Well, apparently a LOT of people turned up last evening for the chance to see the inside of 190 Bowery and take a peek at the Aby Rosen & Vito Schnabel group exhibition, First Show/Last Show. I didn’t even bother because I started to see an avalanche of press and heard that they were trying to call the whole thing off. And that’s exactly what happened, according to artnet, the show…
“has been abruptly closed to the public for reasons unknown.”
Well, I can guess one reason; fear.
“The show will be open by appointment May 18 – 29, Monday through Friday from 12-6 p.m. Closed Memorial Day. Please respond with your requested time and we will do our best to accommodate you.”
You have to RSVP here.
The original invitation didn’t require an RSVP and the Observer had pointed out:
Titled First Show/Last Show, Schnabel’s exhibition brings the work of seven auction-approved white male artists together under the cryptic rubric that their art “immediately conveys its significance,” a super power that is obviously absent from any artwork authored by a woman or a person of color.
I can see how people could see that as bad, and even though it’s not by any means “diverse”, not every show is curated with political correctness in mind. But saying this was “open to the public”, as are most art gallery exhibits, and then taking it back, really doesn’t sit well with the public. We may never get a peek inside… that is until the ground floor is leased to Duane Reade. No word on who that tenant might actually be, but if Aby wants it to be an art gallery, this is the worst kind of PR. I'd still like to see the show... might have to RSVP.
(Photo, Scuba Diva; via EV Grieve)