The loneliness of a long-distance gallery director

Remember back in the day when New Zealanders rushed to the Basel Art Fair like lemmings to a cliff? The Trip of a Lifetime crowd, how they loved Basel. ‘We need to be here’ they clamoured to CNZ. ‘We absolutely agree,’ CNZ chorused back. The harmony was, well, unusual is as good a word as any. 

Now skip forward three years and try to get funding for an international art fair. You’re lucky to get $7500 here and $7500 there, bit of a change from the $90,000 they put up for Art Basel last time. There’s more support at CNZ for the Melbourne (is it still happening?) Art Fair adding up to what is not exactly the most dynamic overseas strategy. This year at Basel there is barely a government paid New Zealander to be seen. 

This is all very unfortunate because Sriwhana Spong’s installation at the Basel Art Fair’s Statements exhibition is outstanding and attracting a great deal of attention. The problem is, from CNZ’s point of view, it might as well be the sound of a plinth falling in a forest. If CNZ really believes in the power of international connections (and they said they did, didn’t they?) one or two of them really need to get over to see what’s going on. Would some of us then call them out as junket travellers? Possibly, but they need to do it anyway.

Off the record, on the QT and very hush hush

Prompted by CNZ's response to out post on their selection process, we zipped over to the Creative New Zealand site to check on the Venice Biennale news section. At the moment there are three stories. New Zealand to participate (December 07), Celebrated artists chosen (June 08) and, thanks to some prodding by OTN, Venues chosen (December 08). That’s one media release on 2009's major visual arts funding event ($650,000 from CNZ) per 122 days.

It’s not as if there’s nothing to report. The venues have been visited on our dime (Trip Of A Lifetime part 2) by the curators, who presumably had cameras and came back loaded with images. We’ve heard one of the venues described as “Dusty and bare and thrilling in that Venice way” which sounds pretty cool. So here are some pics of the venue being used by Francis Upritchard that we found on Google. It looks perfect, and good on Upritchard for organizing it. We weren’t able to find images of the Judy Millar venue.

We’re not sure whether the decision by the CNZ web site not to share images like this or give regular updates (some studio shots, how the fund raising is going, interviews with the artists etc) is a matter of secrecy or disinterest, or both.
Images: The Fondazione Claudio Buziol where Francis Upritchard will show her work.

Secrets

Well, we tried and failed. Our appeal to the Ombusdsman to require CNZ to let us have the tripofalifetime reports has been rejected. Strangely it wasn’t CNZ that thwarted us. The Ombudsman made it clear that “The [CNZ] Memorandum did not offer any expectation to the delegates that their reports as a whole (or personal opinions contained therein) would be confidential…” and that “I was not satisfied that it imposed a blanket condition of confidentiality for the entirety of any reports that might be submitted by the delegates.”

So far, so good.

Later in her response, however, the Ombusdman says she felt a later CNZ meeting while not “creating any obligation of confidence…” was “consistent with an understanding on the part of the delegates that their reports would be kept confidential.”

And this is where we came unstuck.

The Ombudsman consulted with all the tripofaliftimers and, what-do-you-know, “each delegate made the point that their reports had not been drafted with the idea of public release in mind.” and “Given that they had not expected public release, certain delegates concerns extended to their grammatical style as well as the sentiments expressed.” So, in the end private interests prevailed over the public interest.

And that was that.

On appeal, we made a compromise offer to the Ombudsman suggesting that the reports be made public with 1) the names of the delegates removed, 2) with anything they didn’t want made public blacked out and 3) that an opportunity was given to delegates to fix any problematic grammar. This was not acceptable and our final request for the release of the reports into the public domain was denied.

Their secrets will go with them to the grave.

