Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Thomas Beard

Dear Jeffrey Hoone, Nancy Cantor, Eric Spina and Carole Brzozowski,

This weekend I found my inbox flooded with emails that all contained the same distressing news, that Astria Suparak was being forced out of her position as Director of The Warehouse Gallery. When I first heard that Astria was hired for the job I was thrilled. Here was an opportunity for one of our most intrepid young curators, with newfound institutional support, to pursue her most ambitious projects yet. More importantly, however, she would be able to bring contemporary art to audiences in Syracuse that might not otherwise have a chance to see it.

Also worth considering is the fact that Astria's exhibitions at The Warehouse Gallery have caught the attention of countless artists, critics, and curators internationally. It therefore seems to be a grave mistake to dismiss her just as the space, and, in turn, the University, are receiving rightly deserved notice for the work being done there.

Regards,
Thomas Beard

Posted by Whats this? at 10:52 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.