Urs Fischer Marguerite de Ponty, at the New Museum

[echamber21]

this guy narrating sounds like a prick

[echamber21]

this guy sounds like a prick

[boogiebuddy01]

just not everyone has money

[boogiebuddy01]

everyone is an artist

[boogiebuddy01]

super cool

[boogiebuddy01]

no money no art

[rasjahjah]

thanks James-- i didnt get to the opening- and its too much money to pay a museum to walk in--- thanks for sharing--

Ive been reading the Urs Fischer reviews and for the most part the critics are not too pleased with his work

[fintanob]

well Urs Fischer certainly does know what he's doing in this work, and the work certainly does work on it's own terms, whatever you make of them (and the expense issue). Thanks yet another high quality half-assed production

[claureic]

I'd rather buy a small oil on panel by Guston for the same price...

[jameskalm]

For those of you interested, it was divulged to me this evening (through back channel art gossip) that the the New Museum shelled out somewhere in the neighborhood of $330,000 for the installation of the show (not the fabrication, just the installing).

I knew it'd come out sooner or later.

[MrWowforever]

Cost doesn't interest me relative to the economy. The Iraq war costs how much? But, as an artist, shows like this, high-budget installation, inspire me to do the opposite. The hand-made, individual artist has a lot to say about this. David vs Goliath. Kill the machines! :)

[f0rTyLeGz]

Thanks James... super video.

[wuz352]

James, thank you again for your videos. I feel in touch w/ NYC scene while I can't be there at the moment. I believe the "shiny" art is much more a reflection of the individual myself. It indirectly questions you within the space of the gallery of what you stand for and what you think of the world, etc. I think it's great in execution and how it questions--just have to know when something's a question mark and not a period.

[frankly1970]

I think the question regarding money was heavy-handed and certainly only there to be an annoyance. I appreciate it to some degree. I think we all knew there would be no number given and that is a fair response. I was surprised to see the then even-handed way you talked about the work itself. I will look for more of this.

[jameskalm]

Hey frankly1970,

you may be unaware, but there have been several mentions of the extraordinary costs regarding this exhibition in publications like the Wall Street Journal. I've posted a longer response at ArtFagCity, check it out,

jk

[frankly1970]

I mean ultimately people will argue a case for the creation of any art by responding it is art and needs to be made. Its sort of like asking 'Should we spend billions of dollars to go into space?" Well, the response many would give is a resounding yes. But some minimum w/age mom may think otherwise, imagining the money as her own. I guess I simply don't care what it cost. It is just art. I respect your views and enjoy the energy you have for this field. BTW, thanks for responding.

[MrWowforever]

this seems like a debate between the individual artist and the industrial artist. Van Gogh v Warhol. Our culture of Empire and ecological distress are casting doubts on the industrial models. Cost is a symptom of this, shiny Art too. This will be worked through in studios everywhere.

[frankly1970]

Studios? I doubt having a studio qualifies one to comment on industrial models. I assume the ability to afford a luxury space such as a studio disqualifies someone from commenting on issues such as industrial and ecological stresses. But maybe that just sounds to reasonable.

[jameskalm]

I didn't question the cost of the art. I am interested in the expenditures of a public institution and think transparency should be a goal of such. As a "critic", I'd like to know because these matters affect the way the work is perceived. If it's good enough for AIG and CITIBANK, why not the NEW?

[jameskalm]

PS

When ever some one tells me they don't care how much something costs, I tell them to send me a couple thousand bucks. They never ever do. Hell, they don't send a penny.

[MrWowforever]

check out the new charlie finch on artnet......you r not alone mr kalm

[MrWowforever]

not all studios are luxury spaces....we are on an Art channel and these issues are here...enough said......Art comments on and comes from all of this ....Art is always unreasonable.

[hankjunior]

Interesting work ,Urs ia A ok with me . I would have laughed my ass off if a big cock with a face painted on it popped out of the glory hole.

Thanks James

[LawrenceCharlesMille]

Can many mansions become too many mansions?

Thanks! Loved this.

[claureic]

"Market-ready" is the word. As for the discussion on space consciousness, Donald Judd impresses me much more. And then, there is Claes Oldenburg, who makes Fischer's pieces look too "shiny" (shall I say tacky). This show didn't deserve you bike anyhow, James, so good for you to have left it behind...

[TomHendricksMusea]

Glad to hear a tough question about art. But the art had all the problems that the art revolution is against. 1 cold, 2 disjointed, 3 non communicative (the artist has to explain his work. Good art speaks for itself!), 4 weird, 5 elitist 6 technically poor, when there is any technique at all, 7 pompous and inflated. 8 not functional, not useful, not integrated into our day to day lives. 9 no breadth or scope. The old art has painted itself into a corner!

[MrWowforever]

the question was about transparency relative to the costs of the exhibition. your 1-9 are generic complaints masking a self-promotion of your silly 'revolution'. go away.

[TomHendricksMusea]

They are complaints about mainstream art from the NYC ivory tower that has lost its way.

[MrWowforever]

broad sweeping generic non-specific and rounded off with the cliche of 'ivory tower'. Success is not elitist, it is hard-won respect. it is your sweepingly ignorant and non specific complaint that is elitist. You actually think your opinion of the totality of artistic activity in NYC is relevant.

[TomHendricksMusea]

This art is hard to respect - its' generic and safe. What here hasn't been done for decades by better artists before this group? PS come to the big online cd party and talk about this or any aspect of the art revolution.

[jameskalm]

If good art speaks for itself, why are you yelling so long and loud? What if they had a "revolution" and nobody came? If you want to tear down the ivory tower you should come to where the ivory tower is and get to work with your pickax and crowbar, not relax in some backwater, whining about it.

[MrWowforever]

PS ...tool says what?

[TomHendricksMusea]

Now I'm in the frontwater - NYC is retro and last century. Surely you see that? NYC isn't leading anymore. Good art speaks for itself - so how about listening to something that isn't trying to fit in to the standard model.

[MrWowforever]

this is a channel devoted to art in NYC. You have a choice to 'leave'. If i 'believed' you i would not be here. You are here because you have nowhere else to go. You are here dismissing NYC. None of us are 'there' with you. You are alone with your ideas?, alone with your opinions, alone. I enjoy spreading your point thin. You have added nothing to your original idea. Did you even know who Urs Fischer was before this video? No, you didn't. Go away boring man.

[TomHendricksMusea]

No one wants to talk about these 9 points. Contemporary NYC art too often has all of these problems. The pieces in this exhibit seem to have many of them. Time for a new art.

[MrWowforever]

time for a new tag line vanilla-ice

[spawnofdawnacle]

Enjoyed the martial arts defensive stance Massimiliano took when questioned about transparency. The camera shake was fantastic too. I am far more interested in how these pieces are transported than the thinly talented work itself. As the owner of two Airstreams, I too embrace shiny art. I'd put an Airstream in the living room to get that indoor outdoor thing going. It would complement the existing lawn furniture. Thank you very much as usual. This art seems particularly self indulgent .

[MrWowforever]

yes!!!! thanks again