Franklin Furnace Archive

     What’s the value of modern art? In the world of modern art, the concept or the manner of expression influences fiscal value. Highly appreciable works of art make a lot of money in the market, even if most people can’t understand these values. It’s very difficult for me to understand the relationship between art and money, but it’s also very interesting as a business. I want to work in the field of art management, but I need work experience and more study of the art market. That’s why I came to NY.      When I was looking for an internship to gain work experience and study, my friend took me to an art fair. At the fair, I met Martha who is the founding director of Franklin Furnace (FF). I knew this company was a NGO and has supported many artists with grants. I heard management solutions in NGOs are totally different from other private companies. It’s good for me to learn how this company gets money from the government, and how it chooses an...

Johanna Went: An Intern's Perspective Artist of the Week Series Daniel Schreiner As I was slaving away archiving Franklin Furnace's History of the Future video collection, a certain DVD caught my attention. The sleeve depicted a crazed-looking woman pouring what seemed to be blood onto herself, advertising Johanna Went's "Club Years: 1977-87." Intrigued, I popped the video in and hit "play." At first, I was shocked and rather dismissive about what I saw. Against a multimedia backdrop of ambient synthesizers, psychedelic drum-playing, and colorful, DIY costume-props, a young woman screeched, snarled, and writhed into the microphone. Her sounds were completely incoherent; her bodily movements completely animal. Appalled, I watched as Went spontaneously rolled on the floor, donned various grotesque masks/costumes, and pulled giant, blood-stained tampons out of a huge constructed vagina, hurling them at the bewildered audience. I was mesmerized in...