Tom Sachs built a spaceship and he’s taking all of Los Angeles for a ride. I went to the opening of Sachs’ “Space Program” at the Gagosian gallery in Beverly Hills, with all the excitement I had when I was a little girl watching a spacecraft launch from Kennedy in Florida. Of course, now I am a giant, jaded grown-up with a cynical outlook…right?

Needless to say the place was packed. I had gone with a friend and saw a few more in the crowd and figured I’d do the obligatory mingle dance before settling in for a good look at the work. As I kissed acquaintances I couldn’t help but eavesdrop on peoples conversations. Besides, with an elbow to elbow crowd I couldn’t help but be ear to mouth. I couldn’t tell you how many disinterested or confused remarks I heard but, it left me thinking: Has Sachs gone whack? No one seemed to get it. I needed to find out for myself.

The show, comprised of a space capsule, suits, models, and control room….was a massive undertaking. The pieces, constructed in part from designer materials (i.e. Prada, Nike) as well as tape, hot glue, and found treasures, were intriguing to say the least. I spent quite a while examining each part whilst be examined by Sachs’ multi camera control room which I later discovered. I felt, I believe, exactly the way Sachs had intended it. Unfortunately, I don’t think anyone else did.
Emotions like bewilderment, intrigue, brainwashed, and wonderment come to mind. Sachs’ use of savvy fashion corporations paired with everyday materials to form objects of mystery is in plain verbiage … perfect. How can we as humans travel into space basically in a box and expect to come back alive because we’ve triple checked our checklist? And a once, “un-cool” profession can somehow be made “cool” of there’s a branding involved? It’s almost as if Sachs is now going to sit back and watch the masses try space travel in their haute-couture spacesuits.
The themes in “Space Program” are so involved that I was overwhelmed. But what was more overwhelming, in the frustrating sense, was the crowd’s over-all lack of recognition for what the work was telling them. In a way it almost makes the point more poignant. They all shrug and head for the bar to have a complimentary drink. Meanwile, Sachs has filled his space fridge with liquor.
We take for granted the sheer magnitude of travel, nature, the power of invention…and insist that we have the right to a lavish and luxurious existence. Mind you, I too appreciate the pleasures of an in-flight cocktail, but Sachs seems to want me to realize that at any moment someone’s jenky screw-turning could send me and my Patron Silver whirling into the atmosphere.
I wanted people to stop mingling and start thinking. But of course, that’s asking a lot at a Beverly Hills social event, because as a friend pointed out, no one was really there for the art. I somehow, think that “Space Program” would have been better served at a Whitney Biennial or in some context where cell phones are off and you can’t be interrupted by someone asking you how you like your new hybrid. But maybe that’s the point. Maybe Sachs would love it if everyone somehow just skimmed the surface if the work. I heard one viewer ask another, “So do people buy this work? I mean, where would someone put it in their house?”
Someday , I have a feeling that Tom Sachs will get in his module, and blast off. He’ll surface later, drink in hand, chuckling from his designer loft on the moon.

The show “Space Program” runs through Oct. 15th
Visit www.gagosian.com for more info