A Short Life of Trouble: Forty Years in the New York Art World
Marcia Tucker
(Author)
Liza Lou
(Afterword by)
Description
This engrossing memoir brings to vivid life the behind-the-scenes struggles of Marcia Tucker, the first woman to be hired as a curator at the Whitney Museum of American Art and the founder of the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York City. Tucker came of age in the 1960s, and this spirited account of her life draws the reader directly into the burgeoning feminist movement and the excitement of the New York art world during that time. Her own new ways of thinking led her to take principled stands that have changed the way art museums consider contemporary art. As curator of painting and sculpture at the Whitney, she organized major exhibitions of the work of Lee Krasner, Joan Mitchell, Robert Morris, Bruce Nauman, and Richard Tuttle, among others. As founder of the New Museum of Contemporary Art, she organized and curated groundbreaking exhibitions that often focused on the nexus of art and politics. The book highlights Tucker's commitment to forging a new system when the prevailing one proved too narrow for her expansive vision.
Product Details
Price
$24.95
Publisher
University of California Press
Publish Date
May 20, 2010
Pages
226
Dimensions
5.6 X 8.6 X 0.7 inches | 0.8 pounds
Language
English
Type
Paperback
EAN/UPC
9780520265950
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About the Author
Marcia Tucker, who died in 2006, was a curator of contemporary art and the founder and director of the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York City. Liza Lou is an artist.
Reviews
"Offers some much-needed inspiration [and] ample evidence of Tucker's take-no-prisoners attitude and passion for "difficult" art."-- "New York Times Book Review" (11/28/2008 12:00:00 AM)
"A remarkable piece of writing. . . . [Tucker] has composed a literary monument to her heroic life in art, as moving as it is entertaining."-- "Artforum" (12/1/2008 12:00:00 AM)
"A candid, entertaining, and illuminating account of the 1960s art world. . . . A perfect antidote to this bloated, spectacle-heavy moment."--Martha Schwendener "Bookforum" (12/1/2008 12:00:00 AM)
"A vivid, candid, self-critical and moving account of Tucker's life. . . . Novice curators should find it inspiring."--John A. Walker "The Art Book" (6/30/2010 12:00:00 AM)
Marcia Tucker's courage, conviction and chutzpah are inspiration for those of us who seek to lead meaningful professional lives."-- "Museum" (8/1/2009 12:00:00 AM)
"An unassuming, humbled, even self-effacing metaphor for the art that is life in the art milieu."-- "Migill Book Reviews" (12/11/2009 12:00:00 AM)
"Tucker's book is conventional, accessible, even chatty. But this modest volume, in concert with the shiny playful building on the Bowery, denotes a remarkable legacy."-- "Village Voice" (10/28/2008 12:00:00 AM)
"A good book about a good person."-- "Art + Auction" (10/16/2008 12:00:00 AM)
"A great read [and] a page turner. . . . In less than 200 pages she encapsulates her life, sharing her triumphs and insecurities."-- "Pelican Press" (10/15/2008 12:00:00 AM)
"A joyful exploration of all things art-related. . . . Tucker's balanced assessment of her work and personal life is commendable."-- "Bust" (12/1/2008 12:00:00 AM)
"A remarkable piece of writing. . . . [Tucker] has composed a literary monument to her heroic life in art, as moving as it is entertaining."-- "Artforum" (12/1/2008 12:00:00 AM)
"A candid, entertaining, and illuminating account of the 1960s art world. . . . A perfect antidote to this bloated, spectacle-heavy moment."--Martha Schwendener "Bookforum" (12/1/2008 12:00:00 AM)
"A vivid, candid, self-critical and moving account of Tucker's life. . . . Novice curators should find it inspiring."--John A. Walker "The Art Book" (6/30/2010 12:00:00 AM)
Marcia Tucker's courage, conviction and chutzpah are inspiration for those of us who seek to lead meaningful professional lives."-- "Museum" (8/1/2009 12:00:00 AM)
"An unassuming, humbled, even self-effacing metaphor for the art that is life in the art milieu."-- "Migill Book Reviews" (12/11/2009 12:00:00 AM)
"Tucker's book is conventional, accessible, even chatty. But this modest volume, in concert with the shiny playful building on the Bowery, denotes a remarkable legacy."-- "Village Voice" (10/28/2008 12:00:00 AM)
"A good book about a good person."-- "Art + Auction" (10/16/2008 12:00:00 AM)
"A great read [and] a page turner. . . . In less than 200 pages she encapsulates her life, sharing her triumphs and insecurities."-- "Pelican Press" (10/15/2008 12:00:00 AM)
"A joyful exploration of all things art-related. . . . Tucker's balanced assessment of her work and personal life is commendable."-- "Bust" (12/1/2008 12:00:00 AM)
