So 2008 has come and gone. Every year I look back on what I did this year. I am packing right now to leave in the morning to spend New Year’s Eve/Day in Las Vegas.
2008 was a depressing year but it had its moments. I lost a prestigious job and two dogs. All of my work in the art world have been deeply impacted by the economic pillage, er, crisis. Everyone in the art world got kicked in the financial groin this year and 2009 promises no relief. But no time to whine. You are either in this out of love and hoping the money follows or you are just trying it on for size until something else fits.
I adopted a 2-year-old Pit Bull/Catahoula mix and the territorial little fucker is watching my house while I am gone so that is protected. Two dogs (Snoop and Coco) that I inherited both died this year. I got them when my girlfriend and I moved into this house in 2007. I never ever imagined falling in love with a dog as deeply as I have with the spotted and tireless Aybar.
I published 6 issues of Coagula Art Journal, celebrated my 15th year of sobriety, curated some great art shows (8 Under 28, Animal Magnetism, The $2 Bill Show, Postcards from the Edge), appeared in the Ovation-TV Network’s documentary on Jeff Koons (Beyond Heaven) voicing a critical dissenting opinion, taught a seminar on curating (Curators College) and wrote some published articles on art that I am proud of. I was a guest on a sports talk radio show for 2 hours in October because of the baseball blog (Halos Heaven) I have built. So there were highlights.
But losing my job as a gallery director because of the bad economy and then seeing real estate deal after real estate deal for a new gallery fall through was just depressing. Sissyphus and I were art world cronies, it seemed there was just nowhere to get traction this year as the whole art world slipped badly from its perch. And two lovely dogs dying sucks. Of course, the passing in 2008 of Coagula’s New York editor Baird Jones reminds me that the alternative is far, far worse.
But we hit Vegas twice and that was nice. My girlfriend and I have now lived under the same roof for 18 months and it is great. I have a freelance writing job that pays some bills as well so there is a lot to be grateful for, but I will most be grateful to see 2008 go on Wednesday night.