Out of the frying pan and into the fire
October 31, 2011 § 2 Comments
It was announced today that Noah Horowitz will be joining the Armory Show as its Managing Director. The Armory Show faces stiff competition from the first edition of the Frieze Art Fair in New York, which takes place in May and follows the same model (part contemporary, part modern). Many speculate the Armory will be outdone by its competitor having waned in popularity over the last few years. Hiring a new director to secure relations with galleries is perhaps a last ditch attempt at retaining relevance. Of course Mr Horowitz puts this a little more delicately, stating he has been hired “To help with the reimagining of the fair, and to work with the team to redefine the show’s position in today’s crowded landscape.”
Unfortunately Mr Horowitz’s background is not ideal. Prior to taking the position with the Armory Show, he was the Director of the disastrous online VIP Fair which was plagued by traffic issues on its opening day. These were the kind of problems it wouldn’t have taken the late Steve Jobs to foresee and left a slew of disgruntled “VIPs” and gallerists. Horowitz seems unwilling to admit he decided to jump ship though, instead telling the Observer “I’m proud to leave it in such capable hands with excellent momentum going into their second edition.”
No one wants to see the Armory go. It’s a New York institution. However, Horowitz is not likely the right choice to save it – too preppy and staid for the contemporary wing, and too young for the modern. In this situation two hires would have been better than one, but there is likely no budget for that. If we were betting girls (which we are) our money would be on Amanda Sharp and Matthew Slotover in the next round.
No rollbacks on this DWI
October 14, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Just kidding… there probably will be.
It’s too bad Alice Walton has gotten her billionairess behind into this amateur hour mess right before the opening of the commendable Crystal Bridges Museum. I’ve never been to Arkansas and so I really can’t comment on the extent to which the institution will be a major cultural injection, but on the basis of stereotyping Arkansas I’ll go ahead and say it will likely be an overdose. Too bad AW preempted that influence with wine spritzers (what?! Older women drink wine spritzers).
Over before it’s begun…
October 3, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Filming has begun in ernest at Eli Klein gallery for Bravo’s Paint the Town. One of the other five locations has been revealed as End of Century. Haven’t heard of it? No surprise. It’s a boutique/showroom/salon/exhibition space in the LES….so not really a gallery at all.
If you weren’t already certain that this was going to be the worst TV show EVER, now you can be sure of it. If only there were a straight-to-dvd option for television shows.
Please, for the love of god, make it stop!
Duchess Catherine – Queen of the Arts
October 3, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Not satisfied with being the Duchess and future Queen of England, Catherine Middleton is now gunning for the title Queen of the Arts (it does have a nice ring to it doesn’t it?)
The Duchess, 29, studied Art History at St Andrew’s University and has maintained a keen interest in the visual arts. Over the coming months she is due to meet with directors and curators at the UK’s leading museums and galleries, to educate herself on their practice and the current art market. The thought is that Kate will choose a selection of these institutions (the “chosen-ones”) for which she will become a patron.
It is no secret that the UK arts suffered a major blow earlier this year, with the huge reduction in public spending causing damaging cuts to arts funding. Having an internationally regarded figure such as Kate as a supporter of the arts will no doubt be a major boost.
She certainly checks off all the requirements on the Gagosienne check list. Maybe Larry can now switch out his favored public arm candy for a royal escort. Dasha Zhukova, you are so last season!
Dear LESOHO?
October 2, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Pack your ballet flats and statement necklace gallerinas, it’s time to pull out the fedora and cross-body bag. WE’RE HEADING EAST!
Well, that’s according to the NY Times latest profiles on the rising stars of the city’s art scene. These baby-faced entrepreneurs are considered to be the game changers, and it’s all happening in the LES and SoHo. From Ms Rachel Uffner to Mr Vladamir Restoin Roitfeld, these select few show that once again there is a renewed energy in the market and a rejection of the fear of failure. As Mike Egan, another of those profiled, so delicately explained “As an art dealer, you should spit on history, wipe it away and find something new”. Here, here!
One thing we couldn’t help but enjoy was Michele Maccarone’s words of wisdom. “I opened 10 years ago, and it was down and dirty,” she said. “But even I’m playing it safe myself. That punkness and rawness, it really doesn’t exist anymore.” Last I checked pissing in a canal during the Venice Biennale before breaking your nose, was the epitome of down and dirty. Now that’s “keeping it real!”
