{"id":105691,"date":"2018-01-29T12:00:36","date_gmt":"2018-01-29T12:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=105691"},"modified":"2018-02-05T11:00:38","modified_gmt":"2018-02-05T11:00:38","slug":"trump-asks-museum-for-van-gogh-gets-offered-used-gold-toilet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2018\/01\/trump-asks-museum-for-van-gogh-gets-offered-used-gold-toilet\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump Asks Museum for Van Gogh, Gets Offered Used Gold Toilet"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Guggenheim’s curator said \u2013 tongue firmly in cheek \u2013 that a satirical piece entitled “America,” a functioning 18kt solid-gold toilet, was available for “long-term loan.”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, “America” artfully criticises the capitalist mentality and excessive wealth embodied by Donald Trump. | Photo: Reuters<\/p><\/div>\n

26 Jan 2018 – <\/em>When U.S. President Donald Trump asked\u00a0to borrow one of Van Gogh’s masterpieces from\u00a0the Guggenheim Art Museum, the museum’s anti-Trump director had a different idea: a gold toilet, used.<\/p>\n

RELATED:\u00a0Racist: Massive Outrage over Trump ‘Shithole’ Migration Remark<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Museum Curator Nancy Spector, a vocal critic of the current U.S. administration,\u00a0responded to\u00a0Trump’s request by email:\u00a0“I am sorry… to inform you that we are unable to participate in this loan since the painting is part of the museum’s Thannhauser Collection, which is prohibited from travel except for the rarest of occasions.”<\/p>\n

She continued \u2013 tongue firmly in cheek \u2013 that a\u00a0satirical piece entitled “America,”\u00a0a functioning 18kt solid-gold toilet, was available for “long-term loan”\u00a0and could be easily installed in the White House for the president’s personal use.<\/p>\n

“It is, of course, extremely valuable and somewhat fragile, but we would provide all the instructions for its installation and care,” Spector wrote.<\/p>\n

Created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, “America”\u00a0artfully criticises the capitalist mentality and excessive wealth rampant in certain sectors of the United States:\u00a0the perfect gift for a billionaire businessman turned politician.<\/p>\n

The fully functional throne was installed in the museum during a special exhibition in 2016 and reportedly proved wildly popular.<\/p>\n

RELATED:\u00a0UN Condemnation, US Poverty Underline Trump’s Sh*tty Comment<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Social media users privy to the story seized on its comic potential and\u00a0the curator’s subtle criticism of Trump\u00a0and his recent racist outburst\u00a0condemning so-called “shithole countries.”<\/p>\n

“Trump asked The Guggenheim to borrow a Van Gogh, instead they offered him a golden toilet. Guess that’s what happens when the first thing you do as president is gut the National Endowment for the Arts,”\u00a0tweeted Kaivan Shroff.<\/p>\n

Not everyone was\u00a0amused. One Twitter user wrote:\u00a0“@Guggenheim Thank you for allowing #NancySpector insult our @POTUS by offering him a #GoldenToilet. Please don’t be expecting my yearly donation this 2018. Seeing as I voted for @realDonaldTrump I’m assuming my donations aren’t wanted anymore.”<\/p>\n

The White House has yet to respond.<\/p>\n

\n

You spend your life hoping one day you\u2019ll get the chance to respond to an unreasonable request in a manner worthy of Oscar Wilde. For this one Guggenheim curator, that moment came last September and, as the kids say, she didn\u2019t throw away her shot. https:\/\/t.co\/AtT13KTRjR<\/a><\/p>\n

— aderson francois \ud83c\udded\ud83c\uddf9 14th Amendment Baby (@abfrancois) January 25, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n