Double Negative Collective

September 24, 2007

To Whom It May Concern:

We are writing in response to the outrageous dismissal of Astria Suparak from her position as director at The Warehouse Gallery.

As a collective of Montreal-based moving image artists, we have been excited and engaged by the work and passion Astria brought to our city and we were pleased for her when she moved to Syracuse to share her considerable talents south of the border. She and her partner Brett Kashmere are the unique type of individuals genuinely committed to the creation and dissemination of exciting work, especially that of emerging artists and underrepresented communities.

Jeff Hoone's solo decision and apparently unknowable reasons for firing Astria functions as a violent gesture that disempowers her as an employee and disadvantages the arts community who have invested trust in this administration and rely on the Warehouse Gallery for fresh energy and invigorating contemporary art.

Double Negative consider Astria an ally in the struggle against aesthetic homogeneity and decisions made in the name of "tastefulness", or in other circles, cultural servility. It is our recommendation to the administration of the CMAC that Astria Suparak be reinstated immediately and with a full apology, if she'll have them.

Sincerely,

Double Negative Collective
Montreal, Quebec
doublenegatif@gmail.com
doublenegativecollective.blogspot.com

Members:
Christopher Becks
Lucia Fuzzuoglio
Amber Goodwyn
Julien Idrac
Steven Ladouceur
Matt Law
Karl Lemieux
Lindsay McIntyre
Eduardo Menz
Chris Payne
Mike Rollo
Daichi Saito
Ithamar Silver
Malena Szlam

Kenneth White

Dear Chancellor Cantor:

I am writing to register my alarm at the news that Astria Suparak is removed from directorship of the Warehouse Gallery by CMAC Director Jeffrey Hoone without consultation of the Syracuse community. As a proud alum of Syracuse University I have watched with awe and excitement as Suparak galvanized the creative community of Syracuse and thoroughly fulfilled your mission of Scholarship in Action. Suparak's immense and internationally-renowned success prior to her appointment at the Warehouse and during her tenure there leaves me utterly dismayed by Hoone's decision.

Adding further grievance to Suparak's dismissal is the notion that it erupted from Hoone's anxiety over address of feminist aesthetics in Suparak's current work, COME ON: desire under the female gaze. It appears so, and with your approval. This signals a much more dangerous institutional culture at Syracuse University than I ever thought possible. I hope this is not the case.

However, neither you, nor Hoone, have provided acceptable justification for the termination of Suparak. "Restructuring" and "personnel changes" is Hoone's claim, endorsed by you, and echoed by VPA Dean Carole Brzozowski. Reports of Hoone's distress over the use of "feminist" in the exhibition's title, the occurrence of Suparak's termination just prior to the opening of COME ON, and no disclosure of the Warehouse's new structure, tenders Hoone's decision as blatant censorship and personal power consolidation. I am left to imagine that you are shunning your commitment to the Syracuse community, and tolerating Hoone's insecurity, for the lucrative financial endowments promised by Hoone and his connections.

I hope you will reassure your alumni that the delusion, misogyny, and abhorrent stupidity, that appears to inform Hoone and his censorship of Suparak are not acceptable at Syracuse University, and that the Soul of Syracuse is not for sale. There is still opportunity for you to heed the wishes of your community. Please exemplify the "interactive and collaborative nature" that in your Vision Statement: Scholarship in Action you believe is our "great strength." Please re-instate Suparak to directorship of the Warehouse Gallery and cease your toleration of Hoone's abuse of power. Suparak must be allowed to continue her vital contributions to the Syracuse community.

Thank you for your time and attention. I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Kenneth White
B.F.A. 2005
Syracuse University Scholar
Remembrance Scholar
VPA Scholar



Cc:
VPA Dean Carole Brzozowski
Vice-Chancellor and Provost Eric Spina
Senior Vice President Thomas Walsh
CMAC Director Jeffrey Hoone