Deitch Dig Himself A Hole

Serious conflict-of-interest issues at MOCA.

When Jeffery Deitch's appointment as Director of MOCA was first announced, many commentators and industry insiders raised immediate concerns. Here was one of the country's major private art dealers – with massive holdings of contemporary art – about to be installed, as the director, at one of the country's major contemporary art museums. The minefield of Conflict of Interest issues involved in hiring such a person, seemed more than enough to deter away from such a decision. Many said, even just the perception alone, should have sent them looking for
a different candidate.

Deitch Dig Himself A Hole

Serious conflict-of-interest issues at MOCA.

When Jeffery Deitch's appointment as Director of MOCA was first announced, many commentators and industry insiders raised immediate concerns. Here was one of the country's major private art dealers – with massive holdings of contemporary art – about to be installed, as the director, at one of the country's major contemporary art museums. The minefield of Conflict of Interest issues involved in hiring such a person, seemed more than enough to deter away from such a decision. Many said, even just the perception alone, should have sent them looking for
a different candidate.

UPDATE: Jeffrey Deitch at MOCA - No Dude. Its Not Allright

Can anyone say conflict of interest?

^Above is Jeffrey Deitch having a quiet moment to himself in front of the 'Street Market' installation done by Barry McGee (Twist), Steve Powers (Espo), and Todd James (Reas). The same exhibit was done before years ago in Deitch's former gallery, Deitch Projects. As the exhibit so aptly points out, 'No Dude. Its Not Allright.'

MOCA is a spectacular exhibition. Still, lots of questions have been posed about the roster of artists that were chosen for MOCA's 'Art In The Streets'. Questions both how it was done, and who was left out of the show.

Well, this is a teaser, but tomorrow MELROSEandFAIRFAX will have an exclusive article that raises some serious concerns about major conflict of interest issues concerning Jeffrey Deitch and his role as Director of MOCA, and Deitch's relationships with artists and colleagues from his former gallery career.

Stay tuned tomorrow for more.

UPDATE: The story has been bumped back to Tues or Weds. Stay tuned!

UPDATE: Jeffrey Deitch at MOCA - No Dude. Its Not Allright

Can anyone say conflict of interest?

^Above is Jeffrey Deitch having a quiet moment to himself in front of the 'Street Market' installation done by Barry McGee (Twist), Steve Powers (Espo), and Todd James (Reas). The same exhibit was done before years ago in Deitch's former gallery, Deitch Projects. As the exhibit so aptly points out, 'No Dude. Its Not Allright.'

MOCA is a spectacular exhibition. Still, lots of questions have been posed about the roster of artists that were chosen for MOCA's 'Art In The Streets'. Questions both how it was done, and who was left out of the show.

Well, this is a teaser, but tomorrow MELROSEandFAIRFAX will have an exclusive article that raises some serious concerns about major conflict of interest issues concerning Jeffrey Deitch and his role as Director of MOCA, and Deitch's relationships with artists and colleagues from his former gallery career.

Stay tuned tomorrow for more.

UPDATE: The story has been bumped back to Tues or Weds. Stay tuned!

The Deitch Project

'As art from the streets starts to enter museums, art from the museums will enter the streets.'

Interesting stuff shown in this new video from a group called the Deitch Project. The video shows prints of famous works of art being put in red frames and placed around town.

The Deitch Project

'As art from the streets starts to enter museums, art from the museums will enter the streets.'

Interesting stuff shown in this new video from a group called the Deitch Project. The video shows prints of famous works of art being put in red frames and placed around town.

MOCA Press Day

MELROSEandFAIRFAX is proud to bring you the first look into MOCA's 'Art In the Streets'.

MOCA's 'Art In The Streets' officially opens this weekend, but we got a sneak peak at press day today.

It all started with an introduction by Jeffery Deitch. And while he didn't address the buffing of the Blu mural, he did explain that this was not meant to be a comprehensive exhibit, but the goal is to show some of the best artists from the different genre's of street art and graffiti.

And for the most part, we think they succeeded. Of course there will always be big names left off of any list, but the show itself has some of the most vibrant artists in each scene. The show really is impressive, and it is an amazing experience to see all the work together.

That said, it is definitely very different viewing street art in a gallery rather than on the street. At every possible nook and corner was a security guard standing there. We seriously got told four separate times not to get too close to the pieces of art. Hahaha. Its a weird vibe and feels almost like the art is imprisoned. But for the street art crowd, with artists like Katsu (who has videos shown tagging pieces or art in museums--and reportedly tagged the outside of MOCA a few days ago) and Banksy (who famously placed pieces of art in museums), maybe the high security was fully intended. Still, it is an tremendous show and well worth seeing and we did manage to get some awesome, comprehensive footage.

