennedy, a survivor and co-chair of a committee representing victims, told the AP. 

More details at sources:

https://apnews.com/article/art-auction-boy-scouts-norman-rockwell-e1d4b54ac1941c00494c99a8bbb1660e

https://www.elpasoinc.com/first-batch-of-boy-scout-art-raises-over-3-7-million-for-those-abused-while/article_ea2895f7-f26f-54b6-ab42-44bc52a024c5.html

https://thehill.com/homenews/4993294-boy-scouts-norman-rockwell-sale/

This is the truth with this, and any rational thinker saw the problem at the start.  No amount of money will "fix" those harmed.  The only winners are the lawyers that prey on people and twist the truth to pad their pockets.  You will never make "survivors or victims" whole.  But the 95 percent plus youth and leaders who have been penalized by trying to do the impossible, fix the past, are the final victims who now struggle to find a way forward with the new order.  Scouting precepts are a good guide, just as many religious dictums are, but only right acting and thinking people can "mostly" protect the youth or others mentored or served.  The darkness of society is always waiting for the careless or easily misled to allow them to act badly and victimize.  And that includes the predator lawyers.  

[mrjohns2]

On 11/16/2024 at 7:24 AM, RememberSchiff said:

Heritage Auctions sold 25 works, raising $3.7 million for the settlement fund.

Too bad the article didn’t say if what was sold was close to what was expected. Any one have any idea? What about properties now that a couple of years have passed since the evaluations were given and real value received.