Page 44 - Studio International - July August 1971

real estate owned by a certain investment group no grounds for possible libel even at this second unsatisfactory reaction, on Wednesday or
is to be displayed on a lighted viewing box to be state of remove. He submitted this material to Thursday of that week. Then it became clear
constructed by SRGM or to be rented from a me on Monday, 29 March and I laid it out so that Mr Messer was unwilling to go along with
commercial supplier. The display surface that the trustees could view it. Mr Messer Mr Haacke's compromise at that point, and Mr
required is c. twenty-five rows of 3o 2 X 2 in. specifically requested that the artist not be Haacke was unwilling to make any further
slides (c. 5 to 6 ft square in vertical format). present to speak to the trustees. compromises, so they agreed to part ways and
The most likely site for this diplay will be in Mr Haacke requested that Mr Messer put this
the alcove at the top of the 3rd ramp. THOMAS M. MESSER: The memo described these in writing.
Accompanying this slide display will be a map pieces to some extent, and while we had reason I learned of the cancellation through a
of Manhattan indicating the site photographed. to suspect that this was going to get very telephone call from Mr Haacke toward the
14. Real Estate Piece Number Two difficult, none of us had actually seen it; so the end of that week. The next indication I had
The artist will supply c.150 5 x 7 M. black and notion arose— I think it may have been legal was on Sunday night after the supper meeting of
white photographs of real estate in New York counsel—to ask Haacke to give us at least a the museum staff at Mr Messer's house, when
owned by a second investment group. These partial presentation, which we did. This was Haacke's public statement of the cancellation
photographs are to be displayed on the viewed by myself and two members of the came by special delivery at my apartment. At
horizontal top of the ledge constructed for the board—Mr Newlin, legal counsel, and Daniel that meeting I specifically did not bring up the
DARBOVEN books in the G.I.E. A suitable Canon Rich, chairman of the Museum and Arts cancellation of the Haacke show. My thoughts
means of covering the photographs must be Committee. The feeling that had been expressed were not sufficiently clarified to make a coherent
devised by SRGM. The DARBOVEN shelf among ourselves was that it would be extremely statement, I did not have the information I had
must naturally be retained following the closing difficult for Haacke to have unassailable later, and the character of the meeting was such
of the G.I.E. This 2nd Real Estate piece will information and even more difficult for us that Mr Messer very clearly wished things kept
also be complemented by a map of Manhattan to check whether such information on a general discussion level. He spoke to us
indicating the sites photographed, and also presented to us was indeed unassailable, and about questions to do with the deficit that the
probably by recorded interviews of selected we were highly uncomfortable about being museum was running, the way the trustees
tenants of these real estate locations. propelled as an art museum into a legally relate to the museum, and re-stated his feeling
complex situation in which we did not trust that he alone should act as go-between between
EDWARD FRY: Then there was an hour-long ourselves. The presentation included what the trustees and staff in professional matters.
discussion between Mr Messer, Haacke, and Haacke referred to as a modification; but it was Those present were the curators, the chief
myself in Mr Messer's office on 12 March. such a thin disguise that the identity of the conservator, the public affairs officer, and Mr
Mr Messer, having carefully digested my memo, people became even more interesting. Messer's secretary. Various people gave their
wanted to ask Mr Haacke certain questions viewpoints about how the museum stood at
which obviously touched on the real estate EDWARD FRY: At the end of that day Mr Messer present and some ideas for its future activity. I
system and the poll. At that time Haacke told me that the trustees objected even more did speak about how I felt that the museum
explained that all these real estate questions strongly to the compromise than he did must think about how it should face up to the
were based on the public record in the County himself; and that he therefore felt that the changing character of art and play a larger role
Clerk's office and that he could see no exhibition could not contain these works under in the social community because this is in many
conceivable reason why they should raise any their present condition. And I asked Mr Messer ways what young artists were doing.
legal issues, although Mr Messer was obviously if I should relay this to the artist; he said, 'Yes', After the meeting, receiving Haacke's letter
concerned about this at the time. Their and I did so the following day. clarified my thinking more strongly and made
discussion was without a satisfactory I had lunch with Mr Messer that day, me feel even more that the museum had made an
resolution, and there was at least one long 3o March, and we reviewed the situation and extremely serious mistake. And after thinking
telephone discussion after that which resulted I expressed deep concern about the and examining my own conscience that night, I
in Haacke's request that Mr Messer put his unsatisfactory reaction on the part of the board. felt I could not concur in the publicly
viewpoint to paper which he did in the letter I was hoping that even at this point some kind announced policy of the museum as stated by
dated 19 March. I read the letter before it was of compromise could be achieved, and I Mr Messer; I told him so the next morning.
sent; Mr Messer showed it to me. I had no also indicated that Mr Messer owed some sort
particular comment on it. At that time I began of further written explanation to the artist THOMAS M. MESSER: How do I feel about
to realize that the director's point of view about concerning the Board's reaction. opposing views between myself and my staff ?
contemporary art was seriously at variance with A museum is a creative institution, and it's
mine. But I might add that at no time did I even THOMAS M. MESSER: Well, Edward at that time, absolutely no good if people don't have a
entertain the possibility that the exhibition and up to the moment of cancellation itself; certain tension amongst themselves. We debate
could possibly have been cancelled. retained a studious neutrality in all these continuously, and as we have come to know one
Then Mr Haack ewent to a lawyer, Mr instances; he never sided with Haacke, he another better we have become less careful about
Jerry Ordover, and discussed the situation with never sided with me, and he indicated to me stating clearly our oppositions to one another. In
him. Mr Ordover suggested that he act as a that he had no wish to come down in this issue the end, of course, decisions have to be made,
kind of mediator in this aesthetic-legal on one side or the other. and what emerges is a museum view which, as
artist-institutional disagreement; and so a Censorship was not a word he used until far as the world is concerned, has a certain
meeting was arranged on Thursday 25 March after the fact of the cancellation. There was not weight. That view is usually expressed either by
between Haacke, Messer, and Ordover, with even an indication that he opposed this. He the President of the Foundation or the director
myself present, to discuss a possible was perturbed, obviously, as I was. We spoke of the museum and becomes, in a sense, official
compromise solution to the exhibition. at that time about the pressures that he found policy. The opposition to museum policy made
Haacke then, over the weekend of 26-28 March, himself under, and his feeling that he should by Edward Fry to the Times? Well, I consider it
prepared a compromise presentation of his real remain detached from any partiality. inappropriate. I think it stands to reason that if
estate system and his questionnaire poll; he any member of the staff, including myself, is
prepared this compromise presentation in EDWARD FRY: Then Mr Haacke had a further out of step with decisions of our policy to the
detailed collaboration with his lawyer Mr telephone conversation with Mr Messer degree that he finds it necessary to be in public
Ordover to make sure that there was absolutely following my conveyance of the trustees' opposition, you have a very serious situation.

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