Dennis Hollingsworth

Cinque Hicks

Via Tom Moody's site, I've found Bare and Bitter Sleep", Cinque Hicks'A snippet:

Dyske Suematsu posted a very interesting article at Rhizome called The Myth of Meritocracy in which he argues that salesmanship is not some adjunct skill to art making, but is in fact the same as art making. Oversimplifying of course, but that's the gist of it. He argues that artists don't become famous because they're influential, they become influential because they're famous. Compelling. And I have to admit the idea appeals to the marketing hack in me.

And with such candor, he both neutralizes and sharpens his P.O.V., good stuff.

I remember a conversation with a NYC artist on the fame train, who was open about the fact that he tried mightily to "brand" himself. To a great degree, he succeeded. I trace it all to the years surrounding MOCA/LA's "Public Offerings" and the institutionally endorsed idea that there is nothing left to make art with or about, except the institution itself... artists as stock to be traded on the floor.

Art of the Deal" Indeed.