I went to the The Obsolescence of the Photographic Object at the New School and was looking forward in hearing moderator Mia Fineman from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, artists Leslie Hewitt, Miranda Litchtenstein, and Mark Wyse.

I have to say the introduction was interesting and the theme thought provoking but the press release was where the strength of the evenings presentation ended. Ms.Fineman’s moderation was weak from the start because she seemed lost, cosntantly looking for questions and what little she asked/proposed was at best trivial. Artist Leslie Hewitt spoke the most eloquent and was articulate. She brought up the understanding of perspective pre-camera and this could have opened up the panel into a huge discourse. Instead, artist Mark Wyse, gave an embarrassing slide presentation filled with jokes and juvenile ideas. The humor would have been okay had it not been the only thing he was offering. Mr.Wyse brought no interesting or thought provoking ideas and tried to make a mockery of the entire event.

Miranda Litchtenstein spoke about her process and made an attempt to speak about transformation and perspective. She at least made an “attempt” and carried through the presentation.

When all the panelists started to speak is when one realized who took their practice serious and who wanted to just invest in making money and stood in a position of privilege. Ms.Hewitt started and ended up proposing the most questions that related to the theme of the panel discussion and brought up many topics that prompted the audience to respond.

I am surprised and saddened that Aperture and the New Museum would invite a moderator who is uninterested in her subject matter. It is disappointing to see and hear Mark Wyse and Miranda Litchtenstein try and make a joke out of this whole event but it also revealed to the audience how some artists don’t really take their practice seriously. Maybe Aperture and the New Museum can invest more time on finding out not who the personally know but who is really making a deeper investment in their practice. Leslie Hewitt seemed to the only person in that panel
that made any sense and did not waste the audiences time.