October 6, 2004
Terminal Five Terminated For Now
Terminal Five, the art exhibit at JFK Airport's Terminal Five that opened to fanfare last week, was shut down by the Port Authority, due to concerns, it seems, from the terminal's future tenant, Jet Blue. Today, Manhattan User's Guide writes:
A shocker. Terminal Five, which we wrote recently was sure to be the "coolest art exhibit of the year" has been shut down by the Port Authority – yes, the same Port Authority that was a sponsor. Seems there was a bit of vandalism on opening night and the PA decided, rather late in the game, that the whole thing would be a security risk. As you can imagine, curator Rachel Ward (who has worked for a year on this with no pay) and the artists are distraught. The PA, over the years, has maintained a fairly unpopular image, which this latest move will no doubt further burnish. You can help get Terminal Five open again by calling the PA's perfectly named Ernesto Butcher, 212.435.7887, and urge him to reconsider.Thanks, Charlie. Terminal Five's website notes the exhibit has been shut down until further notice. lightningfield's photographs of opening night and some more information on Jet Blue's censorship of other pieces. And the Observer on the opening night party (third item).
Photograph from David Gallagher's lightningfield
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i wonder what this means for this weekend's ohny stuff. crap!
too bad the hipsters and socialites who made it to opening night had to ruin it for the rest of us by smoking inside, making a mess, vandalizing some parts of the terminal, and, in one instance, breaking open a door that leads to the runway.
thats a real shame, I was looking forward to checking it out.
You can still see a part of this show on your computer:
download the official Terminal Five screen saver, called Holding Pattern at www.idle-time.org.
This weekend is Open House New York, and Terminal 5 is a site this year. To my knowledge, Terminal 5 is still going to be open this weekend.
actually, no, it's not open this weekend. i called and they said that they are trying to get it back open, and to check ohny's site or terminal 5's site. but as of now, it's no open.
tien, I just spoke to someone at OHny and they are hoping it will be on the list, but apparently communication breakdown is happening.
i too hope it will be open, but as of now, it's not...so i'm making other plans.
JetBlue's CEO is a Mormon, so no surprise on the censorship.
Not sure I follow the Mormon = censorship argument since it was the PA that closed the exhibit down in the name of inadequate security.
I think it's really unfair for Charlie at MUG to comment about the PA in the way that he did. Is this not a warranted move, considering they turned a landmark building into a frat house? That art was destroyed/stolen, on-premises liquor was stolen, people were vomiting, and graffiti marks the walls? He's pandering to the hipsters - calling it another "unpopular" move by the PA, and alluding that they have a history of unpopular decisions. Sorry, I'm unconvinced, and I think it's a tasteless, undeserved swipe at a government agency. Who peed in his Cheerios today?
Brian -- I totally agree.
It is one thing to do ART-TASTIC (as Gawker put it)things at a loft or warehouse etc... but it is another thing to trash a landmark building and drunkenly mess with the TSA by running on to a secure runway. It is well known that the department of Homeland Security LOVES when you that.
Not sure when idiodic behavior became artist expression.
HStencil - It must be part of the Mormon Media Elite Conspiracy right?
rachel k. ward got what she deserved - for treating the terminal 5 exhibition like her 'coming out' party. did anyone bother to read her resume, ah, she curated one show in an ice cave somewhere overseas . . . yikes. she just couldn't say no to the 'cool kids', as she's so desperate to be one given her lack of professionalism and oversight on the security issue. i saw it all, at all three pre/opening events, ho hum.
i was there too, at the V fiasco. rachel is creepy, never mind grossly inexperienced it seems. some of the art rocked - grinnell, sachs, wong, etc.. but there were tons of people smoking, spilling drinks and generally causing mayhem . . . with no security guards in sight. i saw her hanging around jeffrey deitch, why would anyone legit not see through the hype???
i was there too, at the V fiasco. rachel is creepy, never mind grossly inexperienced it seems. some of the art rocked - grinnell, sachs, wong, etc.. but there were tons of people smoking, spilling drinks and generally causing mayhem . . . with no security guards in sight. i saw miss ward hanging around jeffrey deitch, why would anyone legit not see through the hype???
Hi. This message is from Rachel...just to respond to the last two messages, I have curated several exhibitions, not just one, and I worked as a curator at Swiss Institute for Contemporary Art. Our security company for the evening is currently being indicted for hiring ex cons and bribing the Port Authority. The project was intended to open the otherwise closed landmark and those in attendance, including all contractors and sponsors, each share a part in the result.