Tom Sherman - Jeffrey Hoone

_____________________________________________________

From: Tom Sherman
Sent: Tue 9/18/2007 8:34 AM
To: Jeffrey Joseph Hoone
Subject: RE: Yes Men

Jeff,

The Yes Men have contacted me to inform me they are not interested in
working with you or anyone else asked or contracted to replace Astria
Suparak at the Warehouse Gallery. Their interest in doing this show
was based on their relationship with Astria. I cannot convince them
otherwise, nor do I wish to. Please refrain from using my name when
trying to remount Astria's show. She set this show up and did the
work. It is Astria Suparak's show of the Yes Men's work that has been
cancelled.

Tom.


Professor Tom Sherman
Syracuse University
Department of Transmedia
102 Shaffer Art Building
Syracuse, New York 13244-1210

tel 315.443.1202
fax 315.443.1303

e-mail twsherma@syr.edu

____________________________________________________

From: Jeffrey Joseph Hoone
Sent: Mon 9/17/2007 5:28 PM
To: Tom Sherman
Subject: Yes Men

Tom,

I contacted the Yes Men today and they didn't think they could get
back on track with the exhibition citing their preference for Astria's
engagement in the project, budget concerns and that exhibitions are
outside of their core mission. Since you have worked with them in the
past would you be willing to contact them to see if we can try and
make the exhibition possible.

Jeff

Jim Finn

Jeffrey Hoone
Executive Director, CMAC

Dear Mr. Hoone,

I am writing a letter in support of Astria Suparak. I have known her
as a committed, innovative curator since I met her in 2001. As an
artist whose work she has curated, I can tell you that she is
committed to experimental and difficult work while also being open to
an absurd and humorous sensibility. That is rare. She is a tireless
promoter, and her framing of work and writing about it is intelligent
and accessible. Just as an artist has a recognizable theme and style,
so her curated shows have an identifiable style that is hers. Because
of the quality of her shows, her professionalism and creativity,
artists have great respect for her while festivals and diverse
international venues are proud to fit her programs into their
schedule.

What is disconcerting to me is that it seems as if there is a problem
with her political programming. Coming off a show about images of
female desire that was critical of the traditional male perspective
and right before a show subtitled "Infiltrating Capitalism", it looks
as though she has been fired for curating controversial, political
content. Her dismissal, after all, is not happening in a vacuum. Six
years after 9/11 and in the middle of multiple counterinsurgency wars,
academia and the art world play an important role in questioning the
direction of our nation's politics. Not surprisingly, every month
cable and radio talk shows relate stories of leftists running amok in
the universities. The list of professors in the US and Europe fired or
denied tenure for political reasons this year alone includes Norman
Finkelstein, Ward Churchill, Albert Scharenberg, and Andrej Holm. The
art world is not immune to these pressures.

I hope that you will reconsider your decision.

Yours respectfully,

Jim Finn
finn.jim@gmail.com



cc:
Nancy Cantor, Chancellor
Eric Spina, Vice Chancellor/Provost
Carole Brzozowski, Dean of CVPA