Maybe you’ve heard of the Vogels and their exceptionally large collection of minimalist and conceptual art amassed on their civil servants’ salaries. They gave 1,000 works away in 1992 to the National Gallery. Now they’re giving 50 works to institutions in each of the 50 states. Some of the works have begun to arrive at their destinations. The Indianapolis Star explains their gift:

The project will distribute 2,500 artworks owned by the Vogels to museums throughout the United States. It will also help unclutter the New York couple’s one-bedroom living space.

The 50 works that the Indianapolis Museum of Art received have been grouped into an exhibition titled “Collected Thoughts: Works From the Dorothy and Herbert Vogel Collection,” which opened Dec. 12.

The IMA is in the first group of 10 institutions to receive works from the Vogels through the project. Sites in the remaining 40 states are expected to receive their works of art by the end of 2009.

Dorothy Vogel, 73, said she and her 86-year-old husband are fans of the IMA.

“We chose the museums based on where we had personal contact — where we had shows, where we had given talks,” she said.

50 Artworks, 50 States (Indianapolis Star)