Thursday, September 27, 2007

Ted Passon

To Whom It May Concern,

I was completely surprised by recent news that Astria Suparak is being
forced out of her role as the director of the Warehouse Gallery. I have

known and admired Astria's curatorial abilities for years. I run the
Small Change film
screening series in Philadelphia and Astria has consistenly been one of
our most captivating and beloved re-ocurring guests.

When I learned that she was offered a position at the Warehouse Gallery
my first thought was not "how lucky" for Astria but, how smart and
progressive of the
Warehouse Gallery to snatch up such a daring and obviously talented
up-and-coming
art-world star.

If you pay the slightest bit of attention to Astria's track record it
is clear that she is extremely creative
and has enough resources in the art world to make really exciting
things happen. I think the exhibits
she has curated thus far have proven that immensely.

I think the Warehouse Gallery should strongly re-consider it's position
in forcing out such a dynamic visionary who is clearly bringing
Syracuse
some of the contemporary art world's most promising and exciting work
and making the city a relevant and even competitive figure in the
national
arts landscape.

Best,
ted passon
Philadelphia

http://www.tedpasson.com

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Hi Ted! I met you at the NAMAC conference a few years ago... Thanks for your note! This is a true mistake.

-Courtney Rile



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.