SANTA FE — The guardians of Georgia O’Keeffe’s legacy have a bone to pick with an Albuquerque elementary school named after the artist.
Officials of The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe complained recently about a “GOK” logo proposed for the school’s new facade, and about T-shirts that said “Georgia O’Keeffe Kindergarten.” E-mails from the museum warned of possible trademark infringement and suggested that fees may be required for some uses of the name.
O’Keeffe, one of the foremost American painters, lived for almost 40 years in northern New Mexico. She died in 1986. The school has borne O’Keeffe’s name since it opened in 1988.
While no one asked for permission, O’Keeffe’s estate and the foundation that was formed to perpetuate her legacy didn’t object at the time. Three years ago, the museum took over the foundation’s work and acquired the rights to the artist’s art, likeness and name.
