From a comment on The name game Branding in the New York art world at The Economist Online
if exhibit #1. is shown at Gallery A it is worth a small fortune. If it is shown at Gallery B it is worth nearly nothing. If it is shown at Gallery C it is worth nothing but is fresh and hip and will be invited to flirt with success at a group show curated by a young dealer who shows the work of the daughter of an artist who shows at Gallery A. and so on. The so called good work is the work done by people one knows. Gossip and whispers, – branding.
The article itself only scratches the surface of a much bigger topic, the inside game of a very small world. Some of this inside the game stuff is covered here at ArtFagCity (and includes obligatory mentions of Jerry Saltz) surrounding William Powhida’s inside the tent pissing.
To William’s credit he has associated himself with two of the smartest people in the Art world using social media Jen Beckman (20 x 200) and Ed Winkelman which has amplified his own voice in a crowded noisy room.
Winkelman and Powhida have been producing “#class”, the Chelsea’s version of TED. Of course “#class” is more ironic and without the free Google Nexus One phone give away.
Disclaimer: I work for The Economist.
