Made in GA, installation view

We got drama. A number of responses have emerged to my savaging of the latest MODA show – a richly deserved savaging, by the way. I'm hoping that more turn up over time, as I think there is much more to dissect there. All the responses seem fairly well thought out and reasoned. This is the kind of deeply-felt, consequential public dialog around art that we need much, much more of.

I found it interesting that all of the comments claiming that they had no problem "getting it" were from people who also stated that they work in that industry [and thus of course would be familiar with what they are looking at]. It's easy to preach to the choir, but an effective presentation should enlighten the layperson as well.

Just an observation... I haven't seen the show in question, so I didn't want to add to the comment fray over there.

Yes, I'm also not adding to the fray, because I feel – maybe unjustifiably – that it would be kind of an abuse of power somehow. Others should have their say.

Anyway, you bring up a good point. The comment that comes up often is that the show should not be "dumbed down." Ironically, this was the very quality that I found offensive about the show – it proceeds from the curatorial stance that we'll be happy just seeing a bunch of concept sketches, that such a thing is (I guess) so exotic to us that the mere display of it suffices. That you might have enough intellectual curiosity to crave some precision and specificity seems not to have been countenanced.


It's not that the show needs to be dumbed down, it's that it needs to respect its audience's intelligence.

oh dear.. Hicks just "doesnt get it!" cuz how can you possibly call locally grown design offensive? Why do I get the sneaking suspicion half of those responses were writen by Moda employees (or desingers included in the show) under fake names?

I can see how you'd be happy about the reaction. I think I'd be pleased that it got people talking, but I wonder what CL thinks? Do they like this sort of dialog?

I mean, if you want to call it "dialog"... It does sound very "home team" as Jonathan pointed out.

I don't know, but my guess is that CL loves it. Journalists that I know tend to have pretty thick skins--they are almost by definition hated by all sides of an argument. And as far as I'm concerned, if everybody likes you, you're not pushing hard enough.

Cinque, actually for a while now I meant to congratulate you on that review in CL specifically. Haven't seen you about.

Design is something I have a hard separating from products, consumers and most importantly capital. Not saying all art can or will transcend these things I do find it pretentious when design 'museums' try elaborate displays to give that 'high art' feeling. Whatever.

Most importantly, I think it's great to have some reviews with gusto. The arts section of CL comes alive!! And I'm grabbing it every Wed. now instead of just when I run across it. Great work.

Actually, if anything, I would have preferred a more "high art" feeling. Instead it was just so much sound and fury...

Anyway, thanks for reading!