Roberta Smith lays it all out in a matter of fact way regarding
the
Koons curated New Museum show, Skin Fruit. To me it seems like a show calibrated
for 2007 and people are going to hold the New Museum to higher standards because
of the mission statement and presence of "New" in its name. The problem isn't
Koons or the collector, it's the fact that the New Museum can't really afford
to be behind the curve the way other New York Museums are... or even behind the those other
institutions for that matter. Everyone wants the New Museum to be bleeding edge,
but it isn't. Perhaps large group shows are simply the wrong way.
It's part of the reason PORT didn't get
all
Whitney-excited (even if
several
Portland friends are in it and the Museum linked to several of our articles).
To me its like a cliff notes version of the art world and this iteration's focus
on being conveniently self-conscious felt dated (anyone remember 2002?). Also,why must they always have a car or
other wheeled vehicle in each version? Overall, the Whitney can get away with
being a little behind the curve, in fact I think that is part of being a venerated
museum and its a valuable way to intersect with those who are not 100% art world
creatures. Honestly, Id like to see Museums put on more small group shows 3-5
artists... politically that's a rats nest to navigate as a curator but that
is what these times require. Will the Portland Art Museum's CNAA's be up to
that challenge regionally? Balancing politics and freshness is difficult for
large institutions.
The NYT's also
did
a piece on the Armory, a confab which in my mind has somewhat overshadowed
the Whitney Biennial.... even in this diminished economic climate. PORT's award
winning Amy Bernstein will have a report soon.
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