First the David Wojnarowicz removal from the Smithsonian and now…
Street artist Blu (we’ve cross-linked to some of his graffiti animations in the past) was finishing up a mural on the side of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Geffen Contemporary satellite in Los Angeles, commissioned by MOCA’s new director Jeffrey Deitch, when Deitch then ordered it whitewashed due to concerns of offending Japanese American veterans and/or a nearby VA office. The mural depicted coffins covered in dollar bills, similar to the famous image of coffins returning from Vietnam covered in flags, and was made in conjunction with a new exhibit about street art. Deitch was appointed director of MOCA this year. He has run the Deitch Projects in New York, and is the biggest holder of works by Jean-Michel Basquiat, and also reps Chris Johanson, Clare Rojas, Barry McGee and Swoon (amongst others).