Kenny Schachter's Ode to Roberta Smith: A Critic Who Made Him Cry Twice
Kenny Schachter honors Roberta Smith, the recently retired co-chief art critic of the New York Times, drawing inspiration from Alison Chernick's documentary 'House of Criticism.' He reflects on two poignant interactions with Smith: one in 1991 when she reprimanded him for interpreting a painting, and another in 2011 when she commended his writing. Smith began her part-time role at the Times in 1986 and became co-chief in 2011, retiring in 2024. The documentary highlights her battles with insecurity and friendship, her critical perspective shaped by Donald Judd, and the emotional nature of her retirement. Schachter contrasts her with Jerry Saltz, pointing out the decrease in full-time criticism roles, and includes a 1993 review by Smith, who believed that 'artists and art make life worth living.'
Key facts
- Alison Chernick directed the documentary 'House of Criticism' about Roberta Smith and Jerry Saltz.
- Roberta Smith began at the New York Times part-time in 1986, became co-chief art critic in 2011, and retired in 2024.
- Smith worked as Donald Judd's personal assistant after being accepted into the Whitney Independent Study Program.
- Smith's critical approach involves getting close to artworks to understand the artist's process and decisions.
- Smith describes herself as not good at making friends and having inherited her mother's insecurity.
- Kenny Schachter cried twice because of Smith: once after a scolding in 1991, and once after receiving praise via email.
- Jerry Saltz is described as 'history's most populist critic since John Ruskin' by Schachter.
- The documentary includes a scene where Smith receives harsh criticism from an editor, calling it 'traumatic and destabilizing.'
- Smith's 1993 review of Orlan described her work as 'a small step for Conceptual art, and a big step for feminism–both in the backward direction.'
- Schachter notes that the documentary depicts the extinction of full-time criticism jobs.
Entities
Artists
- Roberta Smith
- Jerry Saltz
- Alison Chernick
- Kenny Schachter
- Donald Judd
- Orlan
- Matthew Barney
- Sister Wendy
- John Ruskin
- Georg Hegel
- David Hockney
- Matthew Wong
- Jean Sibelius
- Stanley Spencer
- Jasper Johns
- Larry Gagosian
Institutions
- New York Times
- Whitney Independent Study Program
- Artnet News
- GQ
- Art in America
- New York magazine
- Sandra Gering Gallery
- Independent Art Fair
- Artnet
Locations
- New York
- London
- Hyde Park Speakers Corner
- Manhattan