Yvonne Buchanan

To:
Jeffrey Hoone, Executive Director, CMAC
Nancy Cantor, Chancellor
Eric Spina, Vice Chancellor/Provost
Carole Brzozowski, Dean of CVPA

I would like to voice my opinion on both the canceling of the Yes Men
and the firing of Astria Suparak, curator/director of the Warehouse
Gallery. The shows at the Warehouse under the stewardship of Ms.
Suparack have been exciting, dynamic, and to use a much over used but
accurate phrase in this case, cutting age. It is important to all the
students at Syracuse University, and the broader community at large, to
have opportunities to engage with highly conceptual, contemporary art
and activities like the Yes Men, that shifts art and art making out of
it's commodity and decorative position into social action.

I am very disappointed by what is occurring and would ask that the
reasons behind these actions be made public. I spoke with Ms. Suparack
at my opening in Buffalo on September 14, and at that time she was
baffled, bewildered and had been given no explanation as to why she was
being fired. Given the exemplary job she has done in the last year, I
too am puzzled.

In my opinion, instances of unfairness and non-transparent actions
have a history at Syracuse University, in particular effecting women
and men of color. In this case it would be helpful to take a step
forward and have this situation resolved in a positive way during our
year of "Justice".


Thank you,

Respectfully, Yvonne Buchanan
Assistant Professor, Illustration Program
Department of Art.
SOAD, CVPA