Comments on: The New York Museum Director Witch Hunt Begins

By: Jesse Seegers

Jesse Seegers — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:16:35 +0000

To further engage with the complex nature of giving, take a look at the 256-page book that was just launched this past Thursday (at the New Museum) called “The World of Giving,” edited by Jeffrey Inaba and the Columbia Laboratory for Architectural Broadcasting (C-Lab), published by Lars Mueller publishers, initiated and developed in conversation with the New Museum over the past two years. Here’s some more info about it:

http://www.lars-mueller-publishers.com/e/katalog/ausgaben/set.php

The book investigates complex issues like this one and many more, and I would recommend, if anyone is really passionate about the topic, to check it out.

Full disclosure: I worked at C-Lab with many others on this book, and I won’t get any money from it’s sale. But I know the content intimately and wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone with an interest in these issues, it’s a very interesting book.

By: joy garnett

joy garnett — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:33:35 +0000

Paddy: I agree with you. We’ve seen blogger witch hunts before and they aren’t a pretty sight. Dis/misplaced outrage?

By: Rachel

Rachel — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 04:49:32 +0000

Re: Tyler Green’s comment, I don’t think that “the vast majority of our shows are proposed by the curatorial departments” necessarily implies in any way that trustees or collectors are proposing shows. I interpreted it as meaning people who don’t work as curators at the Met — that leaves room for independent curators and those at other institutions, people working in other Met departments outside of curatorial, scholars, and so on.

By: Peter Zimmerman

Peter Zimmerman — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:40:42 +0000

I tend to agree more with Saltz on this issue (though the lack of explanation about his problem with Koons curating is frustrating) and I do think the sensationalism of the story is a bit out of hand.

Museums are public institutions, determined to bring art to a diverse community; however, the fact that museums have permanent collections raises so many points of vexation that there are bound to be conflicts of interest. How do you fund an acquistion protocol? How do you negotiate the troubled waters of donor relations? Where does the vision for the collection come?

Museums are inextricably part of the art market and there’s no way to pretend they’re not. Some do a better job of hiding it than others, but the fine art market is a smaller world that represents few in a sea of many.

I don’t see the weight of the ethical charge that Tyler Green is championing. I understand that there are complications with the insider-ness– and yes, that really should have been and should be addressed. Even so, it’s as if Green is acting like a warrior on a vendetta against the NY institution, and I’m not sure where it’s coming from. I just hope that the sensationalism of some of the writing about this subject tones down.

And yeah, I’m excited for the show. I’ve wanted to see this collection for years, so in terms of serving a public, NuMu got that one right!

By: Jenée Misraje

Jenée Misraje — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:27:50 +0000

The larger issue is moot. The periodic trustee/private collection show is (and has been) common practice at art museums. In truth, the whole notion of a museum being a public institution is lop-sided, if not downright false.

By: Tyler Green

Tyler Green — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:11:54 +0000

And how does asking about the specifics of Campbell’s answer “have the potential to be very damaging?” That’s a little hyperbolic, no?

By: Art Fag City

Art Fag City — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:11:23 +0000

So are you saying it’s of no consequence if Jean Bonna proposes a show? If so, why mention it?

By: Tyler Green

Tyler Green — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:04:21 +0000

I’m not sure how that’s “bullying speculation.”

Thomas Campbell said that not all Met shows were chosen by the museum’s curators. In the previous sentence — that is, in the exact same context — Campbell also said that trustees didn’t propose shows. As a result, wondering who else proposes/proposed them is hardly bullying and it’s not “seeking out scandal.” It’s walking through the door that Campbell built.