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GHOULISH! OBSCENE! DISHONORABLE! TASTELESS! POTENTIALLY HARMFUL! GRUESOME! OFFENSIVE IN EVERY WAY IMAGINABLE! - Edward Winkleman
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- Rat Fink searching for Scuz Finks, Gold Finks. Artists: Please share your positive/negative experiences with critics, curators, and galleries. Comments from those with direct experience only, please.
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206 comments:
1 – 200 of 206 Newer› Newest»Roebling Hall, Schroder Romero, Moti Hasson
Plane Space
Plane Space after this season.
Deitch projects
Andreas Grimm
Jeffery Deitch
Daniel Reich (deeply in debt to artists)
Bellwether (ditto)
303 (bought building they can't afford/pay for)
if jeffery deitch is truly on the death watch it's just a change of strategy for him. i find it hard to believe but it could be true.
there are few better business people in the art world. so if he does close deitch projects it would certainly be for a short period of time. to wait out the on comming recession.
after a break he would surely reemerge in some new form and be as well connected as he is now.
but then again, all this is probably just talk.
he's probably not going out of business.
phillips de pury
Rivington Arms
http://www.artnet.com/magazineus/news/artnetnews/artnetnews11-11-08.asp
"The reason cited was differences between the two principals, who are said to be pursuing unspecified endeavors on their own."
Yes, I put them on the RIP-list already. DeathWatch is for the rumors.
haunch of vension, and all of christies contemporary department.
Roebling Hall
Edward,
I realize this hits close to home but I can't agree with you.
This list spares artists the trouble of pursuing galleries which won't be around much longer.
It also *might* tip off a dealer that an artist that they have always admired might be available soon.
Yes, (most) dealers do work their asses off, but some, including those on this list, have displayed incredible hubris during the good times. Multiple spaces which they really couldn't afford, and treating artists as a free source of capital, to be paid back whenever it's convenient. Gruesome? maybe. But these are gruesome times, and this list is not unseemly.
gruesome yes. relevant yes. arts are like the any other business...rumors and all.
Buck, is what Edward_ said true? Do you realy screen the rumors?
Do you screen preferentially? Do tell.
I moderate comments. Most of what doesn't get posted to this blog is stuff that falls too far outside my request for facts and first-hand accounts.
DeathWatch is for posting information or rumors on galleries likely to close and I've declined posting a handful that I found difficult to believe.
I regret posting Edward's criticisms and getting into any discussion here. My aim is for me to comment as little as possible.
Look man, when someone consecutively posts Marian Goodman, Barbara Gladstone, and Mary Boone I am inclined to think they are just fucking with me.
All comments posted here are added based on my sense of the commenter's sincerity. It's an imperfect system.
Edward you are welcome to withold any information you want over on your own blog.
PS - Bellwether and Roebling Hall are on the RIP-list.
I think Edward is taking this really personally and if he wants to argue about the usefulness of the deathwatch he should do it on his own blog.
As an artist, I think the deathwatch is very useful---let's face it, EVERYONE in the art world knows the score on these galleries, why shouldn't artists have access to the same gossip?
The idea that this blog could contribute to the woes of a poorly run, disorganized gallery that doesn't pay its artists is preposterous---if they are in bad enough shape to be listed here, they have way bigger problems than Buck Naked's vetting process.
Edward must be talking about the single comment of his that I did not publish.
"You don't have to publish this, but I smell a sock puppet"
I didn't get it or see what relevance it has to this thread, and he said I did not have to publish it. I very much regret ever posting his initial comment.
Edward, the only comments that did not get posted to this thread are the ones mentioned above. Everything else has been posted. I think I did not post Deitch the first time but as two others later submitted it I cleared it.
The idea that a single anonymous comment to the admitted rumor thread of a marginal blog could contribute to the impending closing of a gallery is ludicrous. The DeathWatch post and thread was only added in October, at the anonymous suggestion of someone on the Make-A-Suggestion thread.
Get a grip.
I have given Schroeder Romero a Green Circle, and so by the magical powers invested in this blog by the fevered state of Edward Winkleman's desperate mind I now pronunce you A-OK.
Marianne Boesky is closing after the current show.
Imagine if there was a blog dedicated to whether an artist's career was about to be ended by the recession and you or friends of yours were listed in it...would you take that personally?
A whole blog? Try a whole industry---they're called auctions and the whole world pays attention to them, as opposed to this blog which is probably read by a few insiders.
Rumors are just that. Rumors. I don't think anyone is taking any of this as factual (although in some cases it is, of course), and if it's that important, they can do further recon on the gallery in question.
Ed, I respect your gallery, and your blog, but you're wrong on this one.
I am with Ed on this one. Who really gives a shit about the rumors, I want to know the facts......something Deathwatch cannot give me. There are many motivations for people to come on here and anonymously trash a gallery or start a rumor. In the end NOBODY will take any of this seriously. I wonder how artists would feel if there was a blog to call out the divas or better yet the artists that are rumored to be on the verge of being dumped by a gallery because of their bad behavior. At least Ed signs his name to it and fights for the truth....not rumors. The bitter artists on this site need to spend more time in their studios.
edward get off the web and on the phone -- call collectors and sell something, for christ's sake
"Where was it admitted that these comments were meant to be read as the 'rumors' of a 'marginal blog' before I called you on it?" – Edward
Please refer to the above comment made at November 12, 2008 2:22 PM for pre-admittance of rumors.
