Contemporary is the new Contemporary?

Well, it was destined to happen. "Contemporary Art" will have to continue being, well, contemporary. In 2050, you certainly won't be able to call something from 1950 contemporary, right? It will have to move to "Modern" and then older Modern works in turn will have to move into "American," "European" etc.

It appears LACMA has already moved Contemporary up so that the period begins in 1968 and no longer in 1945. So long, Pollack! You're now Modern.

I bet MOCA isn't so quick to reclassify. They'd have heck of a lot of deaccessioning to do!

"We are pleased to announce the appointment of Franklin Sirmans to the position of Terri and Michael Smooke Department Head and Curator of Contemporary Art. Previously, Sirmans served as Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at The Menil Collection in Houston and Curatorial Advisor at PS 1 Contemporary Art Center.

With Sirmans’ appointment, we will readjust the boundaries between Modern and Contemporary art with the latter focusing on works created during the last four decades--art since 1968."

I'm pretty excited about having someone from PS1 on board.