Indianapolis Museum of Art Blog » Michael Kimmelman

Trying to Stay Cool

Meg Liffick — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:51:41 +0000

So, a few months ago, I wrote a blog listing my “art crushes.” From art critics to museum directors, I bared my soul to the arts world. Michael Kimmelman, Tyler Green, Will Gompertz, Kathy Halbreich, and Phillippe de Montebello, I still love you all, but I’m afraid I’ve forever ruined my chances of being cool. It’s pretty difficult looking hip when you’re admitting you’ve got a massive crush on the Director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. So this summer, I’m making an attempt to overcome my innate dorkiness. I’m going to spend the next few months visiting some of the hippest museums in the US. Here’s my plan to stay cool this summer.

June at SFMoMA – I’m headed to San Francisco next week, and SFMoMA is on the top of my list for places to visit. There’s just something about that museum that makes me feel super hip when I’m in its presence. I’m fired up because I just discovered that I’m going to be there during the opening week of Frida Kahlo. I’m thinking about buying a membership to the museum just so I can hang out on Thursday night at the member reception. If that party is anything like what I’ve imagined, the cocktail hour is going to look like an opening of a Marc Jacobs store.

July at the MCA Chicago –I have to say, I am enamored by the MCA Chicago’s marketing team. Particularly the person that writes the eNewsletters. Even if you don’t live anywhere near Chicago you should sign up for their eNews. It is the perfect mix of wit and info. This July, I’m looking forward to a couple of things at the MCA. First, Jeff Koons opened last week and I can’t wait to see it. I’m also really looking forward to attending a First Friday event. Every month, the MCA brings in a DJ, features the work of local artists, and apparently has figured out a lighting system to make everyone at the party looking stunningly beautiful. Check out the pictures!

August at The Walker - My pulse raced when I read a headline from the Walker Art Center’s May enewsletter, “Walker on the Green: Artist-Designed Mini Golf.” Finally, my dream has come true! Before I was a museum professional, I was a golf professional. For a full summer after graduate school, I taught golf lessons at a country club. Other than meeting Leroy Neiman at a tournament, I have never found a way to incorporate my love for golf and my love for art. THANK YOU Walker Art Center for doing it for me! Thank you for making golf cool!

Folks at the Walker – I’m coming up this summer to play a round, and as a gesture of my appreciation, I’m offering free putting lessons to the entire staff!

A Book Report 2 Years in the Making

Meg Liffick — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:32:11 +0000

I’ve been reading the same book for 2 years. Yep, that’s right. I may have all kinds of other commitment issues in my life, but when it comes to books, I’m in it for the long haul. Sure I’ve read other books along the way. Books that are way more entertaining. Books that are a lot more interesting. But I’m devoted to Art in Theory: 1900-2000, An Anthology of Changing Ideas and I’m not going to stop until I’ve read every page.

Let me state for the record that a page in this book is like 20 pages in any other. It’s dense. Really dense. Check out this quote from page 817: “The articulation of Structuralism and semiotics to a Lacanian psychoanalysis wherin the human subject was understood as formed in the play of gender difference contained far-reaching implications for the avant-garde.” Huh? Try reading that before bedtime. Rather than Chamomile Tea or sleeping pills, Art in Theory is what I use when I have insomnia. I labor through 2 pages and I’m exhausted.

I know I sound like I’m complaining, but I’m not. I love this book. I love all 1376 pages. I love it because I am a self-proclaimed art geek, and this is the book for art geeks. It tells the story of 20th-century art from the first-hand perspectives of artists, critics and philosophers. It’s not distilled down art history in some art appreciation text book. This is art history straight from the horse’s mouth. From Sigmund Freud to Donald Judd, there’s a little something for everyone and a whole heck of a lot just for me!

I mention this book for a couple of reasons. First, and most importantly, I sound like a smarty pants when I announce that I’m reading a book such as Art in Theory. And what’s the purpose of a blog if not to make you sound like a smarty pants. However, to be fair, I will admit that reading and understanding a book like this are two completely different things. I’m reading 100% of the content; I’m understanding about 50%. As I wade through the text, I’ve been stunned by the connections that have emerged. Even at half capacity, it’s amazing to consider the progression from Cezanne to Nam June Paik. On a good day this book has the capacity to blow my mind!

My second reason for writing about this book is that I had one of those mind-blowing experiences this week. On the very night that I read Michael Kimmelman’s beautiful obituary for Robert Rauschenberg, I reached the page (page 761 to be exact) dedicated to the reprint of Jasper John’s obituary written for Marcel Duchamp. It was extremely timely as Rauschenberg was a contemporary of John’s and the two artists were greatly influenced by Duchamp’s work. I found the short essay so eloquent and poetic that I have to share it.

John’s obituary for the legendary artist was originally printed in the November, 1968 ArtForum. I quote the first four and last two lines.

The self attempts balance, descends. Perfume – the air was to stink of artists’ egos. Himself, quickly torn to pieces. His tongue in cheek. Marcel Duchamp, one of this century’s pioneer artists, moved his work through the retinal boundaries which had been established with Impressionism into a field where language, though and vision act upon one another…”

…The art community feels Duchamp’s presence and his absence. He has changed the condition of being here.”

WOW! It’s rare when an art theory book can make you cry, but I did a little after reading John’s final lines. After reading hundreds of pages filled with chapters like “The Legacy of Symbolism,” “Neo-Plasticism: The General Principal of Plastic Equivalent,”and “Manifesto of Mural Painting,” I was surprised to be so moved. This kind of moment makes me want to keep reading. And I WILL, because I’m in it to win it.

So, I’ve got about 600 pages to go. At this rate I’ll be done some time in the winter of 2009. Sure it’s a challenge, but I’m learning so much. Heck, I’m already starting to look forward to Art in Theory: 1815-1900.

I heart Tyler Green!

Meg Liffick — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 23:10:38 +0000

Some girls have crushes on rock stars or actors; I crush on art critics and museum directors. Yes, I know, I’m a huge geek…but since it is Valentine’s Day, I thought I would profess my undying love to my top 5 crushes in the art world. (In no particular order.)

Michael Kimmelman– Rocked my world in 2007! Last year I read his book The Accidental Masterpiece: On the Art of Life and Vice Versa and it changed the way I think about art, my job and my life. I’m also pretty sure he may have one of the coolest gigs in the world, as the chief art critic for the New York Times.

Tyler Green – First of all, he’s all MAN. I’m in awe of Tyler’s authoritative and often humorous blog postings for Artjournal’s Modern Art Notes (MAN). He keeps me in the know and constantly brightens my days with his prolific musings on the art world. I’m also completely in love with him because he just added the IMA to his blog roll.

Philippe de Montebello – Philippe is my original art crush. He’s been director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art since before I was born and I’ve always had a little thing for him. Not “little thing” actually…I’m talking Beatle’s Mania sort of “thing.” Honest to goodness, I might swoon if I ever meet him.

Kathy Halbreich – Not that there’s anything wrong with it, but I LOVE this woman. Actually, I don’t just LOVE Kathy Halbreich, I want to BE Kathy Halbreich. As former Director of the Walker Art Center, she was at the helm of one of the coolest arts organizations in the country. This woman is a visionary, a risk taker, and an enormous inspiration for me professionally.

Will Gompertz – This guy is as hip as they come. As Director of Tate Media at the Tate Museum in England, he has my ideal job. In addition to overseeing Tate’s Communications team and Tate’s magazine (TATE, ETC.), he also is the Director of Tate Online, a leader, if not the leader in Digital Media for museums. Check out those glasses. How could you not fall in love with this man?!