Robert Indiana Home Sale Defies Will

The Star of Hope Foundation is selling Robert Indiana's longtime home on Vinalhaven, Maine, for $1.4 million. This move contradicts specific instructions in the late artist's will, which called for the property to become a public art museum and educational space.

According to a report in the New York Times, the foundation listed the 19th-century Odd Fellows lodge, known as the Star of Hope, this week. A second building owned by Indiana a few doors away is listed for $210,000. Robert Indiana, famous for his iconic "LOVE"series, moved to the island in 1978 and lived in the Star of Hope until his death in 2018 at age 89."to museum quality"and used as an art environment open for public visits, classes, and lectures."These properties are not our purpose, supporting artists is,"said Carole Martin, the foundation's managing director, to the Times. She stated selling converts assets into philanthropic capital for Maine's arts community."a remarkable repudiation of Robert Indiana's testamentary intent." He told the Times that Indiana "wanted and expected a museum of some sort on Vinalhaven."## Local Reactions

Marjorie Stratton, Vinalhaven's town manager who knew Indiana, questioned the sale."It just makes me sad that this foundation doesn't seem to be following through with what he told me he wanted that to be,"Stratton told the Times. The building was in poor condition when Indiana died, with peeling paint, rotting clapboards, and a leaking roof."I'm optimistic that this is actually a really positive move," Crossman said.

The foundation maintains selling is the most practical path. Martin told the Times it allows the organization to solve the "hard problem" of bringing life to a long-empty building while investing directly in local artists.