Edgy new art museum headed to Detroit
The story has finally made it to the Detroit News! Last Wednesday was the big press day at the site of MOCAD. It is nice to know that giving the small committee at mocad a little push to release information has lead to a major press announcement about the upcoming museum. I was surprised a little bit that the story covered the struggling art economy and also brought up the point that I hadn't heard yet about MOCAD wanting to be a part of the DIA but Beal turning the team down and thus declining any involvement! The story gives main details that have already been circulating - including the staff and artists to show in the museum. Great step for MOCAD...but the tone still makes the museum sound a little uncertain of its future.
posted by art blogs are fun at 10:17 AM
35 Comments:
here's the link to the detroiter's story by nick sousanis:
http://www.thedetroiter.com/b2evoArt/blogs/index.php?blog=2&cat=5
some picts of how they want it to look
http://www.zagoarchitecture.com/
it was kind of funny. on Wednesday or Tuesday when they were taking pictures from across the street, a homeless man asked for some change. From the look on their faces, you would have thought the guy was swinging a burning cat above his head. As exciting as this is, I’m not sure Detroit is ready for it, Like gil silverman said its a 20 million to 1 million earning structure. I was in Chicago last week and saw how organized and eager their art community is. Money may be better spent if it’s pushed into Chicago’s moca and made it labeled as moca-midwest.
I have to ask "why".
Why is it important for the people of Detroit to have this? Will it help them rise above the crushing poverty? Does metro Detroit deserve it? Will it be appreciated? Is it something that is needed? Hell Detroit can’t even have a profitable museum of African American history.
It seems a little like a circle jerk of wealthy collectors who want to pad their own collections with new work from hot artists. It will have no permanent collection, so one can assume the possibility that any work shown will end up in some collector’s warehouse never to see the light of day.
Hey anon,
You're not the only one. I'm not too positive about the whole venture either. I like the MOCA-Midwest idea very much. I've always felt this area has been quite myopic but everyone is so afraid to say anything critical about the big 'D' because there sooo in love with it and its such an easy target. 'Say nice things about Detroit!'
while it seems like quite a big jump to open a contemporary museum in a city can't seem to keep other cultural ventures open and successful, it is hard to be negative about something of interest coming into detroit...
the art community in other cities has made major impacts (public art in cleveland, art restoration programs at schools such as savannah college of art).. with the right people and the right attitudes, things can turn around.. i don't mean to sound naive, but why not give it our support?
while it seems like quite a big jump to open a contemporary museum in a city can't seem to keep other cultural ventures open and successful, it is hard to be negative about something of interest coming into detroit...
the art community in other cities has made major impacts (public art in cleveland, art restoration programs at schools such as savannah college of art).. with the right people and the right attitudes, things can turn around.. i don't mean to sound naive, but why not give it our support?
It will have no permanent collection, so one can assume the possibility that any work shown will end up in some collector’s warehouse never to see the light of day. - Anon #1
The DIA is the fifth largest art museum. 80 to 90% of its collection is in storage. So, what's your point?
Why is it important for the people of Detroit to have this? Will it help them rise above the crushing poverty? Does metro Detroit deserve it? Will it be appreciated? -Anon #1 aka the Pisser
If you're familiar with artists and art as it has functioned in urban areas, it's influx into depressed areas usually brings about a vitalization of activity and rebirth.
And what kind of question is: Do we deserve it?! Oh, we are not worthy... Fuck that!
I'm not too positive about the whole venture either. I like the MOCA-Midwest idea very much. I've always felt this area has been quite myopic but everyone is so afraid to say anything critical about the big 'D' because there sooo in love with it and its such an easy target. --Hey, Hey Mr Jones
Why is it always better somewhere else when we live here? Chicago has its contemporary and I'm not going to drive there every time I need a dose of art. Or drive to the contemporary in Cincinnati, or Cleveland, or Toronto, or even Indianapolis or Grand Rapids. Oh, if you're so Chicago-centric why don't you just move there! And it's the Chicago MCA, not MOCA dumbass.
COMING TO A MUSEUM NEAR YOU:
I had an offer to show my work in Mississippi, ' Kara Walker says, 'as long as it was "without sexual or racial content".' One wonders what might have been left had she agreed.
How will Detroit respond?
Matt,
I bet you have a bumper sticker on your car that reads, 'America; love it or leave it.'
I have only one sticker, and it says "Buy Art"
And you're the kind that plasters your bumpers with them:
You have one that says "Detroit Sucks" and another saying "My gene pool needs some chlorine", and one "I am depriving some poor village of its idiot!" and "I started out with nothing & still have most of it."
Anonymous wrote above:
"From the look on their faces, you would have thought the guy was swinging a burning cat above his head."
Haha, I think I met those people.
