Reading Art Daily this morning, we saw that Derrick Cartwright, director of the San Diego Museum of Art, was just hired as director of the Seattle Art Museum. We worked with Cartwright on the exhibition Everett Gee Jackson/San Diego Modern, 1920-1955, which was organized by San Diego and on display at the Georgia Museum of Art last summer from July to September. He joined us for a few days, and we all enjoyed his company very much. We congratulate him on his new job, although we're sure San Diego will be sad to lose him.
Our director also passed along this article about the closing of the Rose Museum, a sad saga that continues. What we find frustrating is the kind of debate set up at the conclusion of the article:
Barbara and Edmund Tavernier, in from Switzerland to watch their son, Greg, graduate, had opposing feelings about the Rose.
After walking through, they stood on the front steps and debated the merits of the museum.
"I frankly believe it makes no difference whether you have these paintings or not," said Edmund. "This is very static, from what I see. I'd rather see a place that has signs of life."
"You're wrong," said Barbara. "It's a shame, whether you like the paintings or not. It's part of our 20th-century culture. If the university has to raise money, it's a question of what the alternatives are."
That's when Greg piped in.
"And if the alternative to selling these pieces would be to improve the quality of teaching, I think it's worth it."
It's a false dichotomy and one we should make sure to label as such whenever it appears. Promotion of this kind of either/or infighting among areas of the university is a way to distract attention from the bad decisions being made.
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