Making It New: Essays, Interviews, and Talks

Geldzahler was the Metropolitan Museum of Art's curator of contemporary arts from 1966 to 1977, then served as New York City Commissioner of Cultural Affairs until 1982, and is currently curator of the DIA Center for the Arts in Bridgehampton, N.Y. He has spent his career attempting to bring new art to the public, and this mission is obvious in the 36 articles, interviews and lectures collected here. Written during the past 30 years, they present Geldzahler's thoughts on the work of Andy Warhol, David Hockney, Ellsworth Kelly, Robert Rauschenberg, and many others and demonstrate his excitement for each new style as it came along, from Pop and Happenings in the '60s to the most offbeat art of the '90s. Even if one disagrees with his assessments of such artists as Francesco Clemente, Keith Haring or Jean-Michel Basquiat, one has to appreciate a critic who, in response to an exhibition of glass works by Dale Chihuly, can state: ``. . . as if color itself were floating in the air. It is an elevating experience. It makes you walk a bit lighter for the rest of the day.'' (May)