Please refer to Technorati for evidence of this blog’s marginality.
Daily Dish: Ranking 21 - Authority 5,678
Modern Art Notes: R 31,450 - A 1242
Edward_ Winkleman: R 23,136 - A 175
How's My Dealing: R 650,410 - A 9
Are you serious that you think it needs to be stated that ANONYMOUS comments, made to a BLOG run by an artist calling himself Buck Naked, who lists among his interests "institutional critique", need to be taken with a grain of salt? I guess I give people a little more credit for brains than you do.
You're nuts if you think I’m going to apologize for adding “RIP” (for one day) to a gallery run by a woman that artists have to take to court to get paid.
“I think this thread is unfair, incomprehensibly nonobjective, and potentially harmful with absolutely no accountability” – Edward
Artist to art dealer, that is funny.
Mr. Spock, your link at
"Clearly logic is nothing...you've already apologized. Make up your mind"
is supposed to reveal some apology you think I've made? That latest comment is not my apology, it is from artloversny.com, that's why it says right before that "from artloversny.com".
It was a correction, not an apology (from me).
Charlie Finch reports that 31 Grand has closed -- could it be true?
PS - We both posted at 2:44PM. I was editing my initial comment, removing the "screw you" quoted. Ed was not misquoting.
I can't keep up with this guy.
Yes, sort of. 31Grand is "merging" with Black & White. Check out the 31Grand post.
I'm publicly agreeing with Edward for what my opinion is worth. The 31 Grand gallerists, Oliver Kamm and many others others are lovely, decent people who cared about all of their artists. The global economic collapse is hitting all industries hard especially in New York City. It is in no way a reflection on anyone as either human beings or business people. Anyone taking pleasure in other's misfortunes in this should also think of the many people employed by galleries who are also artists, the art handlers, assistants and designers. Anyone pointing out that artists survived the market decline of the 90's should realize that two external conditions have changed since then. The real estate situation is radically different than it was in the 90's. Much of the industrial space has long since been rezoned or converted to condos and what remains is unaffordable. The loft law that would have covered Brooklyn artists failed in the State Senate and the politicians involved have moved on to other issues. Secondly this collapse is more far ranging and affects all the industries artists relied on for day jobs in the 90's. Everything from design work to service sector jobs are drying up. The ratio of day job income to rent that enabled artists to survive the last slowdown no longer exists. Finally the non profit spaces that provided venues for unrepresented artists have long since closed or are struggling to survive on shrinking private sector funding.
This is all just another example of innocent people in an unrelated industry being hurt by the unregulated, predatory greed of Wall Street and large corporations. None of the galleries on this list were either predatory or driven by greed, they are just the victims. Part of a long and growing list of victims.
There is a difference between "death watch" and "death notice".
elizabeth dee.
Rumor or not, artists should be aware of things so as to make sure to get paid before the boat sinks. Artists tend to pay the price, literally, for such events. Edward, do you think people are idiots who will take this as thread "truth". No. This is VERY helpful. Sorry if this is not your personal blog, you can't control everything, live with it!
After looking into the faces of the gallery owners in Miami, take a number.
Bortalami
Private dealers are in huge trouble. They have added nothing to the discourse, created less and now have nothing to sell. good luck
the bigger the gallery the greater their overhead. watch the one's you think were invulnerable. they used "leverage" otherwise known as borrowing to finance the often inane works of their artists. now there is no more credit and they are suffering cash flow problems. the bigger they are the harder they will fall.
"Private dealers are in huge trouble" Are you kidding me? Speaking as a private dealer, you have no idea what you are talking about. Right now, my worst-case situation is that, in order to conserve cash, I may not be able to take advantage of a down real estate market and purchase a summer house - I will just have to continue to rent my summer place. More importantly, I am sure glad I don't have a $100K monthly overhead to cover. Additionally, when a collector is in a forced sale, or need-to-raise cash situation, or for whatever reason is willing or needs to sell material at a big discount, do you think they are going to hang it on a gallery wall? Or put it up at auction where it will risk being bought in and thus never sell? No. They sell quietly and privately, through a private dealer.
That being said, there are many galleries that will close, and I will be genuinely sad to see them go. There will be many that will close that I will be relieved to see gone. Tragically, there are many that I really wish would close, but will not. I truly wish the best to the good friends, great lovers of and supporters of art, who at best are insanely stressed out, and at worst are facing the loss of everything they have worked for.
So fucking back off of Edward if he is a bit on edge these days. Just as someone who thinks private dealers are in huge trouble should walk a day in my Prada loafers, you should try walking a day in a stressed out gallerist's shoes before you open your pie hole.
I have just returned from Miami and the news is not pretty. The fall out will be catastrophic.....for dealers, artists, non profits, art handlers, anyone affiliated with our industry. I am one of the fortunate ones despite the fact that my name is on this anonymous list. This goes to show you how uninformed most people are that comment here. Most of the artists that comment here do not/will not have a gallery or career to mourn.
it's a sucky situation all around...
established artists will experience drastic drops in income. Promising emerging artists will lose opportunities. Artists who have been living modestly on their work for years will find themselves in a crappy job market with no practical work experience. Dealers will lose their shirts. Curators will have far fewer opportunites. Even in the museum world budgets will shrink and their will be layoffs.
I don't think anyone's taking pleasure out of this, but a little gallows humor is a natural response.
Anyone who's one a non-profit's mailing list knows that they have been hit hardest. The letters come daily begging for money.
