Jim Minifie

A skilfully prepared blockbuster of facsimile archival MOMA treasures and curios, complemented by diverse contemporary mini-projects that respond to the primary sources. Plus succinct commentary. The whole mid-century bulk is a mix of sketches for shows, visionary pitches, affectionate notes, curt telexes, catty memos, dinner seating plans for Rockefellers and Goodyears, and unctuous pleading to donors like the one to Hewlett-Packard asking for equipment for a show that includes an assurance that the artist “has nothing ‘unpleasant’ in mind”. The chapters pick up some major shows (planned and realized) and other MOMA initiatives such as the program they ran for WWII veterans. Complete with foldouts, little artworks in envelopes, and hundreds of reproduced items you swear are the real thing, right down to the pencilled scrawls. It does in parts exude a massively establishment vibe, because it’s MOMA; though not without intrusions from scrappy archival and contemporary practitioners. With difficulty I extricated myself from the book, as if emerging from the archive itself to blink in the late afternoon sunlight. A most entertaining, absorbing (and also in parts moving) collection, thank you Michelle Elliott and Todd Lippy and all the creators and collaborators!