Chicana Feliz

[ Reposted from here ]

Curator of the Year: Astria Suparak

Astria Suparak, taken in Troy, New York May 2007. Astria was a visiting Art Critter for the MFA Class of 2007 at RPI’s prestigious Art Department. I had dinner right across from her and I took this blurry bad angled snapshot of Astria because I was such a fan of hers. She shared with me that she was a Curator just down the road in Syracuse. I was sadly sharing with her that I had just left my beloved Troy, NY art community to live in Washington D.C. She suggested I speak to her friend at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. This September 2007, this conversation led to my work being shown at NMWA. I have since become a member of NMWA and I shared the same space as Maria Martinez does now, and Frida Kahlo did then and the WACK! Art and the Feminist Revolution Exhibit does now.

Well kids & cats, I have some really weird and sad news.

All I’ve heard about Syracuse University is that their art world suddenly exploded into the 22nd Century by hiring my really amazing curator friend Astria Suparak.

If it wasn’t for Astria I would have never had the opportunity to show my work at the National Women in the Arts Museum.

I definitely consider this post a feminist and artist as activist post.

Please keep reading why.

Basically, I was at the closing party of the National Women in the Arts museum here in Washington D.C. when I heard of an injustice! Astria was fired. Apparently the University didn’t want its Freshmen to see real contemporary art that was feminist, progressive and critical to capitalism and social issues pertinent to today’s real world experiences.

I was advised by a friend that my dear sweet, loving, kind, SUPER PROFESSIONAL favorite YOUNG but geniously talented Astria Suparak was “let go” only after a few months at the Warehouse Gallery of Contemporary Arts Museum at Syracuse University

Bloggers, please REBLOG anything you can if you want to help Astria get her job back @ The Warehouse Gallery!

The Warehouse Gallery
350 West Fayette Street
Syracuse, New York 13202
www.thewarehousegallery.org

don’t read my horrible writing on this issue, I’m pissed, I’m not about to start working on my grammar. As anyone who read this blog knows that when I’m pissed off, i refuse to capitalize words or try to make any perfect sense.

The facists at SU don’t deserve to be written about in good grammar.

in any case, read Journalist SAYEJ’s New York Times article on the now highly controversial issue.

source: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/21/arts/21arts.html

Gallery Director’s Dismissal Ignites Syracuse Protest

The ouster of the founding director of an art gallery overseen by Syracuse University has drawn protest from academics and art professionals there. The director, Astria Suparak, below, of the Warehouse Gallery, said that Jeffrey Hoone, who oversees the university’s art centers, had told her on Sept. 7 that she would be dismissed effective Sept. 30. She said he did not give a reason beyond saying that the gallery was being restructured. (In a telephone interview, Mr. Hoone said he could not discuss Ms. Suparak but that he was revamping the gallery’s leadership.) Carole Brzozowski, the dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Syracuse University, said the content of gallery shows organized by Ms. Suparak had nothing to do with her dismissal. But people in the arts at Syracuse, including university art teachers, asserted that the ouster was related to risk-taking or innovative exhibitions she organized since becoming the director last year. (Many have posted protests of her dismissal at syracuse-warehouse.blogspot.com.)

Ms. Suparak said of Mr. Hoone: “My aesthetic is very different from his. I’m interested in street art, riot grrl and D.I.Y. aesthetics.” A sign at the entrance to the gallery’s current show, “Come On: Desire Under the Female Gaze,” reads, “This exhibition contains work generally intended for mature audiences.” Ms. Suparak said it was posted at Mr. Hoone’s behest. NADJA SAYEJ