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Discussion Week 17

Discussion Week 17

Q Famous artists Georgia O’Keefe and Alfred Stieglitz donated 101 artworks to Fisk University in the 1940s. But the gift had two conditions: The pieces could not be sold and they had to be displayed as one collection. Over 50 years later, Fisk could not pay to maintain the collection and decided to sell two of the pieces. Proceeds of the sale would go to restore its endowment and build a new science building. The Georgia O’Keefe Foundation sued to stop the sale, arguing that the artists would have opposed it. Should the law permit this sale? Do you agree with Fisk’s actions? What duties do gift recipients have to donors? What would Kant and Mill say? You will be awarded 16 points for posting only your discussion and 4 additional points for posting feedback to another student's post. Try and refer to laws we reviewed in class and apply to this situation.

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The Georgia O'Keefe foundation had all right to sue the sale. The original artist gave Fisk University the artworks specifically stating that it shall not be sold and to display as one collection. Fisk University wasn't in the wrong for doing such a thing. They had to sell the artwork to save the rest of the artwork on display. In a scenario where it's either a few pieces gone or all the pieces gone I don't blame Fisk University for selling the artwork. Regardless of what's morally correct or not, the pieces cannot be sold due to the original agreement. The duties of a gift recipients to donors are to use and maintain the donated item in the way the original owner wants. Not following the original owners instructions would be considered a breach of contract.