from my Facebook wall, Sunday, October 23, 2011

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2334447033301&id=10135...

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Steven Kaplan
‎#Occupy38 @Occupy38
Something's up @ArtistsSpace.
38 Greene Street NYC Occupied. General Assembly At Noon 10.23.11
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5ziBkXhwU8
But is it really happening? And does it have anything to do with #OWS?
http://artistsspaceoccupation.tumblr.com/
Like · · Unfollow Post · Share · 32 minutes ago near New York

Joshua Smith
Steve, it's a fucking disaster. Columbia grad, internationally exhibited performance artist, Georgi Sagri interrupted someone's lecture yesterday by passing out a pretty weak "Take Artists Space" poem, and then invited kids who had no idea what Artists Space was to occupy the spae. Has nothing to do with #OWS - it's like "Occupy a Friendly Non Profit Gallery". What artist doesn't want to do that? Ha. She's actually shown there before... anyways it's an opportunistic, and typical art world co-option.
15 minutes ago · Like

Steven Kaplan
I understand 15-20 "occupiers" used yesterday's talk to gain admission and then stayed the night. The Artists Space staff did not call the NYPD to remove them, and they remain there today, apparently planning a "General Assembly" -- all 15 of them. Richard is apparently there right now, and Stefan is on his way. Are you there yourself?
11 minutes ago · Like

Mike Cockrill
Is this turning into the equivalent of the 70s streaking? Just take of your cloths and run around somewhere?
6 minutes ago · Like

Joshua Smith
I can't make it there today. But yes, A.S. staff was there last night late into the night, trying to talk with these guys. Yeah I heard there's only like 10 people there. Which is not a failure in my eyes. But trying to "take", rename and repurpose Artist Space, of all places, definitely is.
a few seconds ago · Like

Lise Soskolne
My understanding is that they aren't affiliated with OWS

Joshua Smith
They aren't.

Steven Kaplan
Decidedly. They are employing #OWS as a pretext, and using it to create this intervention, depending on benign treatment from Artists Space i.e. no NYPD.

Joshua Smith
They've also demanded no photography, which is kind of funny in a gallery. And fascist, it's a little fascist too...

Steven Kaplan
Is there a human microphone, repeating each phrase to the "multitudes"? Or is it more like a game of telephone? And is anyone waving their fingers in assent?

Lise Soskolne
WAGE is working with OWS arts & Labor group and nobody within that seems to be aware of what's going on at AS as far as i can see

Joshua Smith
I think there's like 6 people there. I hope they go back to Wall St. I'm more than a fan of OWS but this is wack opportunism, that could really harm a good institution.

Steven Kaplan
They report around 45.
#GeneralAssembly here at #Occupy38 is growing. About 45 now. All the agenda points set. Phew.

Joshua Smith
UGh

Steven Kaplan
I have to agree with Josh that this action seems to be taking advantage of the good will of Artists Space not to forcibly evict. This tactic would never work at MoMA or the NuMu, which have security on staff. But Artists Space, an esteemed non profit arts organization, has the right to continue their regular programming and not be co-opted. They are currently de-installing the Christopher D'Arcangelo exhibition and bringing in a group show organized by the Dexter Sinister duo.