Rob Pruitt's 2010 Art Awards Ceremony Was a Love/Hate Affair
By Yasha Wallin
Last night at Rob Pruitt's 2010 Art Awards, a benefit for the Guggenheim Museum and White Columns, the art world's version of the Oscars played out as a theatrical performance piece, set on the grand stage of the music venue Webster Hall. Conceived by pop artist Pruitt, and hosted by downtown writer and longtime PAPER columnist Glenn O'Brien, the second annual ceremony mimicked the format of traditional awards shows, complete with a teleprompter, awkward jokes by presenters and musical performances by Martin Creed and Kalup Linzy with James Franco, who in a sleeveless tuxedo shirt was clearly warming up for his big debut as presenter of the real Oscars in February. Guests including Michael Stipe, Larry Gagosian, Cynthia Rowley and artists Hope Atherton and Nate Lowman enjoyed dinner served by Bushwick's Roberta's.
With awards in 15 categories in contemporary art to hand out, the evening saw its share of touching moments. Mary Heilmann, recipient of 2009's Artist of the Year award, pointed to the sky as she announced the late Louise Bourgeois as this year's winner and Jonas Mekas who in his acceptance speech for Lifetime Achievement Award with Martha Rosler, reminded us all why where were there: "We artists are here to make humanity more beautiful". Then there were the amusing moments. Artist/musician Spencer Sweeney described the job of a curator as "a great DJ who takes everyone's work, mixes it all together and then takes all the credit" as he presented the honor for Curator of the Year; and Jerry Saltz, who, while accepting the prize for Blogger or Critic of the Year told the audience "I love art. I love you. I hate you." The unofficial award for most sexual tension between artist and curator went to Marina Abramovic and MOMA's Klaus Biesenbach, who were quite cozy while accepting the honor for Solo Museum Show of the Year, echoing Saltz's sentiment that love, indeed, was in the air.
With awards in 15 categories in contemporary art to hand out, the evening saw its share of touching moments. Mary Heilmann, recipient of 2009's Artist of the Year award, pointed to the sky as she announced the late Louise Bourgeois as this year's winner and Jonas Mekas who in his acceptance speech for Lifetime Achievement Award with Martha Rosler, reminded us all why where were there: "We artists are here to make humanity more beautiful". Then there were the amusing moments. Artist/musician Spencer Sweeney described the job of a curator as "a great DJ who takes everyone's work, mixes it all together and then takes all the credit" as he presented the honor for Curator of the Year; and Jerry Saltz, who, while accepting the prize for Blogger or Critic of the Year told the audience "I love art. I love you. I hate you." The unofficial award for most sexual tension between artist and curator went to Marina Abramovic and MOMA's Klaus Biesenbach, who were quite cozy while accepting the honor for Solo Museum Show of the Year, echoing Saltz's sentiment that love, indeed, was in the air.
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