FRESNO, CA (AP).- Trouble keeps coming to Fresno's cultural centerpiece as an exhibitor pulled 65 etchings by Marc Chagall over the weekend fearing the Metropolitan Museum is about to shut for good.

Reilly Rhodes arrived unannounced Sunday to claim the pieces on behalf of the Laguna Niguel-based Contemporary and Modern Print Exhibitions. He says the Met owes him nearly $10,000 for the exhibit, titled "Chagall for Children."

But Rhodes said he's more afraid that he'd be unable to retrieve the art if the faltering museum padlocks its doors. The exhibit opened in mid-September and had been scheduled to close Jan. 3.

The Met recently underwent a three-year, $28 million renovation that it had to borrow $15 million to complete. It has lost benefactors because of the bad economy.

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Information from: The Fresno Bee, http://www.fresnobee.com