A Short Life of Trouble: Forty Years in the New York Art World

by Marcia Tucker (Author), Marcia Tucker (Author)

New
Hardcover
2008
$57.17

This engrossing memoir brings to vivid life the behind-the-scenes struggles of Marcia Tucker, the first woman to be hired as a curator at the Whitney Museum of American Art and the founder of the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York City. Tucker came of age in the 1960s, and this spirited account of her life draws the reader directly into the burgeoning feminist movement and the excitement of the New York art world during that time. Her own new ways of thinking led her to take principled stands that have changed the way art museums consider contemporary art.As curator of painting and sculpture at the Whitney, she organized major exhibitions of the work of Lee Krasner, Joan Mitchell, Robert Morris, Bruce Nauman, and Richard Tuttle, among others. As founder of the New Museum of Contemporary Art, she organized and curated groundbreaking exhibitions that often focused on the nexus of art and politics. This book highlights Tucker's commitment to forging a new system when the prevailing one proved too narrow for her expansive vision.

Synopsis

This engrossing memoir brings to vivid life the behind-the-scenes struggles of Marcia Tucker, the first woman to be hired as a curator at the Whitney Museum of American Art and the founder of the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York City. Tucker came of age in the 1960s, and this spirited account of her life draws the reader directly into the burgeoning feminist movement and the excitement of the New York art world during that time. Her own new ways of thinking led her to take principled stands that have changed the way art museums consider contemporary art.As curator of painting and sculpture at the Whitney, she organized major exhibitions of the work of Lee Krasner, Joan Mitchell, Robert Morris, Bruce Nauman, and Richard Tuttle, among others. As founder of the New Museum of Contemporary Art, she organized and curated groundbreaking exhibitions that often focused on the nexus of art and politics. This book highlights Tucker's commitment to forging a new system when the prevailing one proved too narrow for her expansive vision.

$57.17

Quantity

20+ in stock

More Information

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 234
Publisher: University of California Press
Published: 01 Oct 2008
ISBN 10: 0520257006
ISBN 13: 9780520257009

Media Reviews

Offers some much-needed inspiration [and] ample evidence of Tucker's take-no-prisoners attitude and passion for difficult art. New York Times Book Review A remarkable piece of writing... [Tucker] has composed a literary monument to her heroic life in art, as moving as it is entertaining. Artforum A candid, entertaining, and illuminating account of the 1960s art world... A perfect antidote to this bloated, spectacle-heavy moment. -- Martha Schwendener Bookforum Marcia Tucker's courage, conviction and chutzpah are inspiration for those of us who seek to lead meaningful professional lives. Museum A vivid, candid, self-critical and moving account of Tucker's life... Novice curators should find it inspiring. -- John A. Walker The Art Book An unassuming, humbled, even self-effacing metaphor for the art that is life in the art milieu. Migill Book Reviews A great read [and] a page turner... In less than 200 pages she encapsulates her life, sharing her triumphs and insecurities. Pelican Press Tucker's book is conventional, accessible, even chatty. But this modest volume, in concert with the shiny playful building on the Bowery, denotes a remarkable legacy. Village Voice A joyful exploration of all things art-related... Tucker's balanced assessment of her work and personal life is commendable. Bust A good book about a good person. Art + Auction

Author Bio

Marcia Tucker, who died in 2006, was a curator of contemporary art and the founder and director of the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York City. Liza Lou is an artist.