When my dear friend David Schoffman appeared recently before a closed door hearing of the House Subcommittee on the Arts and Humanities the wags were quick to point out that he brought along two attorneys - one civil and one criminal.
The presumption of guilt is an unavoidable consequence of lawyering-up. There were no subpoenas, no formal charges and even in the absence of incriminating innuendo, the speculation surrounding David's testimony had a quicksilver scent of charred flesh.
You really find out who your enemies are when your back is against the wall and your painting arm is tied behind your back.
Luckily for David, any hot water he might be in has been easily eclipsed by the Russia Scandal. Besides, who really cares about the matters before an Arts and Humanities investagatory panel.
David would have loved to have held a press conference to clear the air but the press was otherwise disposed. And from a career perspective, bad publicity is by definition good publicity so he was hoping for at least a short hatchet job on NPR.
He had his young colleague Spark Boon tweet about it but Boon has a paltry 900 followers.
So the affair has basically remained local and the alliances have broken down along partisan lines.
Those disposed toward liking Schoffman and who admire his work are supportive and envious. Those who dismiss David as a derivative lightweight are sharpening their daggers, praying for the worst. There's even a Boycott and Divestment movement that is actively working with curators and collectors, urging them to sabotage his resale value. At a recent board meeting at the Museum of Modern Art a resolution was proposed that would essentially prevent any further acquisitions of David's work.
How this will all turn out is anybody's guess. Till they find a smoking gun, everything is still in the realm of factional speculation.
I know he's growing tired of the whole thing, frustrated that social media has basically treated this rare opportunity like a dangling participle. I heard he may be hiring an intern soon to act as his spokesperson.
David would have loved to have held a press conference to clear the air but the press was otherwise disposed. And from a career perspective, bad publicity is by definition good publicity so he was hoping for at least a short hatchet job on NPR.
He had his young colleague Spark Boon tweet about it but Boon has a paltry 900 followers.
Those disposed toward liking Schoffman and who admire his work are supportive and envious. Those who dismiss David as a derivative lightweight are sharpening their daggers, praying for the worst. There's even a Boycott and Divestment movement that is actively working with curators and collectors, urging them to sabotage his resale value. At a recent board meeting at the Museum of Modern Art a resolution was proposed that would essentially prevent any further acquisitions of David's work.
How this will all turn out is anybody's guess. Till they find a smoking gun, everything is still in the realm of factional speculation.
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