The LA Times profiles three high level curatorial posts that are vacant and may cease to exist at Los Angeles Museums. Notably the controversy over the firing of Paul Schimmel from LAMoCA; The Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach laid off Cecilia Fajardo-Hill and did not re-fill the position; and Douglas Fogle, Chief Curator at The Hammer left, but that museum is actively looking for a replacement. (more…)
The New York Times reports on Jeffrey Deitch, highlighting that the controversy regarding the LA MOCA director is not one-sided. While Deitch entered direction of a museum in dire financial straits, he in fact has strengthened its online presence, has presented almost two dozen exhibitions – some groundbreaking – and has hosted successful celebrity fundraisers. However his critics assert that he has appealed to both the public and billionaire board member Eli Broad, while neglecting artists and curators, turning the museum into a “black hole”. (more…)
The Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles announced that Ari Emanuel, Hollywood power agent and broker, has been elected to its board. The museum also re-elected Maurice Marciano, art collector and founder of the Guess clothing brand. Mr. Emanuel is co-chief executive of the William Morris Endeavor agency and is involved with arts nonprofits, although he is not known to be an art collector. (more…)
L.A.’s Museum of Contemporary Art has planned a special board meeting for this week after a summer of discontent and upheaval. This comes after Paul Schimmel, the museum’s long time chief curator was forced to resign in June due to tension between him and director, Jeffrey Deitch. Many board members, including prominent artists, have resigned or voiced their dissatisfaction in the wake of this decision, and thus the meeting is critical to unify the board and ensure financial support in the future.
LA MOCA’s beleaguerment continues as its main supporter, Eli Broad, misses two payments. At MOCA’s lowest endowment level of $5 million in 2008 Broad pledged $15 million, provided matching funds could be obtained. Broad has paid $6.25 million of the amount, and the endowment currently stands at $20 million. No matching has been made. In the last fiscal year, grants and contributions fell 21.5%, operating profit has declined and expenses rose 10.7% to $17.5 million at the museum.
Following Paul Schimmel‘s June resignation from Los Angeles MOCA, the museum announced it will hire a new Chief Curator, a post it had decided to leave vacant after his departure. The reversal arises from the criticism of the direction the museum has taken since Jeffrey Deitch has come on board as Executive Director.
Former MOCA Chief Executive Charles E. Young has called for the removal of museum director Jeffrey Deitch following a tumultuous month that included the resignation of long-time curator Paul Schimmel and artists John Baldessari, Catherine Opie, Barbara Kruger and Ed Ruscha. In an email to donor and influential board member Eli Broad, Young concluded that “I will do anything I can to try to right the MOCA ship, but nothing will work, in my mind, without a new Captain/Director.”
Ed Ruscha has resigned from the Board of Trustees at the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art. Following Joh Baldessari, Catherine Opie and Barbara Kruger’s departure over the dismissal of long time curator Paul Schimmel, the board is now with no artist representation. In a letter to museum director Jeffrey Deitch, Ruscha was candid; “My defection may look obvious, but it will be all the better for the museum, which is on a course different than I imagined, but one I hope to support in the future.”
John Baldessari resigns from the board of MOCA, Los Angeles after the museum’s ousting of chief curator Paul Schimmel, who came into philosophical disputes about the museum’s direction with major benefactor Eli Broad and director Jeffrey Deitch. Baldessari is the fifth trustee to resign since February.
In an Op-ed, Eli Broad, founding chairman and trustee of the MOCA board, provides insight on the past and current changes at MOCA, including the departure of top curator, Paul Schimmel, on the museum’s behalf, concluding that: “MOCA will thrive and will avoid the problems that are plaguing other institutions while increasing attendance and membership, continuing to offer world-class exhibitions, and exhibiting its collection.”
