If you haven’t heard about the sudden termination of the 500 Capp Street Foundation‘s Head Curator Bob Linder and its impact on the future of the exhibitions at artist David Ireland’s house, now’s the time to start paying attention!  Local artists Alicia McCarthy and Jonathan Runcio have organized a Petition to replace the Board of 500 Capp Street— learn more about what they have to say about the situation below.

BACKGROUND PHOTO COURTESY OF 500 CAPP ST

We reported that painter Matt Connors pulled out of his upcoming exhibition in our last article, but it has also been announced that sculptor Liz Magor has also decided to terminate her current exhibition at 500 Capp Street.  Although her show TIMESHARE has only been open for two weeks, Magor wrote an email to ARTnews explaining that, “What I needed was an acknowledgment of the importance of the artist/curator relationship and some assurance that curatorial oversight would be maintained through a comprehensive plan of action. But nothing. Obviously there’s a lack of understanding of the role that context plays in the exhibition of work. … There’s no point exhibiting if an appropriate context isn’t in place.”

Saturday, July 6 is the final day to see Liz Magor’s show at 500 Capp Street.  The organizers of the Petition are asking people to show up in solidarity of artists like Liz, Nina, Matt and staffers like Bob, Diego, and everyone who supports the “commercial-free imagination that grows further endangered every afternoon around here.”  Be there at noon when 500 Capp Street opens!

LIZ MAGOR: TIMESHARE, COURTESY OF 500 CAPP ST

Hi Alicia and Jonathan, so why should people– even those who aren’t “in” the Bay Area arts scene– care about your Petition?
I think it’s acceptable for a non-profit institution to shift gears responsibly but to hit the brakes on so much important work and terminate someone with no notice, no severance and no thanks is utterly unacceptable. The board’s actions are loaded with such hostility towards Bob, as well as all the artists he enlisted, who ultimately did nothing wrong. Shame on them.

KQED has reported that a secondary concern for the Board of Directors was that “Ireland’s own work, some of which remains in storage when not on view in the house, had not been seen often enough.”  Do you have any suggestions for a more sustainable way to increase the amount of Ireland’s work that is being shown?
Ireland’s work is always on view. The house is a living sculpture and the exhibitions are its rhythm. Bob and Diego thoroughly researched the collection of Ireland’s work, often shining light on pieces that haven’t been exhibited in decades, if at all. Also, I always saw the Exhibition programs at 500 Capp as a proposal for seeing more of David Ireland’s work outside the Bay Area as part of a broader context.

Could you share a significant experience that you’ve had at 500 Capp Street?
There are so many. For me, I had a significant experience at every exhibition I visited, at the moment I started drawing connections between the work of Ireland (house included) and the other work on view. The setting offered a level of intimacy not often achieved in museums, galleries or other non-profits.

Is there anything else that you’d like to share with our readers?
There will be a gathering to recognize Bob and Diego’s efforts at 500 Capp.  Liz Magor is pulling her exhibition from the house only 2 weeks after the opening.  Saturday is the last day to see it, so people are asked to show up in solidarity when they open at noon.

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