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Aspen Art Museum Reminds Us 'It's Never Too Late To Say Sorry'

the artists and Galerie Perrotin

A new exhibit at the Aspen Art Museum blends sculpture and performance, and engages its audience outside the museum. A display case containing a polished aluminum megaphone sits on the sidewalk. Every day at noon, a man takes out the megaphone and shouts, “It’s never too late to say sorry.” Arts and culture reporter Christin Kay attended the first performance and found that the piece is garnering applause and evoking thought.

 

It’s noon in Aspen. The crowd of about thirty that’s gathered outside the Aspen Art Museum stops chatting about ski passes, and what they’ll get for lunch.  More than a few people train their phones on a silver megaphone that’s glinting in the sun.

A middle-aged man emerges from the crowd and unlocks the case.  He holds the megaphone to his mouth, and yells, "IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO SAY SORRY!”

With that, he replaces the megaphone.  The crowd breaks into applause.

“It’s Never Too Late To Say Sorry” is by Danish artist Michael Elmgreen and Norwegian artist Ingar Dragset. They specified that the performer must be a middle-aged man. Today, it’s a security guard from the art museum.   

 

Elmgreen and Dragset are perhaps best known for creating “Prada Marfa.” It’s an installation that looks like a Prada store in the middle of the desert outside of Marfa, Texas. The pair’s work often plays with how art is exhibited and experienced.

Aspen Art Museum Nancy and Bob Magoon CEO and director Heidi Zuckerman says that she was drawn to the piece because it challenges traditional notions of an art museum experience.  

"A lot of times, people think of a museum, and they think of it filled with dusty paintings that you go and stand in front of one after the other in a very specified and linear experience," she said.

Zuckerman says that the museum is fortunate to be able to put artwork outside. That way, she says, there are no barriers between art and audience - not even a door.  She says they use the space for provocative pieces.

"We try and put work there that sparks a conversation," said Zuckerman.

Zuckerman believes the piece might be an antidote to a culture that’s becoming more contentious.

"Being able to remind people that you can still make amends is a good message, not just for our community, but for the global community," she said.

 

Outside the art museum, Dan Fordham says “It’s Never Too Late To Say Sorry” didn’t make him think of who he should apologize to, so much as what he would yell into a bullhorn on a street corner.

"Different things, but the most recent one I was just thinking about was, 'Don’t waste your money on lottery tickets,'" said Fordham.

Zuckerman says the timing of the opening of the piece is meant to give Aspenites a bit of a jolt of energy in the quiet of the offseason. And Fordham seems to have felt it.  

"I loved it, I thought it was great. I thought the whole performance was fun," he said.

Joelle McDonogh is still smiling minutes after the bullhorn has been placed back in its case.  

"I think it’s fun! I just think it's great they are going to do this every day. It will bring a lot of people," she said.

“It’s Never Too Late To Say Sorry” will bring art to the street - and perhaps surprise some unsuspecting passersby - through May of 2019.  

 
 

Contributor Christin Kay is passionate about the rich variety of arts, cultural experiences and stories in the Roaring Fork Valley. She has been a devotee of public radio her whole life. Christin is a veteran of Aspen Public Radio, serving as producer, reporter and interim news director.
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