"...As exciting as this is, I’m not sure Detroit is ready for it,..."
I'm sure Detroit is ready for most anything, but I doubt if serious art poseurs are ready for Detroit. Forgive me if I don't share your feeling of excitement.
Hey Mr Jones, what kind of argument is your bumper sticker?! I agree with Matt. Not your "Love it or leave it" -- especially when you were the one to suggest the art exodus out of Detroit to Chicago.
I was thinking what contemporary art is supposed to be about (according to the art pundits): provocative mainly. And how I haven't felt that at the DIA since forever, well never. And how new art seems to provoke, since the time of duels over Impressionism. And, as an artist, I'd like to feel that in Detroit.
So, if not totally excited by the poseurs, I am looking forward to some fresh art.
Matt -- just so it's said, you may not drive for art, but there are definitely some who do. I have driven to Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and New York with friends to see good shows.
Matt,
I really take offense to you trash talking my choice of bumper stickers. Just the sort of response One would expect from a redneck.
Julie,
I never suggested an art exodus from Detroit. Anonymous suggested developing the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago into a 'Midwest' Museum of Contemporary Art. This I thought was a good idea. And Matt since your so into correct acronyms this would be MMCA, dumbass.
As far as my first bumper sticker comment to Matt the bumper sticker could also read, 'Detroit love it or leave it.'
just so it's said, you may not drive for art, but there are definitely some who do. I have driven to Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and New York with friends to see good shows. --nolan
nolan - you get paid to drive art to such places. so you have no interest to have a contemporary here -- it would put you out of business.
i said: Why is it always better somewhere else when we live here? Chicago has its contemporary and I'm not going to drive there every time I need a dose of art.
i was making a point about having contemporary art here, not about saving gas money. duh. i'm driving this weekend to Chicago for the art fair. sometimes i'd like to stay home for it. is that bad?
if we don't show contemporary art here, how will we ever encourage a new generation of patrons and collectors?!
nolan, you've really become a disappointment.
Mr Jones, You're the one with all the bumper stickers and so instantly qualify for redneck.
"Love it or leave it" goes back to Nixon and you show your true colors by quoting it.
What kind of slam was that anyway -- "redneck", where the hell did you pull that out of .. your fat ass?!
Just because I was arguing for keeping art and artists in Detroit? Your only answer is sloganism, and not real dialogue.
You serve trash, expect it on the menu.
Matt,
Are you really this ignorant? You were the one to state that if I'm so Chicago-centric that I should move there. Is not your comment so similar to the America love it or leave it slogan. I wish that I could draw you a picture so that you comprehend.
It's really quite funny how often your disfunctional redneck opinion get's the better of you.
fuck you all
Mr Jones, You're the one who slammed Detroit. You're the one that said it sucks. I'm the one that said let's try to make it better then. Get your head on straight, and quit trying to twist this into some Nixonian slogan.
Matt
whenever a serious attempt is made at real art dialogue, it quickly descends into harangue and insults instead. the fact of this thread is that detroit is getting its own contemporary museum. it isn't happening in chicago again and it isn't happening on my bumper. it's about bringing new art to the attention of detroiters (at a museum level)and what that might mean for us and future generations. as nolan says chicago, cleveland, cincinnati, pittsburgh, indianapolis and more: all have such institutions. now, detroit: let's talk about that, and applaud that. how can that be a bad thing?
It is a bad thing when 47% of the people of Detroit cant read, or when one of the cities largest employers just lost 1.43 billion dollars, Or when the red wings make the front page of the news paper more than the war in Iraq. Detroit is shit town and I hate it. I am trying my hardest to move to Chicago or New York. In fact I have 2 shows coming up, one in each. Who gives a rats ass about bumper stickers. I dont see how an illiterate public could ever really appreciate any new art that doesn’t include a dead rapper or some type of sports event. 80 to 90% of the DIA is warehoused or being loaned out to other museums, that is correct. But those unshown items are collateral and are used to obtain money through traveling exhibitions. While the MOCAD will have nothing after every show except an empty room. A museum that has no permanent collection isn’t a museum, it’s a gallery. So it should be GOCAD.
Regardless, I believe voting out Detroit’s city council deserves my applause more than a new gallery. Same with making sure babies stop falling out of Southfield high-rise apartment windows (seven already). If MOCAD really wants headlines, it should make a museum of 20 inch gold rims signed by the Detroit red wings. Not a bunch of cerebral crap that the general public doesn’t get.
anon-
Detroit is shit town and I hate it. I am trying my hardest to move to Chicago or New York. In fact I have 2 shows coming up, one in each.
I agree with your bumper sticker statements, though i wonder who you are, writing anonymously is getting really lame, also, It's reeally easy to move somewhere, you just go, people do it every day. if you try any haredr you just might actually make it. Also why mak statements negatively about detroit, just go if you hate it,just stop whining.
