Jori Finkel speaks to Jeffrey Deitch about LA MoCA’s decision to whitewash the work of a street artist commissioned to paint a mural on the side of the Geffen Contemporary. Deitch takes the decision to remove the work upon himself. However, the novice museum director can’t resist referencing himself. Nor does he explain the bizarre fact that the artist was commissioned to create a massive work without any description of the work or sketch passing before the director. That may be a far more startling piece of information than the decision to remove the work:

“This is 100% about my effort to be a good, responsible, respectful neighbor in this historic community,” Deitch said. […] “Look at my gallery website — I have supported protest art more than just about any other mainstream gallery in the country,” he added. “But as a steward of a public institution, I have to balance a different set of priorities — standing up for artists and also considering the sensitivities of the community.” […]

The unfortunate thing, he acknowledges, was the timing, as the artist began the mural while Deitch was out of town earlier this month for the art fair in Miami. “Blu was supposed to fly out the second-to-last week in November, so we could have conversations about it in advance,” Deitch said. “But he said he had to change his flights, so he ended up working in isolation without any input.”

Museum of Contemporary Art Commissions, The Paints Over, Artwork (LATimes.com)