Cindy Sherman, Untitled Film Still #14, 1978

Some blue-chip gallerists are apparently frizeaking out in the current economic climate. I guess people aren’t shelling out thousands to get their grandma a Cindy Sherman Film Still this year.

I know this because I read Gawker yesterday and it told me so. Also it showed me a snippet from Larry’s memo to his employees:

“If you would like to continue working for Gagosian I suggest youstart to sell some art. Everything is going to be evaluated in this newclimate based on performances. I basically put in eighteen hours a day,which any number of people could verify. If you are not willing to makethat kind of commitment please let me know. The general economy andalso the art economyis clearly headed for some choppy waters; I want to make sure that weare the best swimmers on the block. The luxury of carryingunder-performing employees is now a thing of the past.”

Alex Prager, Annie, 2008

Maybe Larry should check out some other awesome artists whose work doesn’t demand five-figure prices. For every Cindy Sherman there’s an Alex Prager, after all. And her Film Still includes choppy water, readymade for this choppy water economy!

Lord knows there are several hundred thousand credible Gregory Crewdson copycats.

I think for my own holiday stocking I would like a Thomas Prior print. His models seem a bit more contemporary. And this one likes a face massage, which is one of my favorite things ever:

While I’m at it, I might pick up one of Prior’s buildings on fire. 2008 has been the year of the photographic fire, in many ways. Sarah Pickering, Laura McPhee, Steve Cohen, Edgar Martins: everyone’s doing it.

I like the black smoke. Suits the meltdown.

And thiiiiiiis, my friends, leads me to my other news note of the day: the John McCain campaign fire sale.

Among the hot deals listed for sale on the price sheet:

- A Dell Latitude D620 laptop for $417.00.
- A Dell Latitude D820 laptop for $570.00.
- Brother multifunction printer for $189.00.
- RIM Blackberry 8700c for $30.00.
- Folding chairs for $3.60 each.
- A 55-cup steel coffee urn for $77.00.
- A power strip for $1.
- Ethernet cables for $1 a pound.

Larry Gagosian, take note: cut-rate Blackberries for your staff, to make sure they’re moving those Roger Ballen prints on off hours.