BLU WALL CONTROVERSY

There's an interesting debate developing regarding Jeffrey Deitch's/MOCA's decision to erase/censor/whitewash the artist Blu's work from the side of their museum, this in spite of it being a legal and commissioned work from the Museum itself. The work was produced as part of the upcoming survey on Street Art curated by Jeffrey Deitch to be showcased in April.

Surprisingly, the quite influential and much read street art blog Vandalog, has come out in favour of the decision to remove the work.

Most of our readers will already be aware of who Jeffrey Deitch is and his contribution to promoting this particular type of art, the rumour mill of his producing a show of this type for MOCA was underway almost as soon as he accepted the post. Having worked with Blu in the past, Deitch will no doubt be aware of the direction this particular artists moral compass swings, so to come out now and unilaterally censor its production leads to all sorts of questions. The main being, just how out of touch is Deitch with the development of Street Art outside of his earlier quite narrow field. Some have mentioned that this is all part of a manufactured PR scam which I think we can discount straight away. Blu simply doesn't engage in that type of game.

One abiding question regarding the upcoming show will inevitably be, not what was curated in and why, but what was left out. Will work that is critical of America, War and the prevailing system be left aside in favour of the more decorative. Remains to be seen.

UPDATE : BLU RESPONDS TO DEITCH CLAIMS
In a Times' report on MOCA's controversial decision to whitewash an antiwar mural it had commissioned for the Geffen Contemporary, museum director Jeffrey Deitch discusses his reasons for painting over the artwork.

Blu, the Italian street artist who created the mural, could not be reached for comment by press time. But after the story went to press, I received the following e-mail, addressing the question of whether he considers the removal of his mural censorship:

It is censorship that almost turned into self-censorship when they asked me to openly agree with their decision to erase the wall. In Soviet Union they were calling it 'self-criticism.'

Deitch invited me to paint another mural over the one he erased, and I will not do that..

Maybe this can be a call to arms for an uncurated or mediated action for Street Artists to fill the wall up with whatever they want, in spite of the show. Go get it guys..turn it into a new spring street for 2011.
Woosters excellent Spring Street project back in 2007


Blu's Website
LA TIMES
Vandalog Debate