As reported in today's NYT, the Munch Museum in Oslo has re-opened ten months after the embarrasing heist of "the Scream" and "Madonna". With $5.2 million in new sercurity measures, getting into the museum promises to be as fun as boarding an airplane ("Could you remove your shoes and belt please..."). The anti-theft measures involve bolting artwork to the walls (why this wasn't already in place I have no idea, even hotels and corporate towers are smart enough to bolt their generic originals) and mounting thick glass panels over each piece. To the shagrin of some administrators, the previously unadulterated views of the original artwork are now intruded by Windex streaks and dust particles on the glass preventing a good view of the brushstrokes. Oh the sacrifices!

I visited the Much museum in 1993. The paintings were hung simply and the collection was guarded by a volunteer receptionist at a small desk by the front door. There was no security, it was as intimate and quiet as visiting a Portland gallery on a weekday.

Oslo is a city overflowing with public art, great public art.
The unsecured museum was an opportunity to see master work exhibited as it probably once was, when it was in a neighborhood Oslo gallery.

It's a shame that it has become necessary to bolt the paintings to the wall and cover them in glass.