Flash Art May-June 1999 (pg. 64)

 

Sweet and Innocent Art Bureaucrat

 

Dear Mr. Politi,

Peggy Kerr, that “sweet and innocent art bureaucrat” as you characterized her, has resigned her position at Detroit’s MCA and withdrawn her name for consideration as permanent director of the museum.  Forced into some sort of epiphany by your bewildering response to her letter, she has reevaluated her life behind a museum desk – preparing notes and bios for others – and decided to step out onto the front line herself, ready to sacrifice and to be sacrificed for her own ideas. 

Last we heard, she was working as a shock-jock for a radio station in Escanaba – and happily so, having been arrested twice.

Yours truly,

Peter Krug,

Board President,

MONA, Detroit

 

 

 

DJs Are Much More Useful Than Art Critics

 

Dear Peter King,

What makes the artworld a great place is the crowd of odd characters: soldiers of fortune, controversial weirdos, and extravagant extras.

Now I learn that this colorful and transgressive world has charmed my sweet conversant (better: my accuser) and your collaborator, Peggy Kerr, who apparently has finally had an epiphany.

Who knows, maybe she has just discovered a whole new life and brand new motivation thanks to my answer to her letter.  Just like they say in the Bible, “she has found her way to Damascus.”  After all, St. Paul himself had started his career this way.  And I’m really proud that I eventually, somehow, contributed to the birth of a (hopefully) great DJ.

Art can be found (or made) anywhere: you just have to want it; and you just need to know how to do it.  Moreover, a good DJ is more useful that any art critics with blinkers on. 

Sincerely,

Giancarlo Politi