Messy

We have just heard that Natasha Conland may not be making an appearance at the Massey Grand Tour session tomorrow night. That would cut the Trip Of A Lifetime representation by 50 percent. Think, think, think. Here's an idea. Given that she lives and works in Wellington, why doesn't CNZ’s Undine Marshfield step up and onto the bill? (er, why wasn't she on the bill anyway?) She too took the Trip Of A Lifetime and, according to those who were there, took notes. Even better, isn't Undine coordinating the confidential (sic) reports from all Trip members? People who want to hear what the lone TOAL survivor (Gavin Hipkins) has to say might be better to button hole him at an opening. LATER: Have just had a call from CNZ's Undine and she'll be there to listen.

Opportunity of a lifetime (Wellington division)

You can hear “views, insights and perspectives” from Trip of a Lifetimers Natasha Conland and Gavin Hipkins on Tuesday 6 November from 4.30 to 7.30 at Massey University’s Museum Building Theatrette. Along with others they will participate in panels and give five minute “perspectives” on their recent tour of Venice, Munster, Kassel and Basel. The discussion will be followed with “European-style refreshments”.

Image: Panel discussion on how to find Venice (simulation)

Fast work

The Creative New Zealand Strategic Plan and Statement of Intent for 2007-10 has been published. The Trip Of A Lifetime Tour participants will be delighted to see that, what we assume was their big yes tick, is reflected in the new strategic priorities. Who said CNZ couldn’t move fast? You can download a copy of the full report here.

The continuing adventures of Secret Squirrel

An invitation from the Institute of Modern Art in Brisbane prompted us again to wonder why Creative New Zealand is declining to make the Trip of a Lifetime Reports public. In Brisbane, the IMA has scheduled three Australians to give public talks on their experiences at the Bienalle. Having travelled on our dime, it is hard to see why the New Zealand public shouldn’t know what our representatives saw and heard, and what they thought about it. We have now made three requests for the five individual reports by Natasha Conland, Gavin Hipkins, Gary Langsford, Lisa Reihana and Undine Marshfield (see WAITING FOR GODOT at the top right of the blog). The most recent response from CNZ claimed that, “The individual reports from delegates are submitted in confidence to us and so will not be publicly issued … this is common practice where free and frank advice is an imperative.” Kind of paradoxical that CNZ feels that getting ‘free and frank advice’ means you have to keep it secret.

Show time

Today's the day the Trip of a Lifetime Tour travellers have to pay the Piper, and hand in personal reports on their tax payer funded trip to the Venice Biennale, Art Basel, Liste, Volta, Scope, Documenta and Sculpture Projects Muenster 07. We have asked CNZ for copies of the reports so we can share highlights with you. We have also requested the timetable and process for the Reference Group's (three women museum directors: Tina Barton, Rhana Devenport and Jenny Harper, a couple of artists: Gavin Hipkins and Riki Manuel and a curator: Jim Vivieaere) review. CNZ have asked the TOALT team to report to the next meeting of the visual arts reference group in October 2007. Of course this is the second review of Venice requested by CNZ. The first was commissioned from Australian consultants SGS Economics and Planning Pty Ltd. That report strongly recommended a return to Venice but as far as we can see is no longer available on the CNZ web site.
UPDATE: The first report has been found by one of our readers. You can read it here.
Don't forget, if you have the psychic strength, you can read all the Trip of a Lifetime posts by clicking Trip of a Lifetime in the Labels box at the bottom of this post.

Volume

An update email from CNZ the other day, on the Trip of a Lifetime Tour. Apparently, in the Tour’s discussions with the Director of Documenta, members were able to determine the number of New Zealand art publications held in the Documenta archive. Of the three, two were the catalogues Toi Toi Toi and et al. the fundamental practice (both donated by Rene Block, Toi Toi Toi curator and et al. supporter). The third, a book, was Contemporary Painting in New Zealand by Michael Dunn. CNZ’s email noted that the Tour lodged a copy of Speculation in the archive increasing New Zealand’s holdings by 25 per cent. CNZ is now calling for anyone with publications on New Zealand art they regard as significant, to send them to the archive.
Image: Trip of a Lifetime Tour members meet with Documenta director (Reconstruction)

