In Theatres: HERB & DOROTHY 50×50

Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, September 13: HERB & DOROTHY 50×50

Megumi Sasaki’s follow up to her acclaimed HERB & DOROTHY made its debut at the Whitney earlier this year. It has held special screenings at museums and theatres in recent months as a lead up to its theatrical release, including in Japan.

Sasaki’s first film about the Vogels detailed how the unassuming New York couple managed to develop one of the largest collections of contemporary art, slowly pieced together over five decades, on a postman’s salary. This sequel focuses on the couple’s decision to break up their collection, offering 50 pieces to museums in each US state in an effort to expose the work as broadly as possible – a plan that comes with controversy, as some artists don’t respond well to the idea of their work being separated. As the film details some of the logistical issues involved in cataloguing and splitting up the collection, and working with and visiting the different institutions to which they make their gifts, various artists and critics offer well-deserved praise about the Vogels influence. While the latter tends to be somewhat unfocused, the central questions that come up regarding access to art, and the relationship between museums and art collector donors, make this feel distinct from the original film. With Herb passing away during the course of the film, it stands as a testament to Dorothy’s and his lifelong love of art, and of their selfless generosity to ensure that others can appreciate the work they loved for so many years.