The art collective Bruce High Quality Foundation has been taking jabs at the art world since it turned up in 2001 with its mission,“to impregnate the institutions of art with the joy of man’s desiring.” We’re not sure what that means, but it definitely sounds like our kind of fun, so we caught up with “them”[?] for a quick, hotel-themed Q&A.
STANDARD CULTURE: What’s the first thing you do when you get into a hotel room? BHQF: Hide the art.
Your CV says that you attended Cooper Union, (mere blocks from The Standard, East Village).
What’s the most valuable skill you picked up in art school?
Don’t start any fires you don’t know how to put out.
You’re at The Standard, High Line, in an impeccably appointed suite high above the art mecca that is Chelsea. What are you feeling?
Like we don’t belong at this party.
We Like America and America Likes Us, 2012
Later, in the middle of the night, there’s a knock at the door. You open it to find...
The fire department.
If you were reserving rooms for Bruce at The Standard, approximately how many rooms would you require? And under what names?
It depends on how many free rooms you are giving us.
You call down to the front desk with an urgent request, but the minute you hear the receptionist’s voice your mind goes blank. What had you intended to ask?
Can you call us a car? We don’t belong at this party.
The New Colossus, 2012
What is something you do in a hotel that you never do at home?
Hide the art.
You’re traveling down to Miami for the art fairs – what must you be certain to bring along?
A strong stomach.
What is Bruce’s morning beauty ritual?
We either go directly to the studio or read something worth reading. We’re currently re- reading “The Shape of Time” by George Kubler in preparation for the upcoming semester
of Jarrett Earnest’s course at BHQFU. We recommend both: the book and the course. In fact, all of the courses, which you can find out more about by joining us at our Open House on September 6th. Check www.bhqfu.org for details.
Teach 4 Amerika from Bruce High Quality Foundation on Vimeo.
