Deitch Speculation And Buzz Update

No real news to report here but NY Magazine published a nice story filled with art world insiders opinions on what this major dealers move to head a major museum may mean.

“He’ll have one foot in New York,” predicts Larry Warsh, an art collector who serves on the board of the Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat with Deitch. The MOCA could end up endorsing the “Goog model,” says Warsh, and add MOCA satellites or partnerships worldwide. He could even start a branch in New York (Deitch says he will close his galleries here by May, but intends to maintain a presence via guest exhibits). "That wouldn’t surprise me at all,"

It's certainly my hope that the combination of a somewhat desperate institution in a world art capital and a famous and globaly connected person like Jeffrey will lead to very exiting and ground breaking results.

Update: It's Official, Deitch Projects Will Close

I suppose it's sort of self evident, but Jeffrey's appointment to head LA Moca will result in the closure of his gallery. As of June, this important innovative space which played a big role in the contemporary and street art community will be closed for good.

Not to insult Jeffrey on any level, but one has to wonder if he would have done this in a stronger and less freaked out and conservative art market. A most elegant way to bail and yet live on as a power player.

Transformazium co-founder, and street art creative genius, Swoon as well as CMU alum, Jonathan Borofsky both showed at Deitch.



A few words from Jeffrey about the auction houses and role of fame and money in today's world.

Mover Shaker Art Dealer, Jeffrey Deitch To Head LA MOCA

No time for a big post on this.

After the long boom/bubble, many, many institutions like LA's once leading contemporary art museum are in crisis. People are scrambling and fur is flying, but even so, I doubt many saw a move like this coming.

Once LA's leading venue for new contemporary art, Moca had been eclipsed by the revival of The Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Hammer Museum.

"These two had galvanized their institutions and their boards, siphoning attention, trustees, art and money away from their competitor. Meanwhile, the Museum of Contemporary Art was in debt and was just surviving by drawing down its endowment. In late 2008, to loud objections from the art-loving public, its board contemplated closing the museum and selling its collection or merging with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The temporary solution was only slightly more palatable: accepting $30million from Eli Broad, the former chairman of the museum’s board."

The Times article shows that Deitch's background as a curator and writer goes beyond just being a wheeler dealer. He may in fact be a great choice who can bring global Art World connections to the table. Keep posted for updates on this fascinating story.

Looking Back @ Black Acid Co-Op @ Deitch Projects

I guess I'm putting this up as a gag mostly. I absolutely loved this show I saw in NYC over the summer. The video doesn't capture the feeling of insanity, paranoia, flesh crawling creepiness this show evoked; the burned, torched walls and the smell.

So why am I posting this? Well, partly because in the context of this push to use art as a tool to sell Pittsburgh as "safe", "hip" and "cool" it's so funny.

To set the scene, Deitch Projects, is very, very connected and very big buck gallery. It operates two spaces in Soho, which it either owns or rents where an average rent might run 30,000--50,000 or more a month. In addition to this, you have a bunch of artists likely flying in on the gallery's dime to spend more than a week (oops he say's a month) with assistants turning the primo space the perfect picture of a hollowed out, bombed meth lab.

Why couldn't Pittsburgh do this for the G20?

Images Of Swoon's Swimming Cities Of Switchback Sea

I've been meaning to post these photos I was able to take last September of Swoon's wonderful floating city and her collaborative intstalation at Deitch Projects. Better very late than never.You can see how she reused many of the print images one see's on the walls in Pittsburgh as well as in her amazing instalation at the Mayor's house in Braddock.Deitch's LIC space is absolutely huge, giving Swoon a freedom she has rarely had before to create elaborate instalation interiors.

I was not able to get too close to the Junk boats docked outside but here are some shots looking into the late afternoon sun setting on the East River.They may give one some idea of what the Venice Junk City might look like close up.

Swimming Cities Of Switchback Sea

I found this video about Swoon's Hudson River floating art town.

What The Carnegie International Could Have Been Part3

For the last 4 years or so, the New York "Art Season" has kicked off with a parade sponsored by a major dealer(Deitch Projects)Paper Magazine and Creative Time, a non profit dedicated to integrating art and NY's city life.

"On September 8th, 2007 the Art Parade took place for the third time on West Broadway, between Houston and Grand Street. This year's Art Parade included over 75 projects, including those by Tauba Auerbach, Assume Vivid Astro Focus, Matthew Rodriguez, The Dazzle Dancers, Kenny Scharf, COCO's Demoiselles, Trevor Stone and The Conundrums. The Art Parade 2007 involved over 700 participants. The Art Parade is a produced by Deitch Projects, Creative Time and Paper Magazine. Art Parade, New York, September 8, 2007. Vernissage TV." Video made by Vernissage TV.

Could The Carnegie International have involved an Art Parade?

Jonathan Borofsky @ Deitch Projects

Here are some images I took of the Jonathan Borofsky show at Deitch Projects in Soho. Borofsky is another CMU alum. I think I said that I saw a lot of great shows but this one was one of the few that seemed on another level. Let's just leave it at that until I am able to get my thoughts together.

November 02, 2006 — December 23, 2006 18 Wooster Street, New York