Douglas Crimp, renowned art expert, dies at 74

Douglas Crimp, who graduated from Coeur d'Alene High in 1962 before becoming a world-renowned American art historian and critic and AIDS activist, died at his home in New York City on Friday. He was 74.

The cause was multiple myeloma.

"His gentle side with a very strong backbone took him places," former Coeur d'Alene Mayor Sandi Bloem and Crimp's sister said. "He fought for equal medical care for those with AIDS."

As an author of books and essays, many of which are considered classics in their fields, Crimp's work was marked by a conviction to merge politics, academia and art. He served as an art-history professor at the University of Rochester.

"He was full of courage and kindness," Greg Crimp, Douglas' brother and a Coeur d’Alene resident, said. "It took courage to do many things he did, and he did them with grace. He stood for a more just world and was very compassionate."

Douglas is credited with several landmark essays on art history, including "Pictures" and "On the Museum's Ruins."

"It has become impossible to write the history of postmodern art without referring at least once to his criticism," an article in Art News said.

"Pictures," published in 1977, addresses what a picture does once it's released into the world.

"He focused a lot on what art was saying to people," Bloem said. "He saw art differently than many of us."

"On the Museum's Ruins," published in 1993, states that anything shown in a museum setting is deadened, fixed in time and immediately placed into art history.

Crimp was an editor of October, a magazine specializing in contemporary art, criticism and theory, from 1977 to 1990. A special edition in 1987 titled "AIDS: Cultural Analysis/Cultural Activism" was considered a watershed achievement.

"People were blind to the reality of what was going on, and I knew that this would get people thinking," Crimp said in a 2008 interview about the special edition.

Greg said Douglas not only saw a lot of change during his lifetime, but he also effected a lot of change.

"Moving to New York took courage," Greg said. "He was very much involved in trying to make a better life for the entire LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning) community. He had a lot of very close friends. They loved him very much. And he loved them back."

Greg said Douglas didn't have a TV in his tiny New York apartment for many years, preferring instead to read, write and cook.

"Cooking was his way of getting out of his apartment and going to the market," Greg said. "He prepared simple but elegant meals."

Bloem said Douglas, who attended Tulane University in New Orleans on a scholarship to study art history, was particularly proud when she'd update him on strides the city of Coeur d'Alene made with human rights when she served as mayor.

A memorial will be held in the fall in New York to honor Crimp, Bloem said.

Douglas was humble about his accomplishments, Bloem said.

"He really inspired people to go after what they believed in and to be the best they can be," she said. "He not only had an influence on a lot of artists, but also with his students and others he surrounded himself with. Greg and I are extremely proud of him."