To the private dealer with the attitude: Pipe down.
You are finished. kaput. all you can look forward to is deflation of your B level assets. you inventory is worth less by far or worse yet illiquid.
The best work will continue to go to auction. You will trade progressively worse material at tedious and barely sustainable pace
you don't need overhead. your sky has fallen. your model dead
if you have nothing new to offer and nothing new to say, find a job. Traditional Kunsthandling as we knew it is dead.
Galleries on 24th St to watch for closing:
Holm
Rosen
Feuer
24th St:
Feuer won't close, he's been talking crash prep for years:
http://nymag.com/arts/art/features/16542/
I doubt Rosen will close either, just lots of layoffs- her company is bloated, but she is pretty commercially minded and will cut down.
No idea about Holm, seems like all his income is in resale, so no need for a space to keep going - could close space, but will still be around.
Another 24th St rumour is Boesky - but she did sell some big art at auction, owns her building and has some family money, so not sure it's true.
Perry Rubenstein's 24th st space has already been offered for rent by a realtor.
Freight and Volume probably won't make it.
Gogo has 6 mil on month overhead. Will layoff people and shut some spaces.
Mary Boone does not need to spaces.
Cowles will retire.
You really need to think a little bit more clearly here in terms of who will be closing or not. Galleries with strong collectors will not be closing, period. Galleries with a few fluke successful artists without too much overhead at a recent (past 4 years) Chelsea location might be ok. Those who went into opening their spaces on loans or in debt at the outset with more overhead than they can manage even if laying off everyone will have to close doors. Its not a matter of the biggest taking the hardest fall--where did you get that from nursery rhymes? Thats stupid. Obviously Gagosian will not be closing, obviously Andrea Rosen, Mariane Boesky will not be closing. But, those galleries that have recently opened on the LES, with or even perhaps without backers will unfortunately be looking out for trouble because they are the ones who might have brought forward something new to the art scene.
Marianne Boesky and Andrea Rosen have expanded enormously; the former with a bloated staff, that latter in real estate. Their success will be dependent on their ability to adapt fast. They will cut staff for certain. That is a must. The part of the story yet untold is whether they have used their underlying assets (real estate) as leverage to finance their operations. The value of Chelsea real estate has plumetted and their fates will be tethered to their strategies.
Feuer is young but smart. But not that smart. He raised Dana Schutz's prices ludicrously.
Boone , no problem. She will do WHATEVER it takes. She is a survivor.
Holm, who cares?
Perry Rubenstein is by any measure the most experienced, most diverse and the most adept of all the dealers mentioned above. He has tremendous experience in all sectors of the market and most importantly, a fantastic program of artists that his gallery represents. Jesper Just and Robin Rhode are among the most dynamic artists in practice.
In the end, this won't be about who has the best or most space. this will be about who has the stomach and the balls to survive
my bets on the one's who have been there, done that.
Boone will, shall we say, sip the chrome off of a proverbial tailpipe to survive. But like Gloria Gainor, she will survive
It is not so obvious that Rosen and Boesky will survive, some big ones will fall. Both expanded while representing some very profitable artists (Currin, Murakami, Yuskavage). Those artists are gone, but the overhead is still the same. My bet is the survivors of 24th St will be the dealers with low overhead or tons experience:
Survivors:
Gagosian (but not in its current form)
Boone (but maybe only her uptown space)
Metro (Small staff)
Marks (very profitable artists and not too flashy)
Feuer (cheap, um I mean low overhead, good salesperson)
Gladstone - (only if she doesn't retire - Richard Prince is gone now - so she can't just print money).
Might survive:
Luhring Augistine - big overhead
Andrea Rosen - big overhead
Boesky - no artists
Will not survive:
Perry Rubenstein - has experience leaving when the market tanks
F+V - already broke
Susan Inglett - (unless she has family money)
Mike Weiss (to dependent one collector base)
***To the private dealer with the attitude: Pipe down.
You are finished. kaput. all you can look forward to is deflation of your B level assets. you inventory is worth less by far or worse yet illiquid.***
why does this site publish comments like that? there is no possible way that person could know this for sure. the private dealer didn't attack anyone specifically, yet the response is so amazingly unpleasant.
"Pipe down"
that reads like a "lord of the flies"-style petulant child finally, finally able to strike back at anyone he can because of imagined abuses. it's maniacally twisted.
some of the commenters here seem hellbent on lashing out at art dealers as a whole, indiscriminately. although that might make them feel better momentarily, it really seems like what these people need is some therapy.
I know. I feel like I lost any control of this thread once Edward Winkleman came on with all of his comments, which I felt obligated to post.
Maybe I'll go back and delete some of the irrelevant stuff, although on the other hand I do like hearing the variety of passionate voices.
uh, what brand of crack are you people smoking? this is not 1991. the artworld is about 50 times as large now with hundreds of millions of dollars changing hands constantly.
galleries like boone, boesky and others are heavily involved in the secondary market and do not need to worry about the primary market covering their overhead.
yes the market is back to 2002 or 2003 levels but is not dead. miami was reasonable and good galleries with good art were selling well. i know for a fact a lot of chelsea galleries had sold out exhibitions this month.
artists with good work and reasonable primary prices are doing ok. galleries who have solid reputations and are making adjustments to their overhead are doing ok.
the next year will be difficult and yes a lot of galleries will be closing. nevertheless some of these galleries have realized tens of millions of dollars in profits in the past ten years and are not as fragile as you would think.
now if the world goes to total shit yes they all will close but the current conditions do not justify the kinds of names that are being thrown around in this post.
bellweather, dee, connelly, eller, reich, i understand that people on this level could very well close next year. boone, metro, rosen, marks, boesky, bortolomi? please these are big money galleries with major inventories and secondary market action. these are the ones who will be standing and they will dive in to scoop up all the excellent artists that are left without NY galleries come a year from now.
