Who Gets to Call It Art? 2006

A captivating journey through the vibrant 1960s downtown New York art scene unfolds, narrated by the iconic Metropolitan Museum of Art curator, Henry Geldzahler. The film kicks off with an engaging montage that encapsulates the essence of early 60s New York City. It highlights the explosion of creativity in advertising design and the beloved artists’ haven known as the Cedar Bar, a sanctuary for artists seeking refuge from the chill of the night. Figures like Jack Kerouac, Dennis Hopper, and Jackson Pollock are integrated into this rich tapestry, creating a dynamic community of creatives reminiscent of Paris in the early half of the century.

As Henry Geldzahler, a bright art historian freshly graduated from both Yale and Harvard, enters the New York art scene in the year of JFK’s election, the atmosphere is one of optimism and excitement. These were transformative times when artists, residing in affordable downtown lofts, began to liberate themselves from European influences and Abstract Expressionism, paving the way for something entirely new and authentically American.

The 60s became synonymous with experimentation and the questioning of norms, as the avant-garde thrived amidst openings, happenings, and parties, merging social life with the art world. Young, intelligent voices, from Beat poets to iconic figures like James Dean, emerged alongside innovative films, modern appliances, and cutting-edge product design in advertising. With low rents and a vibrant street lifestyle fostering creativity, anyone could dive into artistic pursuits, and Henry Geldzahler quickly established himself as a prominent figure in the downtown scene.

By 1970, having been the curator of contemporary art at The Metropolitan Museum of Art since 1962, Henry Geldzahler orchestrated an unprecedented exhibition titled New York Painting and Sculpture 1940-1970. This groundbreaking show, which spanned the museum’s 18th and 19th-century galleries, featured over 400 works by living American artists, including notable names like Chamberlain, Di Suvero, Flavin, Frankenthaler, Johns, Kelly, Kline, Noland, Oldenberg, Olitsky, Pollock, Poons, Rauschenberg, Rothko, Lichtenstein, Motherwell, Newman, Segal, Stella, and Warhol.

This centennial exhibition not only redefined the museum’s commitment to contemporary art but also attracted a new audience eager to engage with modern pieces. With his bold vision, Henry Geldzahler offered American art its much-deserved stamp of approval, affirming that it was not merely commendable, but profoundly significant and a wise investment for the future.