Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Scott Miller Berry

Dear Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, Dean of CVPA and Director of CMAC,

I am writing this letter to ask you to reverse the decison to restructure the
staff at the Warehouse Gallery including the dismissal of Director Astria Suparak.
I learned of this situation via at least six emails from concerned community members including Fereshteh Toosi, Emily Vey Duke, Tom Sherman, Joanna Spitzner and Onya Hogan-Finlay.

I have known Astria since the mid-1990's when we were both were curating film in Brooklyn and I have long admired her work since meeting her over 10 years ago. Her professionalism, dedication to contemporary practices and willingness to create community are simply unparalleled. The work of young women curators should be supported and given room to breathe and grow, not be cut short due to "restructuring" so quickly in the life of a vibrant new gallery making a serious positive impact in the region.

From Toronto I have kept abreast of the Warehouse Gallery's vanguard programming and have heard only positive reports from many artists involved in exhibitions there since its opening. The strength of curatorial vision, dedication to both upstate New York, regional and international artists is undeniable.

I write to you with great shock and dismay. I hope you will consider reversing this decision.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Scott Miller Berry
Executive Director

THE IMAGES FESTIVAL
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Toronto, Ontario M5V 3A8 CANADA
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Posted by Whats this? at 8:46 PM

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BACKGROUND

Syracuse has lost one its greatest assets. Astria Suparak, Inaugural Director of The Warehouse Gallery of Syracuse University, was removed from her position as of Sept. 30th, 2007, despite widespread support from community members, students, faculty, and the international art community. This decision was made unilaterally by Jeffrey Hoone, Executive Director of the Coalition of Museum and Art Centers (CMAC).

At the time of Suparak's dismissal, Hoone also canceled her forthcoming exhibitions, including "Keep It Slick: Infiltrating Capitalism with The Yes Men," due to open in November 2007.