The secondary market has been crashing.
Sadly,Guild & Greyshkul.
Happily, Elizabeth Dee.
The reality is simple. there is still business. Just not enough to go around. Galleries will close. Others shrink.
the economy has just BEGUN to contract. It will be a long arduous road back. Wealth, extreme wealth, has evaporated. It will not come back. the appetite for art has diminished with the wealth that supported it.
Secondary is in deflationary spiral. It is just beginning.There is no escape. Bacon, Rothko , Warhol, Koons and every other work is being reduced in value . FAST It took three years for the bottom to hit in 1993. It will happen faster nad more dramatically now
As for lleries, we have no idea who has borrowed nad who has leveraged in order to finance their program.
Leverage created this bubble. It is blowing it up.
Any one who thinks or says they know who the winners either has no idea what they are talking about and/or will just guessing.
We are all vulnerable. READ THE PAPERS. There is no place to hide.
Make great work. do your best. Leave nothing on the table.
good luck
I'm not sure this belongs in the DeathWatch category, but Zach Feuer is downsizing. He cut both the staff and the number of artists in half.
Phillips de Pury
cohan and leslie
Cohan & Leslie
Buck Naked, don't remove any posts, take it from me, it's a bad idea.
The auction houses are actually in good shape because their business model is one that makes sense, and they can always find investors (cf. Simon de Pury). Though note that Pinault is getting old and supposedly wants to sell Christie's and concentrate on his little museum in Venice.
As for Metro & Rosen closing, that's silly. They're both small shops and they both have several big-bucks bankable artists.
DECEMBER 17, 1:10 AM -
Amen. That about sums it up.
Regarding the comment the auction houses being healthy--not true at all. Sotheby's has something like $700 million in dealer receivables (ie, money owed by dealers -- not counting collectors--owed to them, some of which they lent the dealers in the first place) and the stock is in the toilet. There is a chance they'll go under or be sold. Christie's might be healthier but they're downsizing too. Phillips is just a disaster and was saved at the 11th hour by this Russian luxury conglomerate and who knows how long they will have the patience to shovel money into that hole.
I think Zach Feuer has made smart decisions to downsize and become lean--it'll probably mean he'll survive, or at least has a fighting chance.
Zach Feuer didn't downsize, in fact, he just added employees. He has two directors, an archivist, and a book-keeper now.
Second that. Two of his previous artists left on their own to find other representation. One was dropped over a year ago. Dasha Shiskin is new.
Seems like the two who left may have been pushed out since one doesn't have a dealer (Meyerson) and the other is at a smaller gallery (Howard).
saturday rumor round-up:
Cohen Leslie
CRG
Moti Hasson
buh-bye
Richard Prince has been talking to Barbara Gladstone a lot recently.
Moti is supposedly moving to LES.
For the record, it was 100% Howard's decision to leave Feuer, and if I had to guess which gallery has more seasoned collectors and will weather the new economy better, I would definitely go with Leo Koenig.
Concurring. It isn't a smaller gallery. It is a lateral move or a small step up and it was entirely his decision to move. Perhaps less of a publicity and hype machine but it is a nicer space with more stable collectors and he fits in to the program better.
Meyerson has a Parisian dealer and lives in Paris now. He also left on his own and had been looking awhile.
Feuer has a few core artists he has pumped up with outrageous prices. The other artists at the gallery are not important to him and are treated that way.
This has nothing to do with Deathwatch. We all know sometimes dealers ignore an artist as a passive way to tell them to move on. Happens at most galleries. It's mean and hurtful to the artists to point it out on a blog - (which is what these posts are really doing). I hope you delete the posts not related to the subject. No one but Howard, Meyerson or Feuer will really know what happened, so all this anonymous personal stuff about real hard working artists is just cruel. We wouldn't blog about strangers divorces, why do it about Howard and Meyerson.
Artists leaving a gallery is not personal or private information, it's industry fact, and a dealer's manner of dealing with gallery artists is pertinent to this blog. But yes it would be better to discuss under the Zach Feuer post and not on the DeathWatch.
Zach Feuer and Leo Koenig are both green circle galleries
Postmasters
There are some many comments on this blog. It seems that a lot of people on here are HOPING that certain galleries will close for whatever reasons. There are some galleries that really are closing like... Cohan and Leslie though.
Some galleries are in really strong positions. As a collector I have strong personal relationships with a number of dealers. The bigger galleries will survive... like Gagosian, Haunch of Venison, Gladstone, Matthew Marks, Pace, Zwirner...etc. Sperone Westwater is building a new building! A lot of the dealers at this galleries are fairly relaxed and looking out for good new artists.
Auction houses will survive this... they've done it many many times. Christie's having a hand in a gallery puts them in a stronger position than Sothebys. Diversity.
Galleries without a lot of cash and bad business skills need to worry like Lambert...Elizabeth Dee and Moti Hasson.
We'll see though. I hope everyone makes it. I care about the artists.
I know that most of the comments on this blog are NY-based - BUT - out here in Sacramento CA, Asylum Gallery has closed its doors.
