Kate Clark

I am writing this letter on behalf of the 40 Below Public Arts Task Force (PATF) and our efforts to engage and retain creative people in Syracuse through the arts. Astria Suparak has played a key leadership role on the PATF, a role that greatly contributed to enhancing the credibility and visibility of the Warehouse Gallery in the local community. She has led two Totem Selection Committee Panels, consulted the PATF and City on the placement of the David Hayes sculptures, involved the Warehouse Gallery in the Urban Video public art project, and participated in numerous evening Lipe Art Park and Syracuse Public Art Trail meetings. Astria has offered her much appreciated advice to the PATF Chairs and is very professional. Her invaluable insight as the Warehouse Gallery Director will be greatly missed by all of us on the PATF.



Kate Clark

Chair, 40 Below Public Arts Task Force

Richard A. Destito

To the administration of The Warehouse Gallery

I've been to many of Astria's installations and was writing to show my support for her. The Warehouse Gallery is needed space for "contemporary" art. However like any building or business it's the personality of the people working and visiting in that location that make a place what it is. I think Astria has been doing an incredible job with it. She has brought a lot of life to that part of the town. Many of the installations I've liked very much, some I haven't necessarily liked. Either way though my god, it's nice to feel a heart beating out of one of the few galleries in the area!! If her work has made a variety of people actually "think" or "feel" instead of quickly scooting through the place she has done her job and done it well.

I'm impressed with the quality of her work, you can tell she cares. I believe Astria is very progressive and has that big city feel to her work. More than ever that's what this city needs right now to grow is some progressive thought and for citizens minds to be stretched.

Last, I very much appreciate the sense of feeling an actual pulse in the area!! I believe that has a lot to do with Astria. This pulse I speak of has been the objective of many different people and organizations in the area for city wide revitalization. Once accomplishing that, why would you then kill it? This is about what's best for the Warehouse Gallery, SU, and the City of Syracuse. Lets cut out the politics, people are tired of them. For the city to become all it can be we have to think in terms of not me, not you, but us as a whole, what's good for the group.

I think it would be much more beneficial to embrace Astria's progressive work than to squash it.

Thank you,

Rick

Richard A. Destito
Vibrant Syracuse Spaces, LLC
"Making the Best of What's Around"
http://www.vibrantsyracusespaces.com/
http://www.myspace.com/rickvss
E-mail: Rickdks@earthlink.net