Posted on 02/05/2024 7:02:16 AM PST by Mr. Mojo
The new director of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art (SBMA), whose tenures at previous institutions were punctuated by controversy, has abruptly canceled a major upcoming exhibition over a lack of diversity among the two dozen represented artists. Director Amada Cruz also eliminated the position of the museum’s longtime chief curator, Eik Kahng.
The decisions by Cruz prompted a searing response from the affected artists, who called her actions “outrageous” and “appalling” and said they continued “Cruz’s pattern of controversial leadership.”
“We consider these recent developments not only alarming but also insulting — to us, to the Santa Barbara art community, and indeed to all artists,” eight members of the group wrote in a formal letter of protest to the museum’s Board of Directors. “What is happening at SBMA now threatens the institution’s public and scholarly missions.”
News of the cancellation and Kahng’s dismissal was first reported by Hyperallergic, an online arts magazine.
The show, Three American Painters: Then and Now, was meant to explore the legacy of art historian Michael Fried during the period of “high modernism.” Kahng had been developing it for years, securing loans for 62 pieces and organizing a catalog that was on its way to being printed when Cruz suddenly pulled the plug.
In a statement to the Independent, Cruz defended her decisions. “When I joined the Santa Barbara Museum of Art in October 2023, one of the first priorities set together with the Board and senior leadership was to review the ways in which our Museum and programming can be more inclusive and more reflective of Santa Barbara County’s diverse community,” she said.
“In reviewing the exhibition plan, the checklist of around 20 living artists and estates slated to be included in the exhibition, and the catalog essays,” Cruz continued, “it was determined that it fell short from a diversity perspective. The Santa Barbara Museum of Art, like other museums of our size, has limited resources. So, it was decided to focus our resources elsewhere.”
Cruz said she and the museum “regret the impact this may have on all of those involved, including the artists.”
Citing an anonymous board member, Hyperallergic reported there had also been concern voiced among museum leadership that a homophobic slur previously used by Fried could spark public backlash. In a private 1967 letter, Fried had referred to the “faggot sensibility” of certain Minimalist works.
“Having canceled the exhibition,” the artists said in their letter, “[Cruz] then went on to cancel its creator.”
Maybe she is schizophrenic.
Me..and everyone else who is affected..are in a constant battle with these sonsofbitches. They think we are their personal piggy banks.
My wife got us into the art community. Once. That’s another thing I don’t miss about our place in FL.
HOAs are a double edged sword.......they can be valuable in terms of keeping up property values and ensuring people maintain their properties.
The trick is to get the right people on the board.
That is, the ones who don’t become dictators.
🤪🤪🤪🤪🤣🤣🤣
When the wife and I go to any art museum we stick to art prior to 1970, and love art created 100+ years ago. Modern art is a joke, recent art doubly so.
If I could do it, it ain’t Art.
You’re right. It’s the control freaks who bother me. Unfortunately, that’s a big percentage of them. Those of us who just want to be left alone end up being jerked around by those who hate the idea of someone else having unsupervised fun.
They are not dumb, at all.
They know what they are doing.
Quick, hire the Crips’ best tagger for the job.
I’ve never been to the SBMA and much prefer older art (ancient, Renaissance, etc.). Santa Barbara has a nice museum of natural history which is a better use of your time. Of course people’s tastes vary.
Put on your “Stop Oil!” t-shirt and throw paint all over the so-called art. Good chance no one would notice, though.
Mental illness is NOT diversity! .....imho
HAHAHA Angry white ‘Karen’ fires Oriental woman for lack of diversity. Thank goodness there is another raging white hating whote to take care of those colored people.
Probably having sex with the black janitor. Which qualifies her as deserve...at least in her mind.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.