Mehr gallery
check it
Bucknaked / this blog.
one dealer I spoke with hired an investigator to track down ip/blogger profile etc, another is hiring a lawyer.
Maybe they should hire a first year law student instead.
The case law has been consistent in finding that blog administrators do not have a liability for comments. If he wants to protect the anonymity of comments he can delete records of ISP addresses because he has no legal obligation to keep the records. Any investigator would need a subpoena to get ISP records but you can't compel records that don't exist and there is no legal obligation on the part of the blog administrator to keep any records. Finally you can't sue for libel over statements of opinion or fact. Libel must be both harmful and untrue. If a gallery doesn't pay people they can't sue anyone who truthfully says they don't pay people.
I would think they have a libel case against bucknaked but not any posters - much of this site is fiction, or at least not proven. I could find 20 items that could qualify as libel and cause harm to a company in a minute (most of the deathwatch page). also, the amount of anonymous posts and accusations of edits means this is not as simple as posts on blogs, but that the entire site is an editorial project by bucknaked and by selecting what comments to allow and what to edit means he is in essence the author (and the fact that the site has no other content except the edited posts helps this point). more then that, I think the dealers just want to find out who he is so they can seek a bloody revenge.
If a gallery sues or investigates this website, that would be the best thing that could happen to How's My Dealing, as far as notoriety and attention is concerned. It would also look awful on the dealer's behalf, and bring even more attention to the comments he or she is weary of.
How is this any different than, let's say, Angie's List?
9:37 that isn't how it works.
There have been court cases and there is legal precedent already established. Blog administrators are not liable for comments. The individuals leaving comments could be sued for libel but the blog administrator has no legal obligation to keep any records of their ISP addresses.
Are they serious...this would be kind of a joke to non-art people, that a gallery would sue some random anonymous blog...it would be the worst sort of publicity. In this environment it would work to corroborate the perception that all contemporary art is an inflated bubble of nothingness. If a supposed rumor can make people angry to the point of spending thousands of dollars on lawyers.
I think it would be very hard to sustain the argument that a gallery - which in theory should support artists - is suing a blog that essentially exists for artists to get some information to assist them in working with galleries. At a time when (non-primary) galleries like Salander are sued for embezzlement, non-payment, etc...there comes a gallery suing an anonymous artist for allowing others to share semi-fictional information.
I was at the (not-to-be named) gallery the day the IRS came in to look at some files related to a collector, and let me tell you, from the looks of those people, it doesn't take much for them to get into a case against anything that is related to the arts.
This also gives a wiff of mafia-ness, when commercial establishments cannot be spoken of in less then stellar terms, with the consequence being a lawsuit...this is the closest thing to harrassment. I go online all the time to find out about restaurants, shops, services in general, why should this be so different. Usually they will respond to negative comments. Maybe galleries should write good reviews about themselves. No one would know. It's anonymous!!! This would be the easiest way to counter any negative remarks.
Sadly, a lot of the issues discussed here could only be brought into the public anonymously. Many of the comments - and many other issues we all know - are too taboo to be spoken out in public for fear of consequences. That is when you know that MONOPOLY has taken hold. Critically or money-wise. Why is Artforum so useless these days? Oh, the 1960's were so great...we were stoned all day and worked 12 hours a week. GET REAL.
What about the "parties and I have been to and the works I abhorred but paid for my Prada jacket?" issue? or "Per Se and Per Scheisse"? Or "PC and Per Check- criticize the system and drink the wine on someone else's P&L"?
Oh, my, gallery so-and-so is upset someone mentioned/made-up a story they were closing. No one can say anything because the veneer of marketing is now officially taken for truth and thus cannot be denied, ever. Why don't people address this. Then the artworld would be more interesting. LAUGH, people, the world as you know is ending!!! No more caviar at the UBS VIP area!
What about the artists who are not paid? What about people that are siberian-ized in the roster? That has everything to do with this system, and this system, tends to be ignored in very magazine, conference and party page and yes, PC art . We are all part of if and it is the sad truth that it has to be aired out anonymously. "What about freedom of speech? Oh, leave that for Venice, hon! We only address democracy when it's installed!"
Because we're all to cowardly and sanely aware of how MONEY takes over to address the absurd and mundane levels of self-delusion and to an extent, abuse of power that allows threats such as those of supposed lawsuits to be vented like this.
Hey, Bucknaked, please delete my IP address!!! Thanks!!! I might be shipped off to Guantanamo /Dachau, Gaza or the average prison otherwise.
DISCLAIMER: (please note: IRONY - figure of speech. Not to be taken literally - the text above meant to be taken as fiction, not factual information and does not reflect or imply "truth" or "fact" or seeks to tarnish or embellish reputation of mentioned "Art Gallery" or "Art Magazine" or "Artworld" . Signed Anonymous.
Please copy the text above when posting flair or poop.
how does blogger actually work - does bucknaked have access to the ip's of anonymous posters? are those somehow retained or imprinted on the posts?
somebody told me Sunday LES is closing. I'm surprised. Any info?
I use a free statcounter which only keeps track of the 500 most recent page views, and this blog gets more than 500 page views per day. There are no further records.
I'm not sure about Sunday, as they have their exhibition schedule till Sept 09 listed on their website, but I heard Guild & Greyshkul is closing after a few more shows. Damn shame if it's true.
I heard the same re: Greyshkul - they're having a good-bye group show with all their artists next month and that's it. Sad.
