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delehanty to step down
Post #515 • April 11, 2005, 10:21 PM • 9 Comments
From the press release:
Suzanne Delehanty, director of the Miami Art Museum for the past decade, announced today to the museum's board of trustees that she will step down at the end of this year. ... [MAM Board of Trustees Chair Aaron] Podhurst said a search committee for her successor would be named shortly. "She has built a very strong foundation for the future," he said, "and that as well as MAM's vision for a new home will make this a very attractive place to the next director."
I nominate Jack.
Seriously, while I have leveled a ton of criticism at MAM, I also know from people in the organization that she all but dotes on her staff and is widely regarded as a consummate professional. Artblog.net wishes her the best of luck in her next endeavors, which include, according to the same press release, "getting organizations up and running and working directly with art, artists and communities."
2.
April 12, 2005, 7:03 AM
Good. This is what was needed from the start. Change at the top. Jack would bring order, an eye, and his charm to the post. I can think of no better candidate. In fact I think he has seen more art in Miami than anyone else in South Florida. He has his ear to the ground and has done his homework. MAM needs Jack, if it is to survive as an art museum.
3.
April 12, 2005, 6:37 PM
This is all idle talk and obviously moot, but Jack is hardly MAM material. He is not an arts professional and would not do well at that game as currently played, partly because he does not play well with others, at least others of a certain sort. He would be highly, uh, conflictive (assuming that's a word). He is still appalled at how MAM finally got its unholy grail, A New "World-Class" Facility. Even if he was hypocritical enough to direct it, he would insist on some serious purging, I mean, purification rituals. These would include the "stepping down" (and/or aside) of all key MAMers with significant implication in said appalling operation, which could get pretty ugly. I'm afraid he would also demand the head of County Manager George Burgess on a plate, which would be sent to Damien Hirst for his next formaldehyde masterpiece. This would immediately fetch 8 figures from a hedge fund genius, and MAM would get a stipulated percentage of the loot. It's also fairly certain that Fabian Marcaccios's "paintants" (please) would no longer be given serious consideration, not even at Basel time. And so on and so forth.
No, Jack's not a suitable candidate. Besides, he'd never stand a chance against a shoo-in like Kathleen.
4.
April 12, 2005, 8:04 PM
Well Jack that sort of attitude might have to toned down a notch in your new role as art administrator. But I could see MAM having better shows with you at the helm. May your accession to this post be blessed and lets hope this becomes a lifelong appointment.
5.
April 13, 2005, 1:00 AM
I should have added that, with Jack as MAM Director-for-Life, the mere suggestion of anything even remotely resembling the stickers-on-windowpanes show would mean instant dismissal (unless the perpetrator agreed to psychological counseling). Suggesting an Othoniel glass show, however, would mean only one thing--deportation. See? Make somebody Director-for-Life and he turns into Louis XIV.
6.
April 13, 2005, 4:02 AM
Hey, Jack, Louie ran France for 70 years, built Versailles, had a bunch of mistresses and practically invented French culture. Sounds good to me. Go to it!
7.
April 13, 2005, 6:41 AM
Well, Oldpro, Louis XIV is a pretty tough act to follow, but if I can't be "Le Roi Soleil" I can at least be Charles Lebrun, non?
8.
April 13, 2005, 6:56 PM
Well, I dunno. Maybe you should be the autocrat, not the artist. that way you can buy my paintings. And designing tapestries for palaces seems a bit lugubrious.
9.
April 13, 2005, 7:29 PM
Well, Lebrun was the culture czar for Louis, so to speak, and he was probably more important in that capacity than as an artist per se, though he certainly contributed to the development of the Louis XIV style.
1.
Otto
April 12, 2005, 6:15 AM
I second the nomination!
From the press release I see that MAM has spent over $10 million on thier acquisitions.
Jack what would you buy with $10 million?
I would like to see how you would change that collection.
Send that resume in today Jack! I'll be out printing buttons.