Phoenix critic confesses all

By GREG COOK | June 24, 2011

By the end of last week, reports appeared in the Globe (and linked to nationally by Artinfo.com), WBUR, UniversalHub, Berkshire Fine Arts, and the Hub Review. The MFA released an official response: "Last evening's impromptu event underscores the MFA's role as a place that inspires creativity. Contemporary art is an important part of our encyclopedic museum . . . . With the opening of the Linde Family Wing for Contemporary Art in September, the museum will be able to showcase even more works by contemporary artists, including those from Boston and New England, as well as alumni from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts."

"I thought it was wonderful to have a reprise," Sandman told me Friday. Though she wished more of the original participants had been able to attend and missed the "sense of the guerrilla action" from '71.

Alexander hoped the MFA would register the show's critique. "The MFA, even the ICA — they have that Foster Prize — but I think they don't do well with showing Boston art. They typically find emerging artists in other parts of the country. People don't realize how exciting the art is around the Boston area."

When I arrived home afterward Wednesday night, there was a phone message from a friend doing his best plummy British accent: "This is Malcolm Rogers, Ann and Graham Gund director of the Museum of Fine Arts. What sort of monstrosity have you unleashed in my bathrooms?"

At least, I don't think it was Malcolm Rogers.

VIDEO:"Flush with the Walls" MFA art stunt turns 40

Read Greg Cook's blog at gregcookland.com/journal.

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