I agree with Jef. All of this name-calling is counterproductive, useless.
The Museum is coming. This is a good thing.
The statistics quoted bring up again the continual bread-versus-art notions that the government tosses at us to blind us to the fact that they arent doing their jobs effectively. We went through all of this is the 80's when all art grants were gotten rid of....cant support those lazy, slack-off artists, can we now???
Being the recipient of a few of those grants, I must say that that was money well invested, considering my committment to my community here.
But this is another conversation that is off-topic.
The Museum is coming. It is funded privately. It will raise our profile, and will be sustained A WHOLE LOT LONGER than the Stuper Bowl 'festivities'. It is positive, which is a lot more than I can say about the sniping on this thread.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006604240384
That guy called it about the 20inch rims museum. here is why MOCAD is great but will fail. they want to spend over a million dollars to put art up that will enhance the woodward dream cruise. For god sake. Why arent the artists hugging this and clapping like crazy about it. ISnt this art valid? doesnt this count?
rolo, the tower tributes along woodward have nothing to do with mocad. and are a good example of what happens when a group that is not connected to art is in control of an "art" project: kitsch, not art, and a waste of money.
great blog I really enjoy the name
calling. as Iam not an artist I would like Gilda to explain how it
benefits the community when she
recieves a grant from the govern ment did she donate the money to a charitable cause..feed the hungry
teach the illiterate to read?
Joe, I guess you really do "enjoy the name calling."
Otherwise, you're at the wrong blog. There are plenty of other blogs dedicated to greater social, religious and humanitarian issues.
This is a blog for the arts.
As for the arts, they can be a social cause in themselves and can do great things for a community -- if left alone by wise-guys with their own agendas.
The museum's next exhibition is coming from Italy, paid for by the Italian government. Most civilized governments understand the need to underwrite artists. The expression of a culture can be of enormous value to another, in understanding and redemption.
You should be questioning the non-art business group using $125,000 federal grant per tower to line Woodward from Detroit to Pontiac. Where's your moral outrage?! Are you drafting letters and petitions to your congressmen? Are you protesting? Marching in the streets? Creating boycotts of the businesses that dreamt of this waste of government monies?
jef I do enjoy the name calling
although I did not engage in any
I just asked a question about artist grants and their value to the community. seems relavent to this blog.your answer is vague I was hoping for something tangible.
as for the woodward project the drawings look like boring expensive
sign posts perhaps in the future they can be melted down and used for a light rail system on woodward
is your objection to them that they
are ugly? my letters to elected officals are ignored as far as my suggestions objections are concerned I often get courtious
replies thanking me for my interest
do not interpet my question concerning grants as a disdain for the arts I am a fan
Joe, you're being vague in your own commitment to the community. You don't need a grant to make a difference. Writing a letter is only a 37 cent start at something. Up that a level or two, if you feel strongly about the poor and the illiterate -- volunteering your time doesn't take money.
joe, jef is right.....you are on the wrong blog for this. I suggest you register with DETROITYES.COM, start a thread, and see what you get.
You say you are not an artist. You dont know anything about me. You ask----
"as Iam not an artist I would like Gilda to explain how it
benefits the community when she
recieves a grant from the govern ment"----
the grants I recieved were a manifestation of the belief that my state had in me as a young cultural worker. The granting system effectively ended though, with the reigns of John Engler and Jesse Helms.
I am a teacher as well as an artist, and have spent my own chosen time to mentor and support young artists. I have done my part to support and benefit my state for the last 25 years. In addition to teaching on the college level, I run a small gallery to give shows to emerging artists; spend time speaking to youth groups; participate in jurying exhibitions in underserved Michigan communities; act as mentor to middle-school art students. There is more but I am not going to quote my entire resume for you. If you are truly interested, Google my name and see what you get. My last name is Snowden. I think that the contributions made to my community was a bargain considering the total amount of monies that my grants added up to. Certainly a whole lot less than what a CEO of a corporation gets in their "golden parachute". Do you ask THEM about feeding the hungry or teaching the illiterate?
None of the grants I received were enough to quit a job or retire on....a couple thousand here and there, but it was enough to buoy up my spirits as an artist and keep me going for a little while longer as a young artist.
I might ask you, what have you done in terms of "feeding the hungry, teaching the illiterate, etc" but please dont answer that here. As Jef so wisely said, this is not the place. I am not interested in engaging in another "bread or art" kind of dialogue that is so thouroughly republican.
Go to another blog, joe, if that is is your name, let me know when you do, and I will meet you there to extend this dialogue.
Joe you are an asshole, gilda , i feel bad that you even justufied yourself to him, but it makes sense because you are a great person, obviously this guy doesn't know you.
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