glass walls, ceilings, floors, doors . . .

This was on FB the other day : recommended reading :

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/sexism-in-the-german-art-world-a-890378.html

An interesting article, and right up my alley since I went to art school in Germany in the 1970's -- specifically Staedelschule, in Frankfurt, from 1973-78 -- so experienced this firsthand.  (The only thing the director of the school ever had to say to me was "oh, you're looking chic today!", and whenever I asked to join his class he would exclaim "oh, it's full" ...)

And, apparently, not much has changed!  But we know this.  Every once in awhile someone comments on the preponderance of male artists in the German contemporary art scene.  Not just artists, but curators, and other power machers, of every art professional persuasion ...  Though, it might be, hopefully, a dying breed ...

However, aside from that, what I found interesting about this article was that in fact things are not perfect -- even though we generally look to art to express perfection in every way.  Particularly, that it be forward thinking and progressive and ahead of the curve, always.  And clearly it's not.  So, we can all get back to work trying to make it so.

Perhaps the truth lies in the striving.  And recognizing that there is still a long way to go.

http://www.dinterfineart.com/html/gallery_previous25_wolf.html

After lunch with wowe.  Wednesday, March 20, 2013.  First day of spring, sales tax due.

Wolfgang Wesener and I have lunch now and then, usually at some place of culinary interest.

This time I suggested MOMA, since I can bring in a guest for free -- we all know how expensive museum admission has gotten -- and we could have a bite in the Terrace 5 café on the 5th floor.  It has floor to ceiling glass with a lovely view overlooking the MOMA garden.

But it turned out a little different.  Wolfgang was running late so I spent some time sitting in the sun in the garden.  It was really cold and the sun was sharp as a knife.

Finally I went inside to look at some art.  The place was so packed with people moving around in semi-slow motion, lurching in unpredictable directions, in clumps and pairs.  I got restless.  I kept fleeing from them, trying to find a gallery or wall that was empty of people.

I did stumble into a couple of interesting spots -- a room of Joseph Beuys vitrines, a room with some paintings from his (male) students in Düsseldorf back in the day, a Carl Andre pile of 120 bricks ...  And so on.

But the crowds proved daunting so I went downstairs, and found my way to the Modern restaurant (another Danny Meyer oasis) via a back route.

I arrived at the reception desk just as Wolfgang did, and we sat at a small table in the bar area.  We had a bottle of sparkling water, cold and prickly on the tongue.  Wolfgang ordered a glass of wine and I had a glass of beer, dark and peppery.  We shared a tarte flambée, yum but kind of like a snack, and I ordered a salad.  Wolfgang sat pensive, as usual.  We talked a bit about this and that, a mutual friend or two.  Very low key.

Then I had a cappucino.

Then we left ... taking the M train downtown .............