Robert Indiana's Maine Home Listed For Sale At $1.4 Million

(MENAFN- USA Art News) The Star of Hope Lodge, which served as the home of Pop Art artist Robert Indiana, is now on the market for $1.4 million. Located on Vinalhaven island in Maine, the Victorian-era property is owned by the Star of Hope Foundation. The foundation has also listed a neighboring property previously owned by Indiana for $210,000.

These sales contradict Indiana's stated desire, as he intended for his home to become a public art space after his passing in 2018. As reported by The New York Times, Indiana's will specified that the home should“be restored to museum quality for use as an art environment open to the public for visits, classes and lectures and for the continued preservation, promotion, exhibition and use of my collection and real estate.”

Indiana, renowned for his iconic text works, including the word“LOVE,” relocated to Vinalhaven in 1978 and resided in the Star of Hope Lodge for the next 40 years. He established the Star of Hope Foundation to protect his legacy, and it inherited his estate upon his death. Marjorie Stratton, the town manager, expressed her sadness to The New York Times, stating that the foundation“doesn't seem to be following through with what he told me he wanted that to be.”

The foundation's rationale for the sale is to divest from property management, citing extensive repair needs, such as peeling paint and exposed framing, despite a recent renovation. Carole Martin, the foundation's managing director, explained to The New York Times,“These properties are not our purpose, supporting artists is.” Martin added,“Selling these properties allows us to convert those assets into philanthropic capital and put resources directly into Maine's arts community.”

However, this explanation is not universally accepted. Kevin Lipson, a partner at the law firm Venable, which represented Indiana's estate in litigation, characterized the sale to The New York Times as a“remarkable repudiation of Robert Indiana's testamentary intent.” The property holds a listing on the National Register of Historic Places, but this designation does not restrict its future use.

We previously reported:

The foundation tasked with preserving Robert Indiana's legacy is selling his former Maine home for $1.4 million, despite his will stating it should become an

Source: Artforum

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