Page 78 - The MoMA/ Guggenheim issue of World of Art magazine (2003)

Steve Shane, art lover,
cOLLecTOR PROFiLe Artist Profile

visits thirty galleries in New York City,

where he resides, every Saturday

inTErviEw By chrisToPhEr chaMBErs

Steve Shane, art lover, visits thirty tower. or, Marcel Duchamp has taught me to artists and the creative process.
galleries in new york city, where he look at things i see in life as a sculpture. another key theme is the marriage of
resides, every Saturday. Sundays he C.C.: Why do you think people make seduction and repulsion. in its physical
goes to museums, or galleries outside art? presence and its emotional content, the
of manhattan. all of his vacations are s.s.: i don’t think they have a choice. They work in my collection both attracts and
repels the viewer. contemporary art, as art
scheduled around art events. he has were born to do it. hopefully a good artist throughout history, expresses the horror and
does it because he has something to say
barely missed a major international about art history, our society, about politics. the joy of the human condition. The artwork
art fair in twenty years. C.C.: What is art? in my collection reflects this condition with
s.s.: art is anything that an artist makes, assuredness, strength, and sincerity.
he regularly sends out his art e-mails that an artist has dedicated his life to do. other themes that have subconsciously
of his picks to over five hundred anything that is shown in an art museum or entered are: “painting without paint,”
fellow enthusiasts. Shane prefers an art gallery. i think it’s creativity. “photography of invention”, the element of
to term himself an “art lover,” rather C.C.: Have you ever seen magic? the “fake,” “the
than as a collector, stating that his s.s.: yes. it’s all magical for me. My first dysfunctional family,” “celebrity,” and a
experience of an artist. There’s an artist
sense of the theatrical.
“collection is only a little side effect of i’ve been crazy about for a while, i think it’s C.C.: Did you collect other things as
my passion,” although he has amassed a magical experience for me to see it: neo a child?
a collection of over five hundred works rauch. it’s always a magical experience for s.s.: it was elephants. Elephants from all
of contemporary art to date. Shane me. it takes me to a different place. i think over the world made from all different
has never sold any of his collection, kim keever’s magical. one of the things in materials.
which will one day be bequeathed to my collection is a sense of place. i have this C.C.: Do you collect artists in depth, or
different museums. thing; i work in new Jersey, i’m a doctor, and do you try to go across the board?
then i go through the lincoln Tunnel and i’m s.s.: i used to only want to have one of each,
in the art world, new york. i’m from Detroit. but then, i was enamored by cindy sherman
kim keever takes me to another place. i early on – in the early eighties – and i think
think that’s magical. it’s like a high. art can i have twenty shermans. Elliot green, i have
CHRISTOPHER CHAMBERS: Would four or five and then nina Bovasso . . .it’s
you say art collecting is your hobby? be an escape in that sense. mostly one ofs, but there are certain artists
C.C.: Do you think a work of art
sTEvE shanE: hobby is too little of a word. should transcend the picture plane? i have multiple pieces by. [(5) , condo (2),
it’s why i live. it’s why i go to work. it’s why s.s.: i think it’s more religious than spiritual. Dunham (2), Dzama (4), glantzman (2),
i get up; it’s my life. The art galleries, the art i don’t go to synagogue or church. it’s like a Deb kass (2), Jonathan Tucker (9), lasker
dealers, my art collection; talking about it, religious calling or religious experience for (2), simmons (6), Elizabeth olbert (2), John
reading art magazines . . . me. it’s more exciting for me when i first waters (2) John waters is hilarious, angela
C.C.: What inspires you to collect art?
s.s.: i’m looking for a buzz. i don’t drink see an artwork as opposed to possessing wyman (4), wojnarowicz (2) ]
C.C: What’s your favorite work in your
it. i end up looking like a squirrel, maybe,
alcohol, i don’t do any drugs, i don’t smoke, because i have a big collection, but the collection?
it’s my buzz in life. and i’m also looking for biggest thing for me is to see it, to discover s.s.: The last piece i acquired always.
myself. My collection helps me understand it, than to possess it. i like to be a part of C.C.: Do you see any particular direction that
who and what i am. i don’t just let anyone the whole situation. after i acquire a piece i you think art is heading in?
into my collection – it really exposes who i like to meet the artist. i also like to consider s.s.: yes, i think it’s heading way toward
am, it’s like lying on a psychiatrist’s couch. myself an artist as curator. The work takes video. i went to the last Documenta. i don’t
My collection is really personal. i think you on a different meaning in the context of my have the patience to watch a video for forty-
come in here and you might be able to collection, and i think that’s why people find five minutes. in my opinion a good video is
figure out some aspects of my personality, it interesting to come see my collection. if you can jump in at any point and watch
and my identity, history. Because it’s a curated show in my home. . it for three minutes. That’s Pipolitti rist. i
C.C.: What is art for?
C.C.: Is there any particular overriding
s.s.: i think it has different purposes for theme or direction to your collecting? end up being mesmerized, maybe that’s the
magic you were talking about. actually, i stay
different people. for me it’s for pleasure, i s.s.: within my collection there is a strong for a long time with hers. But, i don’t think
think it’s to learn. i think one of the things sense of place -a longing or an imagining it’s going to be the end of painting, that’s
it’s for is: a talented artist was born in to be in another place-a different, better for sure. i am an individual. i go all over the
this world to help the viewers see what place. other themes recurring throughout place and figure it out for myself. i search for
they didn’t see before viewing the art. for my collection include, “art about art” -art what i think is a good painting, not what’s
example, the Beckers. They taught me that alludes to or builds on the history of going on now. That’s looking at art with your
how to look. i don’t think i would have art. i am also attracted to art that exhibits ears.
ever noticed urban landscape if it wasn’t a sense of humor; art that uses wit or irony i think it’s amazing what some dealers don’t
for them, i would have never seen a water
to comment on historical art movements, know about art history.

76 WORLD of aRT