Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Brett Dougherty

September 24, 2007



Mr. Hoone,

I don't know the entire circumstance surrounding Ms.
Suparak and yourself, but I do know that you would be
committing a grave and unintelligent mistake if you
were to fire her from her position as curator from the
Warehouse Gallery. I have never encountered anything
but amazing artistic and personal payoff from all of
my time around Astria and she has been an immensely
rewarding person to talk with and have around.

Please realize that if this is a personal vendetta
against Suparak, you should leave that unprofessional
jargon to the side and look at everything she has
given the arts community here at Syracuse University
and the central New York area.

-Brett Dougherty



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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.