Sculptor Tom Sachs wrote today to New York Times publicly apologize for his alleged treatment of staff. The apology came following Nike’s confirmation that it “is not working with Tom’s studio at this time and [has] no scheduled release date. Sachs, whose work studies the various intersections of fashion, consumerism, science and the military, had been collaborating with the footwear giant since 2012 to create sneakers. The shoes were so sought after that they often fetched many times their original price on the resale market.
The New York-based contemporary artist, whose works have cost the gallery $300,000, has seen his empire shaken after the publication in February of a request for aid advertisement on the website of the nonprofit New York Foundation for the Arts has sparked scorn, criticism and, perhaps worst of all, conversation. The ad, posted anonymously by an “art world family” looking for a personal executive assistant, was reposted by Emily Colucci on her Blogwhere he drew attention for his excruciatingly lengthy description of the many tasks required of the person who would “make the couple’s life easier in every possible way”.
“‘We want you to be a personal assistant, we want you to be an executive assistant, but we also want you to do all kinds of liaisons with our staff,’ which sounds like three jobs to me,” painter Emily said. Mae Smith. THE Time a few days after the publication of the announcement. “Oh, and the babysitting?” »
“It’s a job where, if you get hired, it’s a countdown to getting fired,” executive assistant poet and performer Soren Stockman told the newspaper. “This person never wants to be affected by anything irritating. There’s no way to fill that need for someone.
Among the more laughable characterizations in the display were those of “closet” and “dog systems,” referring, respectively, to hanging clothes and feeding and walking the pet. The word “systems” was grabbed by a number of former Sachs staff, who immediately recognized the term as one the artist typically used. A Braked a lecture followed, with former employees noting that Sachs was hyper-demanding, often throwing objects; screaming in the face; or calling them “autistic”, “retarded” or “sluts” when they are unhappy.
In March, Sachs acknowledged the kerfuffle in a letter to his staff, but remained publicly silent on the matter until news of the scuttled deal with Nike broke.
“The past few months have been a period of belated reflection,” Sachs said in his letter to the Time. “It was painful but vital. I deeply regret that anyone, ever, felt less than supported, safe and fulfilled in my studio, but clearly some people did. He affirmed his commitment to becoming a better employer. “Alongside my art,” he writes, “this personal and professional growth is my primary goal.”
