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Gee and Union director to arm wrestle over disputed painting

munoz.39@osu.edu

Published: Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Updated: Saturday, June 16, 2012 00:06

gee painting

Andy Gottesman / The Lantern

It will be a battle of the bicep between two of the university's top administrators, and it all started over a painting.

On Friday, Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee and Tracy Stuck, director of the Ohio Union, will compete in an arm wrestling match to find out who gets to keep a coveted painting by Alice Schille.

"I officially ‘challenged' Dr. Gee a little over a year ago," Stuck said. "I can assure you that I've been on a rigorous training regimen with the help of the RPAC staff."

The painting previously adorned the former Ohio Union, but when that building was cleared out two years ago in preparation of the new $118 million Union, Gee installed the artwork in his home.

"I am not one to back down from a challenge," Gee said, "and the painting really is one of my favorites."

If Gee wins, the painting stays at his house. If Stuck wins, it will go to the new Union, where Stuck has already reserved a specific space for the painting.

The painting in question is "Children at the Beach," a piece painted in 1911 by Schille, who attended the Columbus Art School, now the Columbus College of Art and Design. No matter who wins, the painting will be retained as property of the university.

Schille is noted as one of the foremost female watercolor painters.

After her education in Columbus, she launched a career that took her from Columbus to Paris and around the world in search of inspiration for her works.

Schille passed away in 1955 at the age of 86.

The match will be held at 10:30 Friday a.m. at the RPAC and is open to the public. 

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15 comments

Jeremy
Fri Mar 5 2010 10:34
People, relax. It's all in good fun, and used for bringing more light to the much anticipated opening of the New Ohio Union. Have more faith in Dr. Gee, and Ms. Tracy Stuck! Wish I could have gone to the match... but I didn't wake up until exactly 10:30 :(
Anonymous
Thu Mar 4 2010 20:41
Dr. Gee held the painting while the Union was being worked on. It was agreed on arrival at his home it would be placed back in the Union. This is a publicity stunt to get attention to the campus in a positive light. $20.00 it winds up on BTN & ESPN
Anonymous
Thu Mar 4 2010 17:18
President Gee, there are so many problems on campus and with our university, so why don't you focus more of your attention on pertinent matters rather than on silly stunts? It'd be nice for OSU to have a college president rather than a clueless politician.
Anonymous
Thu Mar 4 2010 16:40
it's pretty obvious this is for show. calm down people. his house is public as any president's house in the country, and i've seen it on a couple of occasions being in his house as a student. there's always something happening there and students are always a part of it in some way. with however many tens of thousands of people associated with the university, i think thats the best he can do.
Anonymous
Thu Mar 4 2010 14:55
Awesome? You must be kidding me! Why should he get to keep this painting for his personal enjoyment? Sure OSU owns the painting and his house, but no one who isn't deemed wealthy and/or influential will ever get to see it if he continues to keep it. My husband is a full professor (20+ years) who has held a number of administrative appointments at OSU and he is NEVER invited over there. This is not the same old Gee--this is "corporate Gee" who only cares about his image. These types of events are all smoke and mirrors. Hopefully he'll do the right thing and lose.
David
Thu Mar 4 2010 13:28
Doesn't OSU provide Gee's housing? So it's not in a "private residence," it's in an OSU property. The key from the article is this: "No matter who wins, the painting will be retained as property of the university."
Anonymous
Thu Mar 4 2010 10:59
I think everyone needs to realize two things
1.) He borrowed it from the Ohio Union; it only makes sense that a valueable piece of art be kept in a safe place instead of a warehouse while the new building is being constructed.
2.) I have little doubt that the outcome of the match isn't already determined, and I bet Tracey is going to win. This is all for show and little bit of fun!

Lets not take this too seriously.

Anonymous
Thu Mar 4 2010 10:33
I am a long-time admirer of Alice Schille, a wonderful, though much underappreciated, American artist; and I remember this painting from my 1960s days at OSU (it hung, as I remember, in the small library on the second floor of the Student Union). Why does Dr. Gee to believe that he should possess this painting for his exclusive personal enjoyment?
Anonymous
Thu Mar 4 2010 10:25
I dont know if this makes Gee awesome. Given the circumstances now, I think the arm wrestling challenge is a pretty hip/interesting/charming gesture by the administration. HOWEVER why is it even a question?

Why isn't just understood that the painting should be returned to the new Union?

Dr. Gee, I understand that you're fond of this painting...but can't you do with a just a print? Don't you get enough perks with your job? This should be displayed in a public forum, not a private residence.

Anonymous
Thu Mar 4 2010 10:18
Certainly a painting of this quality is meant to be enjoyed by many not just a privileged few... let's share
Tom Cain
Thu Mar 4 2010 09:30
Dr. Gee put took the Ohio Union painting and put it in his HOME??? I might lean a bit more toward Dr. Gee's side if it was in his office, but, the painting has no business in his home. Put it back in its rightful place; the Ohio Union.
Anonymous
Thu Mar 4 2010 05:50
I believe this is the painting that someone at the Union years ago had no concept of the value of the painting and either gave i t away or almost gave it away to someone. OSU, if I remember right, had to buy it back for a lot of money.
Samantha
Wed Mar 3 2010 23:08
Cool story. I wish we could have seen a picture of the painting though.
Rachel
Wed Mar 3 2010 22:39
Strong Arm Stuck FTW!
Anonymous
Wed Mar 3 2010 22:24
Sometimes, I wonder if Dr. Gee could possibly be any more awesome.




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