Sunday's last two shows received New York Times reviews and I heard that the last three shows sold out, so that's doubtful. All of the paintings in their booth at NADA had also sold.
SUNDAY has no plans to close. The gallery is well-positioned with extremely low overhead. Put the previous post in the "mean rumor" category with the others.
"Joel Beck, director of the shut-down Roebling Hall, recently emailed to his artists apologizing for the monies owed to them that they will never receive" - Charlie Finch, for Artnet.com
The Proposition gallery ....
What???? The Proposition? They're closing???? Why? They've been around for 20 years! Why are they closing? Did their landlord kick them out?
Bear Sterns was around much longer.
so was Lehman Bros....WAKE UP PEOPLE...Madoff took away many collectors..and he isn't the only PONZY man around, the economy is going to take away many more...how do you expect galleries to stay in business? Should the proposition sit around for 2 years and watch his life savings piss away in the name of ART? perhaps we should offer the galleries an 80/20 or a 70/30 split? this will allow spaces an incentive to want to show us. otherwise we all need to get working on new masters degrees.
Above comment not following a coherent idea. We can all agree that the issue is no sales. There are less collectors, and people are not buying. In that case, the split number does not matter.No sane person would agree to such a low split. You're better off opening up a space - even for one month only to show work. Get a job, my friend.
I think this recession is great for art. Seriously. Maybe not for selling art. This will allow artists to once again take matters into their hands. To create context, to be inventive and to find solutions. The recession will knock out the weaker galleries. What about the 80's? Who has survived the 80's? How many artists and galleries? Not many. Now a lot of great galleries came around when there was a lot less money flowing in the 90's. Zwirner, Petzel, Gavin Brown, neugerriemschneider, etc...The same will be true for this recession. Money cannot be everything.
Why work with "dealers" anyhow?
How about artist collectives as gallery models? Most "dealers" have only their bizarre self-interests at heart anyhow, at least with artists running the show, everyone will know where the money is going, artists can volunteer their time to opening hours. You know, CUT out the middle man.
Andreas Grimm (according to the overdue rent notice for $14k taped to his door today).
Great idea guys,I agree, we should cut the middle man out. Let's put collectives together... much easier to pay for Shipping, crating,PR, catalogs,art fairs,hotels, meals,telephones,internet,insurance,merchant account fees,printing materials, electric,rent,postage,comissions to advisors,taxes,water,electric,lighting fixtures,paint,cleaning supplies,office supplies,....DEATH TO THE MIDDLE MAN! SCREW THE SELFISH BASTARDS.
Feigen Contemporary, Cohan & Leslie
bellwether
I have to say, this "Death Watch" is nowhere near as witty as the blog Magazine Death Pool. MDP vets its information and doesn't let anonymous posters spread malicious rumors.
If you want to do this, do it right. Do the research.
Look Buck Naked:
I understand the freedom of expression but,...don't you think by doing this you are bringing down the art market and businesess more ?
I am trying to do just the opossite by doing interviews /profile of people in the art business and get their views in a positive light to help out the art business during this economy.
Maybe mixing in with a positive article, your bloggers views will not seem so spite full and negative.
Buck is not bringing down the art market, Ruben. The economy is doing that.
I do find distressing the degree of ill will expressed toward the galleries. (Well, ill away at Roebling Hall, if they actually spent their artists' money and then told them to kiss off. Or any other gallery that does the same.)
But I don't understand the degree of bitterness and anger toward the very venues, ie. the galleries, that serve as the primary means to show, promote and sell the work of artists. Don't tell me that if you had an opportunity to get into a gallery you want that you'd turn it down. So why wish them ill?
As for the Buck vs Ed feud, I say it's a difference of opinion with both sides making some good points. Don't delete those comments, Buck.
The only gallery I can say for suree is closing is Cohan and Leslie, and that's because I got an e-mail from them announcing it. Otherwise, I don't believe everything I read. And for the record, I'm wishing all these galleries good luck. (Except for the ones that are ripping off artists. I love HMD and DW for shining a light on that!)
Tria Gallery
Fruit & Flower Deli - R.I.P. ... sadly.
The Proposition Gallery is moving to ground floor space in the fall and closing its current space after their show opens February 5th 2009. They have been in business for 25 years.
The Proposition Gallery may have been in business for 25 years (as EM Donohue and then Donohue Sosinski), but they remade themselves a few years ago when they moved to Chelsea, cutting all their mid-career (read: older) artists in favor of a younger roster. Their prerogative, of course. I'll be curious to see how they fare.
No, I was not one of their artists, though I did love the old space and program at 560 Broadway.)
The Proposition is a fantastic gallery and I'm happy to post here as one of their artists. When Ronald and Ellen reopen later this year it will be in a great new space.
Returned from showing at Palm Beach3. I think all the Dealers did poorly. The show was well attended with the monied people or those who once had money (Madoff victims). There was lots of interest, but very few wallets appeared; couples coming back 2 and 3 times to look at a particular piece and looking for a better deal, which of course the dealers were offering, but it wasn't enough. Definitely a buyers market.
I have been an artist with EM Donahue Gallery, Donahue/Sosinski and now The Proposition. I always enjoyed working with Ronald Sosinski who has a great eye. When they were in the 560 Broadway space they were one of the few galleries devoted to painting. But after taking off for a couple of years they did remake themselves 7 (or maybe 6 years ago) when they moved to Chelsea with a new name-The Proposition and program. I believe they culled out too many of the really wonderful mid-career painters for a young/hip look...and it did result in less reviews and critical attention. But Ronald and Ellen did bring some fresh new faces to the attention of the artworld. I wish them well and look forward to the next step in their journey.
please add a Los Angeles section please.
