Everybody knows the boat is leaking.
Everybody knows the captain lied.
--Leonard Cohen, "Everybody Knows"
I think everyone is communicating and working well together.
--Phil Jones, in a newspaper story published 11/04/2005
by The Tears of Things
First there was the ectoplasmic Wearable Art Auction 2005, sponsored by Artlink Phoenix. It may or may not have taken place on October 22nd. (Artlink itself was like Schrodinger's Cat for a few days as well.) If it did take place, the Artdingalings are doing a lousy job of celebrating and marking their major fundraiser with commentary and archived images. And an excellent job of hiding any references to the WAA 2005 ay-tall. Come on, how much did you raise, Shari Bombeck? And what was the high bid --twenty-three dollars?-- and for what outfit? Let's see it. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know --we just won't shut up about it. Face it: the Auction tanked. But why?
Now it's the 9th Annual Juried Art Exhibition that looks like it's springing leaks and sinking. Remember that the Phoenix City Hall lobby itself was supposed to host the opening and reception on First Friday, November 4, 2005, probably complete with The Two Phils --Gordon and Jones, in tuxedoes-- flanking the glass-and-steel entrance like the very doormen of endorsement. Uh-huh. Then, on First Friday, City Hall locked its doors to Artlink and the exhibition. Holy Click! Embarrassing. Wha hoppen? Read from artlinkphoenix.com:
Due to a scheduling conflict by the City of Phoenix, Artlink's 9th Annual Juried Art Exhibition and opening reception have been temporarily postponed until further notification. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. We appreciate your understanding regarding this matter and . . . [emphasis ours]
by
by. Not with. And hiding behind that tiny word? A big dodge. Will these people never take responsibility? Why would the City suddenly shut Artlink's brouhaha exhibition down quick as lookatcha? Was the artwork just pure awful? Why the sudden about-face?
We think the City of Phoenix has finally become exasperated by these grasping, spoiled, ungrateful and undeservedly entitled brats. We think there may be a strategy behind the glad hand; a strategy to purge First Fridays of Artlink by letting its leaders keep falling down on their faces until their reputations will be too damaged to be of any use anymore. We also think some financial benefactors and sponsors are seriously eyeing the lifeboats. We think some already left; thus Artlink's downtime, fumbling, and nonexplanatory explanations. Handwaving 101. Meanwhile The Two Phils are listening to their pockets.
If you read this Arizona Republic story, published the morning of November First Friday, you immediately get the message that the most important thing is to not offend the artists, or be in any way heavy-handed with them.
Otherwise what? They'll pick up their paintbrushes and digital cameras and vamoose? If only --but the thoughtcrime trolls still patrol the ratholes. In the meantime, recall that back in August, on Boo-Hoo Friday, the downtown Phoenix arts community could not stand up like adults to the stern rebukes of those insisting that artists obey the laws just like ordinary citizens. The city seemed to back off, and threw the sop of a task force and free parking to mollify the downtown clowns. They stumbled through September, but then, in October, the Wearable Art Auction seemed to fizzle out, or something. And now the 9th Annual Juried Art Exhibition is sitting there in limbo, along with Artlink. Probably just where The Two Phils want them right now.
Of course, that's pure speculation. But that's our argument. And we make a few final points.
Everybody is still ignoring the underage drinking. First Friday's momentum is too big to stop, but the answer is not free parking. This will literally drive the underage drinkers to the farther fringe areas, to the condos under construction, to alleyways and other vulnerable places. Good thinking, city officials. But at least the little drunks won't be puking on Treg Bradley's Bruno Magli loafers.
The Two Phils are acting just like politicians. They can't lose here. Mayor Phil Gordon said, I think carefully,
The art community and First Friday continues to be an important and integral part of downtown redevelopment.
But he didn't mention Artlink. Also, if the art is crappy and the people act like skanks and fools and adult babies --that's not on The Two Phils; they're just trying to work with what the schools and society extrude in their direction.
We think Artlink's wisest, most dignified, and most face-saving move right now would be to formally turn First Fridays over to the City, and dissolve itself. Its misleaders have outlived their misusefullness.
******
One more thing. We couldn't help but note that Writers Bloc Phoenix, fulfilling the promise of The Burgeoning, has grown --yes!-- from ten members to . . . five. With Dach and Esser, that really means three, doesn't it? Well . . . keep rowing, guys, keep rowing.
Some ships come in. Others go down.
Posted by Jerome at November 9, 2005 01:30 PM | TrackBack