Friday, September 21, 2007

Saul Levine

To whom it may concern

I have recently become aware that Astria Suparak was fired from her position at the WAREHOUSE GALLERY. I find this very disturbing as I think of her as one of the most exciting young curators. I first met her when I was part of the BIG AS LIFE SHOW (AHISTORY OF SMALL GUAGE FILMMAKEING) which she was part of helping to organize at MOMA. Since then I have often run into her at film festivals and have invited her to bring programs of moving image work to the MASS ART FILM SOCIETY on numerous occasions. She is an extremely intelligent, articulate, hard working curator with a deep knowledge of film, video, new media, performance, and contemporary art in general. She has always put into practice a commitment to young artists of diverse backgrounds that do ground breaking work. She is actively supportive and constantly alert to what is really happening in art as both a curator, theorist, and as an artist.. I was extremely happy to learn that she had found a place to carry on her work in Syracuse and am disappointed that this has turned out not to be the case! If you really go thorough with her dismissal it is your loss and you shame!

Saul Levine

Professor film/video Media and Performing Arts
MassArt
Massachusettes College of Art and Design
Boston

Posted by Whats this? at 7:36 PM

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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.