It's The Political Economy, Stupid, 2012
Curated by Gregory Sholette and Oliver Ressler, Austrian Cultural Forum New York, January 24 - April 22, 2012
The IWT has responded to the latest economic disaster by collectively re-envisioning an iconic image from the last fiscal crisis. In the mid-1970s the United States federal government initially refused to assist a then bankrupt New York City until austerity measures were put in place severely curbing spending on public schools, hospitals, libraries, and public transportation. Many see President Gerald Ford’s decision as a punishing, first step towards the adoption of neoliberalism, the radically deregulated economic model responsible for the global financial meltdown of 2008. Wishing artists and policy makers more, rather than less wishful historical thinking, IWT’s Agents offer Post-Fordist Variations, a suite of substitute mementos based on the infamous October 25th, 1975 New York Daily News headline: "Ford to City: Drop Dead."
Press:
Alexander Cavaluzzo, Hyperallergic.com, Feb. 13, 2012
Robert Shuster, The Village Voice, Feb. 8, 2012
Andrea Kirsh, Feb. 14, 2012, theartblog.org
David Markus, Art in America, Mar. 28, 2012
Thom Donovan, Art:21 Blog, Apr. 16, 2012
