Monday, September 17, 2007

Maura Jasper


Date: September 17, 2007 7:48:18 AM EDT
Subject: Re: Please show your support for Astria Suparak and The Warehouse Gallery in Syracuse, NY

Hi Joanna,
Thank you for sending me this. I am writing a letter right now. I am a video artist currently living in Boston who comes into Syracuse once a year to see family. Astria screened my work in the late 80's while a student at the Pratt Institute in New York. Her early support of my work helped build the exposure I needed to exhibit the same work in my first solo show at the now defunct Threadwaxing Space in New York. I have followed her career over the years and was so excited to learn about the Warehouse Gallery. I told many people in the Boston area about how exciting I thought this was for the city of Syracuse, and I was looking forward to visiting in November. Her hiring gave me some hope that the cultural climate in Syracuse was changing rapidly for the better - creating more opportunity for similar progressive creative outlets, opportunities, and attracting artists to the area.

This news was depressing enough, and then to find out that people are angry over an exhibition by the Yes Men depressed me even more.

Thank you for sending this, I will also be forwarding it to people in the Boston arts community.

Maura Jasper

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Maura Jasper

Posted by Whats this? at 10:46 AM

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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.