Yesterday I published a long piece, am currently working on another, and am aware that all of that can be taxing for the reader who is perfectly hot and tired and ready for vacation. Therefor it will be short and sweet today.

I mentioned yesterday a terrific Calder show at the Whitney, without getting into the details of what else is going on over there. Having written about protests at this institution earlier this year I will just re-up this piece here, which talked about protest against board member(s) and donors who make their money by selling death, for some in form of teargas.

For the most recent developments in this continuing saga go to the link here. As of this weekend, multiple artists have withdrawn from the Whitney’s Biennial exhibition. Among the first was the most recognized person in the show, MacArthur winner Nicole Eisenman, but soon 7 more followed.

Probably not coincidental timing: the departures happened a day or so after this essay on The Teargas Biennial appeared on Artforum. It is a smart analytic piece; it leaves open the fact that people who accepted the invitation to participate in the Biennal (one that finally, finally was populated by women and people of color) and now withdraw will be accused of trying to get the best of two worlds: all the prestige and value-accumulation that comes from having participated in the Whitney Biennial, and at least some of the moral authority that comes from having withdrawn from it. (For the full argument, go here.)

I wonder how many artists will follow – I had planned to visit the Biennial later this year – we’ll see what’s still there.

Photographs today are from prior visits to NYC.

Music is by Jorge Sylvester Ace Collective who will appear at the Harlem Jazz Series on Friday 7/26 – 43-55 WEST 124TH STREET NEW YORK, NY, 10027