Apparently, Carmen Tisch is not an art lover, or at the very least not a devotée of abstract expressionism. The 36-year-old Colorado woman is under arrest after inflicting an estimated $10,000 in damage on Clyfford Still's "1957-J no. 2," which hangs at the Clyfford Still Museum in Denver. The painting's value is estimated at $30 million.
Tisch’s brand of art criticism took an unusually visceral form that included scratching, punching, and—most notably—rubbing her unclothed rear end over the painting. She also attempted to urinate on the work but apparently missed. Considering the painting’s size—9-1/2 feet tall by 13 feet wide—she must have been pretty drunk, which is what authorities are assuming in any case.
Tisch has been was charged with felony criminal mischief and is being held on $20,000 bond. Court records reveal that she was arrested a year ago on an armed robbery charge in Glendale and pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol in 2008.
Ivar Zeile, a Denver art gallery owner, told the Denver Post that the painting could likely be restored so long as the canvas wasn't pierced. He further explained that the impact of the damage on the painting's worth depends on several factors. These include whether it remains a museum piece or goes on the market, adding, "It does damage the piece, though, even people just knowing that happened."
It is unclear whether it was Tisch’s intention to defecate on the painting as well, but if it was, the artwork would not have been the first to have dung smeared on it.
Related Articles
- Depiction of ant-covered Jesus sparks controversy at Brooklyn Museum
- Artist who does public nude-body paintings reaches agreement with NYC
- Smithsonian gathering OWS signs for taxpayer-funded exhibit (Updated)
- CT high school play that includes gay kiss creates furor
- Cryptic sky-written messages above NYC part of art project
- Smithsonian exhibit for holiday season to include ant-covered crucified Jesus
- GOP proposal to defund NPR: A win-win situation
- Models in naked art exhibit at MOMA complain of getting groped
Subscribe at the top of the page to have my articles sent directly to your e-mail inbox. Follow me on Twitter or join me at Facebook. You can reach me at howard.portnoy@gmail.com or by posting a comment below.
Comments