Curator, Paul Schimmel FIRED

28 Jun Curator, Paul Schimmel FIRED

NEWS TODAY– Apparently, long time curator at MOCA (pictured above) was fired last night. According to the Los Angeles Times, “The firing was made by the museum’s board of trustees [last night] and is effective immediately.” Schimmel’s sudden departure was first reported by art journalist Mat Gleason. On his personal blog, he wrote: “Paul Schimmel was fired at MOCA – it was the end of the fiscal year and they tightened the belt.” Gleason, who is not favored by Schimmel from an incident years ago by calling him “fat” in the Downtown News, now suggests that Schimmel’s dismissal was the work of L.A. art king Eli Broad, a prominent MOCA trustee:

“If Moca is downsized into a celebrity-curated kunsthalle style circus, it will give the blue chip Broad across the street more Gravitas. And then of course when MOCA is broke yet again — who will save MOCA by purchasing the best paintings in the collection because the museum is more concerned with event programming? The Broad Museum across the street of course.”

Schimmel has been with MOCA since the 1990s. Schimmel made the L.A. art scene relevant again with his show Helter Skelter. He is known for his smart curatorial style, and creating historical exhibitions like Out of Actions: Between Performance and the Object, and according to L Magazine writer, Corinna Kirsch,  “His way of thinking appears out of step with a museum that, since Jeffrey Deitch’s arrival in 2010, is focused on the new and now. Over the past two years, the museum has seen exhibitions and events by artists like Marina Abramovic and James Franco. Museums need nerds to put on smart exhibitions, but try telling that to someone who’s interested in putting on shows by cool celebrities.”

According to sources, Schimmel still has at least one major upcoming exhibition: In November 2012, Painting the Void: 1949-1962 will open October 7th at MOCA LA, before traveling to the Musem of Contemporary Art Chicago in early 2013. Christopher Knight of the Los Angeles Times tweeted that Schimmel’s involvement will continue, but on a contract basis.

Simone Wilson from LA Weekly confirmed earlier today that “MOCA has completed its transformation to trendster heaven by contracting the studio of L.A. street-art celeb Shepard Fairey to do all major design work.” Something smells of Director, Jeffrey Deitch’s personal agendas, yet again.  Stay Tuned. …BOM BOM BOMMMMM!!!