Pollock Matters
Through December 9
McMullen Museum of Art
Boston College
140 Commonwealth, Devlin Hall 108, Chestnut Hill
(T: Boston College. Directions by car.)

Boston College is running an art exhibit addressing the relationship between painter Jackson Pollock and his friend Herbert Matter. The exhibit is national news because the paintings, which were discovered by Matter's son Alex, may or may not be original Pollocks.

Numerous experts have evaluated these paintings to discover the truth, and the New York Times ran a story today indicating that the paintings in question are not Pollocks.

It takes a lot of hard work and time to determine whether or not a bunch of paint splatters are the work of a master. Scientist James Martin gave a presentation stating that the paints used in the artworks were made after Pollock's death and that "at least one was painted on a board that was not produced earlier than the late 1970s or early ’80s."

You'd think that would be the end of it, but Martin said that Alex Matter's lawyer "told him [Martin] would face a lawsuit" if he presented his findings. That's a little strange since Matter himself hired Martin to do the work.

Image of the exhibit's catalog from the Boston College bookstore website.