What are the strengths and weaknesses of deconstruction as a method of artistic interpretation?

Deconstruction is a mode of criticism that removes the object from any perceived meaning, whether that meaning is connected to artist, school, subject matter, era, or media.
An advantage of deconstructivist theory is that multiple interpretations of a work can be equally valid. In removing layers of meaning from a work of art, the individual interacting with the work is free to ascribe new meanings, from the technical to the avant-garde. For example, Edward Hopper's "Nighthawks" appears to be a straightforward interpretation of a 24-hour diner in the middle of the night. A deconstructivist might interpret the setting as a film set or a space alien's perspective of mankind.
A disadvantage of deconstructivist theory is that sometimes a more traditional interpretation is warranted. For example, religious art often depicts the subject it literally intends, and the meaning behind it is not abstract. A deconstructivist may argue that Michelangelo's "Pieta" could have multiple interpretations, but interpretations beyond the literal seem disingenuous or strained.