Christo's "Gates" in Central Park is undeniably one of the great art stories of 2005. It brought joy to many New Yorkers, and well wishers from around the world.

The forums of the New York Times, where unfiltered comments on the event were recorded, extolled the Gates as a happy addition to a gloomy park in the grey season of winter.

© 2005 Wired New York

Yet for pure audacity, and uncompromising focus, no event can challenge Spencer Tunick's nude installation in Cleveland, Ohio. More than 2,700 hardy Clevelanders, together with art lovers from every corner of the globe, endured the cold air (and pavement) of an early morning in June to participate.

It takes a brave person to bare all for art. Even the intrepid Sharon Reed of Cleveland's WOIO Channel 19 News (shown here fully clothed), joined the proceedings to record the event for the evening news. Michael Powell has simply no idea about the eagerness of American's to demonstrate their freedom, independance and zest for life.

© 2004 WOIO Channel 19 News, Cleveland

I was not among them, although I would have gladly carried Sharon Reed's notebook and pencils for her.

But Steve Smith was there, right in the middle of things. In fact, I noticed his picture in The Plain Dealer, not really knowing who he was, before I ever met him. His beaming face simply stood out from among all the others.

And I was astounded, truly, when he walked in the door of Civilization on the edge of Lincoln Park on our first meeting. It was as if I already knew him.

Yet there is another important way that artists strip themselves naked. Clothes may hide the body, but even when absent, the mind is often fully concealed. The inner contents of one's mind is not often open for public survey.

Artists are different, and Steve Smith is an artist par excellence. Very little is hidden, He lays it all out. The inner workings of a strange and creative mind.

© 2004 Nesnadny + Schwartz

I am pleased to bring some of his poetry and art to The Digital Museum of Modern Art. I wish I could bring more, but his output is prodigious, More will need to await a later showing. If you cannot wait until then, please visit his website, where he reigns as:

The Agent of Chaos.

- W. Logan Fry, Curator