Richard Prince

Earlier this year Richard Prince lost in court to Patrick Cariou, whose images Prince appropriated for several collages and paintings. The debate is still raging, especially as the court’s ruling would bar artists from appropriating images unless they are commenting on the original work–something Prince’s work fails to do, and a difficult test to use in the digital media world where images are so easily accessible and useful to artists for any and all purposes. Randy Kennedy has written an excellent analysis of the case and its potential impact on artists, collectors and museums in today’s New York Times. The implications of this case are far-reaching and controversial but might not have much effect today, according to Kennedy, who reminds us that the proverbial horse has long ago fled the barn. MoMA and the Metropolitan Museum

a Richard Prince collage using Patrick Cariou's photos

have weighed in on Prince’s side to support freedom of expression for artists, but so much appropriation is happening today in so many places, the courts would have a difficult time pursuing perpetrators and if the law stands it would be nearly impossible to enforce.

The Whitney's Historic Breuer Building at Madison Avenue and 75th Street

The rumor has finally been confirmed that the Metropolitan Museum will take over the Whitney Museum’s landmark Breuer building when the Whitney moves downtown to its new site at The High Line. Groundbreaking is in two weeks on the Whitney’s new building, designed by Renzo Piano, and this announcement in the New York Times reassures us that the Breuer building will continue to be a museum for at least the next ten years while the Metropolitan refurbishes its modern and contemporary wing and the Whitney establishes itself in its new home. No one is talking about long term plans for the Breuer building since Leonard Lauder’s $131 million gift stipulated that the Whitney could not sell the building for an unspecified amount of time. But the Metropolitan’s use of the building to show their holdings in contemporary art is a wonderful opportunity for art lovers in New York. Let’s hope they will do exciting projects and take some risks. Bravo to Tom Campbell and Adam Weinberg for getting the deal done.