Jeffrey Deitch on Andy Warhol -- and on James Franco’s project with MOCA
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To understand Jeffrey Deitch, the new director of the Museum of Contemporary Art, it helps to understand something about Andy Warhol, a longtime fascination.
So for his first major interview on the job, instead of, say, riding along with Deitch in his Prius on his way to work (he admits he is ‘not good with freeways’), I suggested sitting down to talk about the Pop artist who in so many ways shaped or predicted pop culture today.
Topics ranged from Deitch working with Warhol as an art advisor in the early ‘80s (when this picture was taken) and Warhol’s many connections to Dennis Hopper (subject of an upcoming MOCA show) to the artist’s anticipation of reality TV.
Deitch also spoke publicly for the first time about two things. One is his idea for a possible MOCA show on Warhol’s legacy as an abstract painter. (Think Christopher Wool and Rudolf Stingel as well as Josh Smith, Seth Price, Guyton/Walker and Tauba Auerbach.)
The other is MOCA’s involvement with James Franco, the actor who has cast himself as an artist in more ways than one. According to Deitch, Franco the actor will resume his role as Franco the artist on “General Hospital” this summer only to leave the fictional Port Charles for Los Angeles at one point because he has landed (still storyline here) a show with MOCA.
If this helps to clarify: ‘General Hospital’s’ shoot will take place at MOCA’s Pacific Design Center location this month, and the film that the real Franco is making based on the soap-opera project will be screened at the museum at a later date.
‘I wish Andy were here to meet James Franco. Andy would have been so enthusiastic,’ Deitch says.
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-- Jori Finkel
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