Comments on: Breaking News: Art Institute Layoffs

By: Bad at Sports

Bad at Sports — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:52:00 +0000

No one is asking you to stay away! You, as everyone, just need to keep it in the realm of discourse and away from personal attack.

No worries.

By: Michael Workman

Michael Workman — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:54:10 +0000

I’m sorry gang. Please forgive my comments. I’ll sincerely try to stay away from BAS permanently.

By: Paul Germanos

Paul Germanos — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:07:28 +0000

but *these* are mean times.

By: Paul Germanos

Paul Germanos — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:05:57 +0000

It’s sad.

I think, Mark, that in terms of their power to draw numbers of bodies into the City, the “Big Three” permanent institutions are: Navy Pier, Lincoln Park Zoo, and the Cubs/Wrigley.

Combined, the 4 largest museums [Shedd, MSI, AIC, Field] have a pull equal to 1/2 of the Big Three.

And the Museum of Contemporary Art has an annual draw 1/10 the size of either of the 2 largest public [and temporary] festivals: Air & Water Show, and Taste of Chicago.

Someone else might have more recent, or more accurate numbers. Too, the museums have controlled access points, and so are in the best position to count. And some inflation might have been practiced by certain parties. Lastly, of course, numbers don’t tell the whole story.

But even as the Fire and Police are viewed as most essential and therefore last to be cut, it might be instructive to think about how we factor into the City’s economy as the drama is played out…

Generous giving by private parties has made high culture possible; but the are mean times.

By: Mark Staff Brandl

Mark Staff Brandl — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:48:17 +0000

Holy sheeeit. Chi-Art-Collapse beginning? See BaS Twitter on this page above or: http://proximitymagazine.com/2009/06/hot-gossip/

By: Mark Staff Brandl

Mark Staff Brandl — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:41:22 +0000

The City of Pink Slipped Shoulders.

By: Paul Germanos

Paul Germanos — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 03:41:34 +0000

Wall Street Journal, June 24, 2009: “Chicago is grappling with a sinking tourism-and-convention sector, plummeting revenue from real-estate transfers and a deflated financial-services industry,”

[...]

“In response, Mr. Daley’s administration last week sent out the last of 1,500 pink slips to city workers,”

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124579799322444137.html

By: The Shark

The Shark — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:52:33 +0000

which is why I took issue with their behinds being kissed on artnet -the status quo being reinforced -for everything, there is a season. Including, A Season In Hell- I consider appeasment in this instance to be tatamount to declaring war on professional artists here.

This scene has suffered from too much niceity, too much servility, too many people afraid to rock the boat, to say anything…this is the art world, not a miss manners contest.

By: Mark Staff Brandl

Mark Staff Brandl — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:29:55 +0000

The Artists’ Project, a perfect example of much of “the problem.” I realize Tony is angry at me right now, so I risk raising his ire by agreeing with him, but the AP was to me the greatest missed opportunity for the Chicago artworld in a long long time.

I took part in the first, against better advice, being excited by Tony’s original idea and thinking that if we had a success, during it we could talk to The Mart Folks and get them to see that Tony’s “Geisai” idea would be great for next time.

I have a recurring delusion, apparently, that open discussion of issues and not personalities, even with those you see as opponents, can bring them to reason.

Many of us in the AP did all that and were resoundingly ignored. I should have known better. The rest is history — it got worse and became MORE than a big Zero.

Can you imagine what it would have been like if they had done his Geisai type idea? I don’t think I exaggerate when I say that is the single largest failure to grasp an opportunity of the Chicago artworld. It should be a lesson, certainly to me.

By: The Shark

The Shark — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:38:29 +0000

Well, I do know I can be somewhat harsh and warlike at times, it comes with my inherently sharky nature -but I do try to even things out -somewhat, be a force for good. For instance, my (finally up! on sharkforum) review of the new Modern Wing of our wonderful Art Institute…could I have been any kinder? Is it possible or even plausible? That, is the question.