The state’s continuing challenges in funding higher education, along with a growing enrollment that is overwhelming facilities, may force Middle Tennessee State University to sell the crown jewel of its art collection, a classic “Dogs Playing Poker” print.
The cash-strapped school acknowledges that the print—one of thousands that exist of the original painting by New England artist C.M. Coolidge—won’t bring much money, but officials argue that any income will be welcome.
“I don’t think it’s an actual painting—it was probably part of a calendar or something,” says a senior MTSU art faculty member, blowing the dust off the familiar image of several canines arrayed around a card table. “Yeah, look—it says ‘July’ right here under the picture.”
The print was recovered from the wreckage after the school’s longtime art headquarters, the Art Barn, was demolished about a year ago. There was no explanation at the time for why the work was allowed to remain in the building while bulldozers rammed the structure to the ground.
While some early reports indicated that the Murfreesboro-based university was planning to sell the print through Sotheby’s, the renowned art auction house, later reports cleared up the misunderstanding.
“We’re going to sell it at Southern Bee’s, that gallery beside the Exxon station on Highway 96,” says the university official. “They have a lot of crafts made with walnut shells and pipe cleaners in there, too.
“I saw one of these at a garage sale a couple of years ago selling for 20 bucks. If we swing by Michael’s and get a nice frame, we may be able to get 50 for this—if we’re lucky.”