Has anyone heard of any NEW galleries opening? There has to be someone out there with the money and vision to promote good art in todays world.
For what it’s worth, the Williamsburg neighborhood is still cranking.
March 7, Pierogi is opening a new “project space” at at 191 North 14th Street, between Berry and Wythe Streets. “The Boiler” has a forty foot ceiling and will provide space for installations, film and performance.
Also received notice last week of the inaugural exhibition of Real Fine Arts in Greenpoint at 673 Meeker Ave. Haven’t seen the venue (could be someone’s garage for all I know). These kids didn’t receive the memo about the sky falling.
Other gallery opening (weekends only) in Sunset Park. Gallery 421 (?) Cute space with a serious commitment to painting.
I-20 has told their artists to pick up all their work from storage, and that the future is "uncertain." I heard this from a friend who shows there and is scrambling to find an art shipper
Zach Feuer Gallery is a sinking ship. Good artist's have already left for bigger more stable galleries. The few money making painters left will leave when they honor their scheduled shows. Feuer has peaked his price points and can not sell in this market. His top artists have hit a glass ceiling and are leaving.
Kinz Tillou is closed.
From Feuer's list it looks more like he pulled an Andrea Rosen and cut a lot of people in one swoop. He had a solo de Balincourt show in Miami which seemed to sell well based on something I read online about the fair - and the large Djurberg sculpture was marked sold during the last show. I haven't heard of any of the cut artists moving from him to larger galleries, who moved where?
anonymous - 12:08. I am close to the gallery and a few of the artists. I know for a fact zach feuer started cutting many of his artists a few months ago, it was kept quite and zach told them to say whatever they needed to say to get another gallery (including complaints about zach to make it look like they weren't cut, but left by choice). the edited artist list went public a few days ago, i am sure some of the former artists are pissed if they don't have new galleries yet. the info you have probably comes from one of his cut artists searching for a new gallery.
zach feuer has his supporters, but few of his artists have any loyalty to him. just ask them. a number of the artists that left were not 'cut'. he will likely survive, but don't believe the hype around that gallery. it isn't as great as he would like you to believe. there are better options for serious artists.
This is the DeathWatch. Comments on a gallery should be made under each gallery's individual listing.
Some Feuer artist were cut indeed, but some left because they felt there was no loyalty or future in the gallery. Feuer is not a great gallerist but a great business manager. He has no long term vision or commitment to developing careers. Each artist there fends for themselves. The gallery came up in a bull market where good work sold itself. He has no experience operating in a market like this, that requires belief in your stable. The Rosen culling was very different, it showed purpose and it was clear that an older gallery was going through a paradigm shift. This change at Feuer seems unstructured, ill planed, desperate. It's clear he's taking a gamble and has no idea where the gallery will be in a year.
We wish him the best.
I think ANY gallery is in potential trouble right now, unless they have 2-3 years worth of reserve money. One dealer, recently closed, expressed the belief that selling as much as one (!) work in the next five months was unlikely. This is someone who was selling a lot of work until pretty recently and a fixture on the big art fair circuit.
Claire Oliver Gallery will close. Owner Claire Oliver has been reduced to selling the last of her private collection of 19th century French drawings to keep the beast afloat. A few privately owned AES+F pieces went out the door too. She is divesting herself of her own artists work that was strong-armed from them at up to steep 70% discounts but resold at full-market value in recent months. No staff, disgruntled vendors, lawsuits from former artists and the collective ill will of fellow dealers will ensure the shuttering of this gallery by the end of the year. Hubris is the only thing keeping the lights on right now.
why is Moti Hasson on RIP?
what info do you have ?
I happen to know they are activly looking for a new space in
LES...goes to show you that rumors are just rumors
Moti is done - rumor he is looking for new space not true - is being sued by some of his artists for non-payment
We can't know for sure if Moti is "done" or not. I imagine there's still money there and he could get an LES space or whatever. But the practice of ___?__ing work from artists because nothing sells from a show and then deciding that because he "gave" an artist a show, he is entitled to take a piece for his own account without the artist's consent is 100% unacceptable.
Soho's 112 Greene St reopening downstairs as Urban/Street art gallery. Things can't be all that bad
Moti Hasson Gallery is relocating and will reopen in the Spring of 2009.
Our new location and 09 Schedule will be announced soon.
Buck, removing the word stealing from that Moti Hasson post is the right step. but leaving the last part of that post is not(the whole post is BS)...."take a work" ,without artist consent...that's the same BS.
they show no proof and are able to get this by you? ..how is that relevent to Death Watch????
if Moti will open or not is enough to provide plenty of rumors to your readers.
If I was him, I wouldn't reopen. 10,000 artists presented submissions. Moti made us sift through these and write back ....where is the support today?
I was once an insider at Moti's, I know him well and even though I was let go...I kept following his progress. I know he comitted resources and time beyond imagination. he is honest as the day is long. got screwed big time by a few artists who USED him and made him believe they were team players....real DIVA stuff.
a former director once deleted all files from his network systems, destroyed 6 months worth of work.
artists who will never see the type of support ever again!!! are in court with him?(someone posted that)
or, is he in court with a few of them?
Visual Artist's are no angels...I'm sure he's got claims and counter claims up the wazoo.
it is true that gallerists have an agenda. how about artists? ..honestly, I'm happy these times are here. people need to get sober again.
