Robert Storr: Are Curators Artists?

Robert Storr, the 2007 Venice Biennale curator among other things, posed this rather provocative question in a recent issue of Frieze magazine.  In his column, Storr answers his question (no they aren't), but spends the rest of the article pointing out that this type of thinking is not new and actually had French origins at the time of Derrida and Barthes.
Storr saves his reasons for an upcoming column, but I'd like to hear everyone's thoughts on this.
I for one, see a good curatorial effort as one that creates an exhibition that in some ways is greater or at least different than the sum of its parts (i.e. the individual artworks).  Artists play more of a transformative role.  To me they are very different pursuits.  I think though that the subtext of Storr's statement is that artists have always been viewed more highly than curators and is that hierarchy still valid?  At the end of the day, neither the artist nor the curator matter nearly as much as the artwork itself, so perhaps even considering a hierarchy is pointless.
I'll update you with a synopsis of Storr's reasons once the next Frieze arrives on newsstands.

Comments

[Edward]

I'd like to see how Robert's defining "curator" and "artist" but there's no denying that curating is a creative process, as is criticism (but then that asks whether the critic is an artist, the reader, the viewer, the clueless, etc).

Clearly there are curator/artists and even artists whose "medium" is curation (yes, Bob says it's not a medium, so I'll put it in quotes).

Looking forward to his explanation, but in general I'd say it's gonna be a hard sell.

[la.dauphine]

I think much of it depends on how a curator approaches a project. And I agree with Edward that curating is (or rather can be) a creative process, therefore I believe that there ARE artists among curators. But a curator isn't inherantly so.

It's an interesting question. Would've been nice to have asked the distinguised curatorial panel that came to town recently via Art Papers. Of course, would we have gotten an honest answer or would it be too presumptuous for a curator to declare 'I am an artist'?

I'm looking forward to reading your upcoming post to continue the discussion...

[Renee]

Are Curator's Artists?-No.
I did not read Storr's article about the above topic. Does everyone need to be an "artist" to be worthy? Good curators are very important to the art world at large. It is their creativity and insight that can illuminate and articulate the artist's vision through the selection and placement of their art work in a solo show or group show. Curators don't make or create art. Good curators educate by delivering more insight and depth to a body of artwork. The Kertesz exhibition at the National Gallery of Art in May of '05, curated by Sarah Greenough who is head of the photography there, comes to mind. What an expertly curated show! The photographs were exhibited in a time line from beginning to end with stylistic grouping as well and great text. I learned so much. Leave the curators alone and let them do their job. And no, good art "dealers" aren't artists either.