Friend of the Barnes Friendless
October 21, 2008 –
62-year-old Lower Merion resident Agnes McCormick, a vocal member of Friends of the Barnes Foundation, revealed yesterday that in recent months, she herself has become friendless. “I don’t know why, but nobody returns my calls anymore,” she said in her living room, filled with Barnes-related brochures, flyers, and angry protest signs. “I just can’t imagine why that is.”
 McCormick’s former acquaintances were clearer as to the reasons for disassociating themselves from the Barnes-mad retiree. “I used to enjoy Agnes’ company, but all she does now is complain about how they’re ‘ravaging our existence’ by moving the Barnes [to Philadelphia],” said Gladwyne’s Katherine Jessup, 58. “I mean, I’m not happy about it either, but you’ve got to move on.” According to Haverford’s Esther Cohen, 60, “Agnes and I used to meet regularly for coffee, but I just can’t take it anymore. You can only hear so much about ‘the cultural rape of Lower Merion.’ ”
McCormick, for her part, felt that the all-but-inevitable relocation of the famed art museum was still worth battling. “Tomorrow, I’m going down to [Philadelphia] City Hall with my signs and my bullhorn, to let them know that they can’t get away with this. I’ve invited a few people to join me, but I haven’t heard back from them just yet.” If Jessup’s words were any indication, the fiery activist would not be receiving a return phone call. “I want to tell Agnes that she lost—that she put up a good fight, but it’s over. The thing is, it’s just become easier to avoid her altogether.”
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