This is the DeathWatch. Comments on a gallery should be made under each gallery's individual listing.
I'm temporarily suspending comments to the DeathWatch. This is not a discussion thread.
Check back next week.
The suspension is lifted. DeathWatch is open for beeswax.
Werkstatte Gallery, heard they were shutting down...
Museum 52?? Esso??
Everyone who used to post on this blog....now out of work.
I would imagine (just speculation tho') that Museum 52, being an outpost of a pretty successful London gallery, would have the resources to last a while.
Anyway, I've been saying that the real story will be told next September, when many of these galleries don't reopen.
I'd heard they are moving, nothing about closing.
Bellwether (again? still?)
Museum 52 is closing.
Andrea Rosen is in trouble. Her employees are nervous.
Museum 52, formerly of Rivington Street, moves to temp location at 4 E. 2nd (at Bowery) as of Apr. 10, 2009 (permanent new space due 9/09).
Is BUIA Gallery on the list now?
Just heard as of 19 April, that after this show, Heidi Cho is saying adios...
Heist appears to be gone...
I would like to know if there is a lawyer around, a specialist/ reccommended one to help artists deal with their closing down galleries. Any suggestions welcome.
I've heard great things about volunteer lawyers for the arts - http://www.vlany.org/
Second this. Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts is excellent. I called them once for advice even though I have a gallery and the gallery's lawyer could have helped me if the situation got really bad.
I should probably write them a donation check because I know their service is primarily for artists with no representation and nobody on their side. The lawyer stayed on the phone with me for half an hour and gave detailed advice. Awesome nonprofit that deserves to be remembered when making donations to arts groups.
Thank you . I will keep you informed on their advice, which will actually be on "trying to make a closed gallery pay what they owe to an artist". wish me luck.
Heist is not gone. Why do people post on here when they don't know what they are talking about?
Because the current exhibition threw a curveball. They even replaced the sign.
"After almost a year of exhibitions that have invigorated and inspired an eclectic neighborhood, Heist Gallery is changing its chosen course of operations to re-open on April 4, 2009 as the Eisenberg Grocery & Deli, a vital addition to the vibrant community of bodegas, tchotke stores, Judaica shops and local delicatessens of the Lower East Side. While we are sad to no longer work with the brilliant artists whose work has graced our walls for the twelve glorious months that we have been in business, we must concede to the economic predicament in which the economy, and in effect, our business finds itself."
Nina Nielsen, Boston.
Lisa Spellman is trying to sell one of her houses. Maybe she can't pay for that new building.
is Rare Gallery gone, I just checked their website?
as to Rare, I believe their lease is up.
What happened to Forum Gallery's Los Angeles branch?
Forum closed their LA outpost. I heard this yesterday from a Forum artist.
Many galleries are closing in Boston according to this Globe article.
http://www.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/articles/2009/05/27/changes_afoot_on_newbury_street/
Been running around like a maniac for the last three days. Rumors passed in conversations regarding the closings of galleries:
Pocket Utopia, definitely.
Janos Gat, heard the Oppenheimer show is their last on the Bowery.
Charles Cowles, after nearly thirty years, perhaps more a retirement than a business decision.
Mary Boone, closing the Chelsea space and consolidating activities to her 57th Street local.
Bellwether is finally officially closing. She sent out an email to her mailing list today.
Dinter Fine Art
I am a good friend of Mary Boone. She is absolutely not closing, in fact she is expanding.
I think you are confusing her space with Charles Cowles. He is renting his space to another gallery but Mary Boone is staying put.
Katharina Rich Perlow
it appears that White Box has closed
Feature Inc.
Feature Inc. will be opening soon at a different location.
White Box moved to 329 Broome. LES
Caren GOlden
Caren Golden sent the letter to her artists. Officially closing.
33 Bond has For Rent sign on window.
massimo audiello closing
he laid off staff and website is four months outdated
33 Bond is moving to another location.
Hudson Franklin sent out an email announcing their last show, afterward the gallery will close.
Massimo says he's reopening with a show of Erik Gonzalez on Sept. 10. If I had a choice, I'd take the rest of the summer off, too.
Bortolami closing? heard from a friend working at an artworld website that they're through. anyone have any info?
Closing Dunno, but saw that the building is for sale on
lindsaypollack.com
Not true. Their building is being sold and they are looking for another space, but closing- no. Stefania is a trooper.
Caren Golden is now working out of her apartment on the upper east side.
michel steinberg closes in october
Could you expand your gallery listings to include dealers in work earlier than contemporary? Also, antique dealers. I believe that your board actually serves a great purpose to those of us who work in the industry and who would like to remain in the biz.
is v&a gallery closed or is the website just out of date?
i think there is going to be another big wave of closings... sales are dead and small places are really struggling...
anybody have any bets on whose next?
@ 10/23 2009
i'm surprised at how many are hanging in there. I guess it depends how deep their pockets are and how willing they (or their backers) are to sink their own money into it, for how long.
but then again i never understood how anyone could make money in this business, even in the best of times.
massimo audiello
massimo audiello is closed
I am thrilled this section of the site has slowed down while others seem to be picking up. Maybe things are getting better.
perlow moved to 980 madison. closing?
Jack the Pelican. They sent around an email--they are closing their Williamsburg space but hope to reopen somewhere else in a few months
V&A is closed. Also RIP Jack the Pelican.
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