Sometimes complaining works

I wrote this letter to the Goergia O’Keeffe Museum fully expecting that it would end up in some spam folder and would never be read. And I’d fully intended to mail it, but just got sidetracked. Moving on. Then, I saw the following email in my inbox this morning:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 7, 2009

For more information please contact:

Jackie Hall

Director of External Affairs

Georgia O’Keeffe Museum

505.946.1020

jhall@okeeffemuseum.org

Georgia O’Keeffe Elementary School and Georgia O’Keeffe Museum to Work Together

Santa Fe, New Mexico—On July 31, 2009, the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum’s Interim Director, Carl Brown and its Director of Education and Public Programs, Jackie M, met with Lucinda Sanchez, Principal of Georgia O’Keeffe  Elementary School.  Mr. Brown conveyed  to Principal Sanchez the Museum’s regret over the misinterpretation of issues surrounding  correspondence between the Museum and the elementary school.

Mr. Brown stated, “The Museum does not object to the elementary school’s use of Georgia O’Keeffe’s name, nor do we object to the selling of t-shirts that feature the school’s name for fundraising purposes.   We are pleased and proud that the elementary school is named after Georgia O’Keeffe. The school has been in existence for 20 years and the Museum has never had an issue with its name.”

The Museum and school officials spent most of the meeting discussing cooperative efforts in the area of education for students, faculty, and family members.

“I’m so appreciative for the opportunity to work collaboratively with the O’Keeffe Museum in coming to a win-win solution for all.  We are so grateful to continue honoring the brilliant legend of Georgia O’Keeffe through the use of her name,” said Principal Sanchez.

Ms. M added, “ We look forward to working with the school, one with such a noteworthy academic record and a long history of outstanding accomplishments.”
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It’s nice to know that public shaming was enough to get the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum to back down and stop looking like such greedy jerks. I think the reaction to their attempt to strongarm a school showed them that people will step in when such overt wrongdoing is happening. Right now, I feel like people who care can actually make a difference. On that note, I will get on with my day and enjoy the loveliness of Newport Beach!