Written by:
Demetria Daniels

P: 212-332-9991

718-885-6576 A chatty, informative column of New York events featuring places, people and personalities and celebrities. demetriadaniels@gmail.com

 
BAIRD JONES died and all of New York knows. The NY Times gave him a very lovely write-up in the Metropolitan Section, as well as mentions on Page 6 of the NY Post, and the NY Daily News, and Newsday and NY Magazine. For 30 years, Baird was a "celebrity" and on the scene personality. First, with his generous nightclub parties, and then for his assoiciation with the art world, his photographs, his art curating, his own writings.
I knew Baird in the 80's. He gave me photographs of artists and gallery owners for my column called "East Village Report" for DOWNTOWN newspaper. His photos could easily fill any New York gallery or museum.
And only for Baird, I dragged myself out to the Patterson Art Museum, New Jersey to attend his art openings
which he curated there. At his home, he gave me a personal tour of his "celebrity art" . On audio tape, he was telling me how he did a 60,000 email blast with the question "who is the greatest female artist", - part of a show he was curating. His pick was the 96 year old Louise Bourgeois.
So he took me around the apartment showing me the art. "When is an artist a celebrity artist" was -Baird's question. He answered - "When the signature becomes an autograph". 'When the signature
becomes "loud"". He showed me Warhols, Gloria Vanderbilt, Evil Knevil, Charles Manson, Anthony Quinn.James Earl Ray. "The examination of celebrity art teaches you things about historically significant figures"Just to name a few more - Princess Grace, Kim Novak, Frederico Fellini -"I cant show that - someone would steal it".
There were hundreds more.
Baird, I'll miss you.
posted by Demetria at 12:04 PM