Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Jessica Posner

Dear Chancellor Cantor and Mr. Hoone,

I am writing as an artist, Syracuse University student, and member of
the Syracuse community. Like so many of my fellow community members,
I am very confused and disheartened by the dismissal of Astria
Suparak from the Warehouse Gallery. Along with professors, students,
artists, and other member of the Syracuse Community, I have been able
to find no reason, logic, or solace under a unilateral and solitary
decision justified by trust and confidentiality.

Astria Suparak is an incredible resource for students, artists, the
Syracuse Arts Community, the global Arts community ,and the greater
Syracuse Community at large. She is connecting people, ideas, people
with ideas, forging discussions, and building community. There is no
greater proof of this than the outcry of support coming for her from
our community, and her recent, unanimous appointment to the
(volunteer) Syracuse Public Arts Commission. As you are well aware,
the arts is an incredible means for bringing people together. She has
done this. Ms. Suparak is an incredible individual and leader, who
as an individual has garnered the respect not only of artists,
students, professors, and individuals, but of the city of Syracuse
itself.

Chancellor Cantor and Mr. Hoone, I urge you to listen to our
Community and reinstate Astria Suparak.

If you have not already, please visit http://www.keepastria.com/ or
http://syracuse-warehouse.blogspot.com/ to see our community in
action. Or, you can simply google "Save Astria Suparak." Please be
sure to note the New York Times article (http://www.nytimes.com/
2007/09/21/arts/21arts.html?ref=todayspaper).

Thank you for your consideration,

Jessica Posner

Television, Radio, and Film '08, Newhouse School
Sculpture '08, CVPA
Syracuse University



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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.