I agree that MoMA should stop trying to showcase new art, and I have an idea how they should do it. I believe that what museums should do is institute the "farm" system that is used in professional baseball.

The idea would be for a major museum like the MoMA to form an agreement with a space devoted exclusively to contemporary art. MoMA would help the space with its funding, prestige, and so forth, and in exchange MoMA would have the first option to purchase anything from its collection after fifteen years at a bargain price.

And, whammo, MoMA would have a way to make sure that its collections stayed current without extending itself into an area that it doesn't belong. What do you think?

I haven't seen it first hand yet, but I'm trying to keep up with things and I have to say that point #1 should be resonating with more than just the GG. From what I understand the museum really missed a chance to include more artists who are women. At this stage of the game, that shouldn't be considered PoMo politics or radical anything (i.e., "here are the women artists you never saw"), but just good historical practice.

Jim,

MOMA already has a deal with PS1 in Queens, so presumably that could be the AAA farm team you're talking about.

I like Saltz's suggestions, and I agree with him about a project space, though it shouldn't take away from MOMA's focus on the narrative it already has.