NASHVILLE — A Tennessee judge on Thursday promised to resolve an expensive, running dispute between Fisk University and the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum over the fate of the priceless Stieglitz Collection of art and pictures within 30 days as a trial over the matter came to a close with both sides pledging a ruling against them would most certainly be appealed to a higher court.
For some two years, Fisk has been trying to raise money by unloading pieces of the collection or selling part ownership in it, only to be frustrated at every turn by Judge Ellen Hobbs Lyle of the Chancery Court of Tennessee, the judicial branch that oversees wills, estates and trusts.
Lyle has ruled against Fisk in a succession of major decisions in the past year, saying all of its various plans violate the specific “in tact, no sale, no loan” conditions imposed on Fisk when it agreed to accept the 101-piece collection in 1949 as a gift from the late artist Georgia O’Keeffe.
Fisk has also run afoul of the Tennessee Attorney General. He has opposed Fisk’s attempts for many of the same reasons as Lyle.
Lyle gave no hint of her inclinations after hearing two days of evidentiary testimony and closing arguments Thursday over whether Fisk should be forced to hand the collection over to the O’Keeffe Museum of Santa Fe, N.M., or allowed to keep it with orders it comply with the strict terms of the O’Keeffe gift.
Lyle’s decision could have a major impact on the eventual fate of the prized collection and the financially beleaguered college. Still, she acknowledged at various points during trial she wanted to make sure the record was complete for appeal purposes.
The events of this week’s trial were most unusual.