Stay tuned for more from MOCA's Art In the Streets.


^Jeffery Deitch speaking to begin the event.


^Roger Gastman speaking.


^Fab Five Freddie speaking, who had the best line of the day. When speaking about how the scene transitioned from the streets to the galleries, he said, "We had this thing that was happening, now let's put a frame on it."

MOCA Press Day

MELROSEandFAIRFAX is proud to bring you the first look into MOCA's 'Art In the Streets'.

MOCA's 'Art In The Streets' officially opens this weekend, but we got a sneak peak at press day today.

It all started with an introduction by Jeffery Deitch. And while he didn't address the buffing of the Blu mural, he did explain that this was not meant to be a comprehensive exhibit, but the goal is to show some of the best artists from the different genre's of street art and graffiti.

And for the most part, we think they succeeded. Of course there will always be big names left off of any list, but the show itself has some of the most vibrant artists in each scene. The show really is impressive, and it is an amazing experience to see all the work together.

That said, it is definitely very different viewing street art in a gallery rather than on the street. At every possible nook and corner was a security guard standing there. We seriously got told four separate times not to get too close to the pieces of art. Hahaha. Its a weird vibe and feels almost like the art is imprisoned. But for the street art crowd, with artists like Katsu (who has videos shown tagging pieces or art in museums--and reportedly tagged the outside of MOCA a few days ago) and Banksy (who famously placed pieces of art in museums), maybe the high security was fully intended. Still, it is an tremendous show and well worth seeing and we did manage to get some awesome, comprehensive footage.

Stay tuned for more from MOCA's Art In the Streets.


^Jeffery Deitch speaking to begin the event.


^Roger Gastman speaking.


^Fab Five Freddie speaking, who had the best line of the day. When speaking about how the scene transitioned from the streets to the galleries, he said, "We had this thing that was happening, now let's put a frame on it."

Disapproved/Approved by Deitch

In an effort to drum up publicity for the 'Art in the Streets' show that opens at MOCA next week, the museum has instigated a sticker campaign on the streets of Los Angeles where they offer stickers saying 'Approved' or 'Disapproved' by MOCA director, Jeffery Deitch.

The true name of the show should be 'Art Out of the Streets' because most of the artists showing have long left the streets, and the only thing on the streets are these lame stickers. The theme of these stickers is especially distasteful as it is a clear play on Deitch's disapproval and subsequent controversial buffing of Blu's commissioned mural from off the MOCA walls. Click the jump for more

The approved/disapproved stickers are not only lame, but supporters of street art should be furious at the gall the museum has to try and create publicity off of Deitch's censorship.

In our opinion, when Deitch buffed Blu he made a horrible move. A dickish move. And most of all, a hypocritical move. How can you pretend to show art in the streets, commission an artist, and then buff a wall when you don't like the content?

If these stickers had come from someone else, or some other source other than a museum it might be funny. But to make stickers to capitalize on the controversy surrounding Deitch being a dick is ridiculous. And in horribly bad taste.

The good thing is that the streets never needed Deitch's approval (or disapproval), and his show might have some former street artists involved, but it is neutered and a pale comparison to what is really happening on the streets.

Art Is Power

A new wheat paste went up condemning Jeffrey Deitch's decision to buff Blu's mural on the MOCA while the paint was still wet.

It says, quite appropriately, 'Art Is Power', by the Artists United Against Censorship and LA RAW.

The writing in the background is a brief summary of the ordeal.

Don't Be a Douchebag, Deitch Bag

Some interesting wheat pastes went up in Los Angeles that continue railing against Jeffrey Deitch of MOCA, and his decision last month to buff Blu's politically charged mural while the paint was still wet.

The 'art' calls Deitch a douche, and says that his piss is too old, but what we find most interesting, however, is how this group of street art supporters of street art aren't really connected to the active street art community, and how the whole issue is about buffing other people's work, but here these posters go up over two legitimate pieces of street art (from Leba and Cali Killa), essentially buffing them.

What is going on here?

Click the jump below for more info and voice your opinion.

We are puzzled by this whole scenario.

In one way, we are glad that somebody is making noise against Deitch's decision, which we felt was heavy-handed and a poor one on his part. On the other hand, we think the politicalization of art is, in most cases, incredibly boring and tedious.

As far as we know, Blu is not supporting or condoning these activists protests in any way. Which is not to say that these people don't have a right to voice their opinion and protest Deitch's decision. But to go around capping true street art in the process of the protest seems like the height of hypocrisy.

So really, as far as these pieces are concerned, the main issue is how can these folks purport to support street art and street artists, but then go and hurt the true street scene.

We are curious to hear what the readers think about this?