Spam

unvarnished facts, reckless guesswork, insinuations and possible inventions that have arrived at overthenet.blog@gmail.com: priscilla pitts is leaving the dunedin public art gallery and moving to take up a job in wellington, jim fraser broke his six weeks sojourn on a greek island to attend the basel art fair, the trip of a lifetime tour were surprise guests at michael stevenson’s drinks for people who helped in the installation of his work at basel, gary langsford is proud owner of a damien hirst - a dagger piercing a real heart in formaldehyde, christchurch art gallery is looking for a senior curator who has ‘an impressive track record in the development of high quality exhibitions and an extensive record in published art writing and the publication of exhibition catalogues and related books’ and the city gallery's savage is in berlin with two doors' todd. any missed details, indignant denials or additions gratefully received, and the one that makes us laugh out loud the longest - rewarded. thanks to everyone irresponsible.

T riff

To help celebrate CNZ’s inaugural Trip of a Lifetime Tour overthenet is offering this classy TLTT T. All orders should be sent to overthenet.blog@gmail.com. Sold at cost with a price still to be finalised, one size will fit all. These classy overthenet shirts are produced in an incredibly soft, smooth, high-quality fabric made exclusively with 100% combed cotton crafted from 30-singles yarn woven on 28-gauge knitting machines and using biodegradable inks in an academic sweatshop-free, ecologically committed workplace by p mule. The Ts are available in the complete Trip of a Lifetime colour range which comes in Marshfield, Conland, Langsford, Reihana and Hipkins. Click on image for the full splender of the unique p mule design.

CNZ Trip of a lifetime panel slashed

News in that John McCormack is bailing on the CNZ Trip of a Lifetime Tour to Venice, Basel, Muenster and Kassel. McCormack had already told CNZ he would travel on his own dime but is now also withdrawing from the reporting functions and will no longer travel with the delegation. That leaves Natasha Conland, Gavin Hipkins, Gary Langsford, Lisa Reihana and Undine Marshfield left to report on what the Venice Biennale, Documenta, Sculpture projects at Muenster and Art Basel, the Basel Art Fair, could possibly have to offer New Zealand.

Cocktail circuit

Winners of the CNZ Trip of a Lifetime Tour will be heartened by this news just in from The Australian.

“Tonight in Melbourne, the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art will host one of the year's most important contemporary art events. The Australia Council's launch of its Venice Biennale 2007 campaign will officially introduce the three participating artists, Susan Norrie, Callum Morton and Daniel von Sturmer, to the 200 guests.

“Unofficially, the invitation-only cocktail party is also the chance for serious networking between commercial gallery owners, museum directors and curators, arts bureaucrats, collectors and sponsors. As an art dealer said earlier this week, ‘If you're not doing Venice, you're not part of the scene.’"

Art collector and philanthropist John Kaldor, in his second term as Australia's Venice Biennale commissioner, describes the biennale as "the Olympics of the art world".

The time and venue of the cocktail party for CNZ’s TLT team at Venice is yet to be announced.

Your tax dollar at play

While we are in a money mood, here is the cost of CNZ’s Trip of a Lifetime Tour. The lucky winners will be flown to Europe where they will tour the art event hotspots in Italy, Switzerland and Germany. Their mission: to see if things like the Venice Biennale, Documenta and the Basel Art Fair are worth other people attending in the future. CNZ has costed the Trip of a Lifetime, including accommodation, meals, tickets to the events and travel at - $65,000.

Your tax dollar at work

To help them develop an international strategy for the visual arts, Creative New Zealand is sending the following people on an expenses paid trip to the Venice Biennale, Documenta and the Basel Art Fair. John McCormack, who was also listed, will in fact be paying his own way.
Natasha Conland – curator
Gavin Hipkins – artist
Gary Langsford – art gallery dealer
Lisa Reihana - artist
Undine Marshfield – Creative New Zealand