Charlie Finch on Art Bloggers

Charlie Finch is spitting vitriol on Artnet.com — again — and this time it's directed at art blogs, which he calls "conformist, reactionary, redundant and self-referential...the Sam Brownbacks of the art world."

No one need get their feathers ruffled over this. Finch's schtick is picking random targets and taking them down. Past victims have run the gamut from Nelson Rockefeller to Donna De Salvo. In fact, I'd say that irritating Finch is a sign that you've gained some sort of status in the art world.

Here's what others have spat back:

Finch to Ed Winkleman: "Have you ever been to blogger Ed Winkleman's gallery on 27th Street? I hear there is a valuable prize awaiting the first recorded visitor...."

Winkleman to Finch: "It is the most unpleasant stage of the grieving process: anger. But at least we now know Charlie has finally made it past his denial. Our thoughts and prayers go out to him and his editor during this difficult transition."

(Cryptic.)

Finch to Sharon Butler of "Two Coats of Paint": She "is so exhaustive in her summaries of current art writing that someone could start a (short) blog on how Sharon Butler spends her nonexistent spare time."

Butler to Finch: "I'd cover the story in more detail, but as Charlie points out, my time is limited."