Ga…Go…Gone
October 2, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Without warning Gagosian’s Madison Avenue store has closed down and boarded up. The 2500 sq ft space opened just two years ago and focused on the sale of limited edition items such as posters, prints, furniture, skateboards and books. The lower level was home to Other Criteria – Damien Hirst’s store selling….mostly skulls.
No word as to why Larry decided to pull the disappearing act, but you can be sure it had nothing to do with financial troubles. Especially considering the art titan just dropped a mere $36.5 million on his new NY abode.
Don’t be concerned GaGa gallerinas. Gagosian Galleries are like grey hairs – you get rid of one and four more appear in it’s place. The silver fox shall rise again…
Asia: As seen through the eyes of Flickr
September 29, 2011 § Leave a Comment
That feeling of earth-shattering disappointment I experienced when I found out that James Frey was not actually an addict with extraordinary literary prowess but a fraudster with an over-active imagination, has resurfaced.
It has been reported that Bob Dylan’s latest body of work The Asia Series is not in fact “a visual reflection on his travels in Japan, China, Vietnam, and Korea” as purported by Gagosian, but more so a reflection on his time spent exploring Flickr from the comfort of his armchair. Check out a few samples below and make up your own mind. Gagosian best prepare himself for another copyright lawsuit.
Someone call Oprah – she’ll know how to handle this!
Sotheby’s Got Soul
September 28, 2011 § Leave a Comment
What do you do when you are being painted as the villain of the art world? You develop a web series proving you are a in fact a light-hearted and introspective bunch – not the cold and evil type who would lockout your art handlers.
View the first webisode here
The series investigates the perspective of each key player in the auction world. We begin with the artist, which will be followed by features on the Collector, the Rostrum and, finally, the House.
I mean, is this the visage of a heartless rich git who draws faces on his hundred-dollar-bills and calls them his friends? Never!
Dog Eat Dog
September 28, 2011 § Leave a Comment
It’s the Met vs the Vet uptown, as the battle to sell street meat outside the museum entrance heats up once again.
The sidewalk at the bottom of the museum steps is considered prime real estate for a hot dog vendor. A point the city clearly aligns itself with, having once charged $500,000 a year for the vending rights! Well, the Veterans-turned-vendors are fighting back, citing a 19th century law that states they may sell there without rent.
Dan Rossi has held ownership of that patch of pavement since 2007, selling hot dogs to the thousands of tourists who visit the museum each week (and likely begrudge having to pay $15 for a sandwich inside – that is, if you can find the café in the maze that is the Met). Unfortunately for Dan, his fight to hold his spot has brought the unwelcome attention of other vendors. As of today 3 further carts had pulled up outside the museum causing disgruntled mumblings from staffers and visitors alike, disturbed by the rising cloud of wiener smoke and smell of onions.
Who will be top dog? Who cuts the mustard? Ok, let’s be frank, this is no joke. Support Dan Rossi if you are in the neighborhood today. Boycott the vendors that jumped on the bandwagon. We have it on good authority that their proprietors are not veterans.
Celebrities and Artists for Haiti
September 27, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Christie’s star studded charity event, organized by Ben Stiller and David Zwirner, raised over $13 million for the impoverished country of Haiti. Selling all 27 lots presented, the night set four new auction records including work by Marlene Dumas and Luc Tuyman going over the million dollar mark. Jennifer Aniston was seen cheering on her new beau Justin Theroux, on a record bid of $450,000 for Glenn Ligon’s “Stranger #44“. Also participating in the event, organizer David Zwirner took home gallery artist Francis Alys’s “Le juif errant” for $300,000, while Stiller bought Jeff Koons “Bikini (Desert)” for $400,000, Martin Kippenberger “Kippenblinky” for $200,000 and Nate Lowman “Birthday Cake Painting #2” for $140,000.
Apparently, not all participants were so well versed in auction etiquette. At one point the auctioneer scolded tennis pro, John McEnroe for backing out of a bidding war with a vexed, “YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS!”
Bad form, McEnroe, bad form!
