implicit art

A panel discussion at the New School, here in NYC was held last night.
The topic at hand was the issue of Culture at the World Trade Centre Site. Mainly whether or not the future planners knew what it was or if there was any intent to have any in the the new memorial, or lack thereof.
The panel was headed by Paul Goldberger- the author of the book Ground Zero and a heavy critic of the entire process.
Other panelists were artist, Hans Haacke, Tom Bernstein, Thelma Golden, currently curator of the Studio Museum in Harlem, and Mike Wallace and Robert Yaro.
This was my first public interaction with the issues of Ground Zero and the ongoing public debate on its future and it was disappointing to say the least. There wasn’t really enough time given for the panelist to really get their teeth into any issues. Some did-and to quote Hans Haacke- “There is no hope”- his response to the question Is there any culture at Ground Zero?
Brutal and tough.
This is a place in the middle of the financial district and one of the most uncultured areas of Manhattan. Those programming the site are trying very hard to incorporate some kind of museum and also have the financial sustenance of 10 million square feet of office space, replacing that lost in the old buildings.
The process of programming the site of the former WTC buildings has been plagued by raging disagreements as to what the lease owners want and what New Yorkers want: this event was no different with everyone who had a chance, voicing their opinion as to what should replace the buildings. Suddenly everyone had become an architect and site programmer. Currently from what I can tell, most city dwellers want to see a green grassy field with nothing else and I am inclined to agree. They feel it will become and has already grown into, its own memorial-The people and its gravitas make it what it is.
My opinion: It is a project that simply has too many people with their finger in the pie. And it could be a very lucrative Pie for some. Those with money will get further into and more from the Pie. If you have more you can get more.
These high profile public projects often begin with good intentions of ambitious contemporary museums and memorials and other cultural stakeholders, and this site is no stranger to such a phenomenon. The Drawing centre, which has always been in Soho, was to move to the site, and pulled out some time ago due to constraints and censoring that they could not subscribe to.
The evolution and politics of this site are a very interesting thing to watch.
Check out www.lmcc.net/ and also www.renewnyc.com/ for more information.
And also http://www.petitiononline.com/911wtc/petition.html for a different less corporate view