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MOCA for the people?
the responses
by donald dusinberre    imartsyfartsy@gmail.com

      “My opinion on the subject may differ from others, but nonetheless, here it is: I do feel that MOCA has taken steps towards supporting artists on a local level, specifically with the Blue Cross Blue Shield Gallery on the fifth floor. However, when you look at other cities in comparison, there is no question: museums in other cities are doing more to support local art than Jacksonville. So, the real question is: Is MOCA interested in being held to the standard of art museums of other cities and rising to that caliber? Or are they perfectly content just flatlining where they are?
      “I remain cautiously optimistic about MOCA, and would like to think that, as a member and an artist who has exhibited on the fifth floor, I, along with everyone else, have some say in what happens there. Without the support of its members, how is a museum expected to survive? Of course they have financial supporters who have nothing to do with membership, but if they are not receiving the support of the community, more specifically the arts community in Jacksonville, what is to be said of that?
      “Perhaps it is the duty of museums to listen and absorb the valid concerns of the people who frequent, or should frequent, their establishments. It is clear that there are concerns here, and some feel as though these concerns are going unnoticed, unanswered. Why is that?”

-Brittni Wood




      “Let me qualify these remarks by saying I’ve only been to a few contemporary art museums. The museums were in New York, San Francisco and Miami, so I don’t know what a museum is supposed to be like in a second or third tier city.
      “Let’s for a moment put aside the idea that MOCA doesn’t do enough for the artists and does not reach out enough to the public, because lately I’ve been feeling like the real question should be: Is MOCA Jacksonville even all that good? The last show was indeed good, but it’s only on one floor and the permanent collection is getting to be a bit tired. If you’ve gone through the permanent collection more than a handful of times you’ve pretty much seen it all. Okay, I realize it’s a Picasso, but it’s the worst collection of Picassos I can imagine.
      “The fifth floor BCBS gallery for local artists is so bad, I’m glad most people don’t even know how to get there. As for the selection of items in the store, I’d rather go to Borders. That’s sad. I think it might be time to take the Joan Mitchell paintings down in the atrium and put something up that is a little more, I don’t know, CONTEMPORARY.
      “I wish more people would buy my paintings, and I wish I could get some recognition in New York. I wish I was on the cover of the new Art Forum, and I wish I could leave MOCA just a little bit inspired instead of a little bit disappointed.”

-Kurt Polkey

Entertaining U Newspaper, eujacksonville.com. Published by N2U Publishing, Inc. 3101 University Blvd., South #201 Jacksonville, FL 32216. Copyright N2U Publishing, Inc. 2006. Reproduction of any artwork or copy prepared by N2U Publishing, Inc. is strictly prohibited without written consent of the publisher. We will not be responsible for errors and/or omissions, the Publisher's liability for error will not exceed the cost of space occupied by the error. Articles for publication are welcome and may be sent to the following address: 3101 University Blvd., South #201 Jacksonville, FL 32216. We cannot assume responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts and photographs. For information concerning classified advertising phone 904-730-3003.