Expect the Unexpected. BOARD of DIRECTORS the BUFFALO FINE ARTS ACADEMY EX-OFFICIO
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THE BUFFALO FINE ARTS ACADEMY ANNUAL REPORT 2005-2006 Expect the unexpected. BOARD OF DIRECTORS THE BUFFALO FINE ARTS ACADEMY EX-OFFICIO Mrs. John T. Elfvin, Honorary Member City of Buffalo of the Executive Committee Byron W. Brown, Mayor Charles E. Balbach Joseph N. Giambra, Commissioner of Public Works, Charles W. Banta, President Parks & Streets Steven G. Biltekoff Andrew A. Sanfilippo, Comptroller Robert J. Bojdak MISSION VISION Donald K. Boswell County of Erie The Albright-Knox Art Gallery, It is the commitment of the Robert T. Brady Joel A. Giambra, County Executive one of the nation’s oldest Albright-Knox Art Gallery Catherine B. Foley Mark Poloncarz, County Comptroller public arts organizations, has a Sally Gioia to be one of the world’s Demone A. Smith, Chair, Finance and Management clear and compelling mission to Robert M. Greene best and most dynamic Committee acquire, exhibit, and preserve David I. Herer, Secretary modern and contemporary L. N. Hopkins, M.D. both modern and contemporary art institutions. Volunteer Organizations Thomas R. Hyde, Vice-President art. It focuses especially on It will be recognized locally Roberta Joseph Mindy B. Shine, Members’ Council contemporary art, with an as a vital and energetic Alison R. Keane Annmarie L. Maxwell, Junior Group active commitment to taking cultural gathering place Northrup R. Knox, Jr. Sharon C. Levite, Collectors Gallery a global and multidisciplinary and as an indispensable Seymour H. Knox IV Kathy Kubiak, New Group approach to the preservation, educational resource for Jordan Levy interpretation, and collection the community. Brian J. Lipke The Buffalo Fine Arts Academy gratefully of the artistic expressions of Gerald S. Lippes acknowledges the legal services provided by the our times. In an enriching, Through its outstanding Judith C. Lipsey law firm of Magavern, Magavern & Grimm, LLP. dynamic, and vibrant environ- programs and creative Katherine McDonagh ment that embraces diverse collaborations, the Gallery Mark R. Mendell cultures and traditions, the will attract a growing H. Ernest Montgomery II Gallery seeks to serve a broad Margery Nobel national and international Frederic P. Norton and far-reaching audience. audience to the Buffalo Alphonso O’Neil-White Niagara Region. Lee Pearce Frederick G. Pierce II Bruce D. Reinoso John R. Sanderson, Treasurer John B. Simpson John N. Walsh III Elisabeth Roche Wilmers Leslie H. Zemsky PRESIDENT’S REPORT In August 2001, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery published a Fourth, Director Louis Grachos, the curatorial staff, and the Fourth, the Albright-Knox has recently built a new, state- The Albright-Knox continues to be an exciting place to be Strategic Plan outlining a series of key objectives, the most Art Committee have been consistently acquiring works by of-the-art storage facility, which will save hundreds of thou- a part of these days, thanks to the top management team important of which was to be “one of the world’s best and exciting, emerging artists. Some interesting examples are Mona sands of dollars annually in rental fees and transportation of Director Louis Grachos, Deputy Director Karen Spaulding, most dynamic modern and contemporary art institutions.” Hatoum, Mariko Mori, James Turrell, and Rachel Whiteread. costs generated by our previous storage facilities. Former Senior Curator Doug Dreishpoon, Development Director Several events during the last fiscal year provided a clear Board President and current Board member Charles Balbach Susan Reeder, Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operating Officer In the last several years, the Albright-Knox has been carefully indication that we are well on our way towards that end: and Board member H. Ernest Montgomery II initiated this Pat Kilcullen… and the entire Albright-Knox staff. There is polishing its image as a world-class cultural institution to the idea and supervised its completion. Former Board member more in store for the next fiscal year. We look forward to First, the Extreme Abstraction exhibition was a critical success point when today, it shines more brightly than ever amongst Richard Garman provided significant funding for the project, reporting to you on the success of the Chuck Close, Francis nationally and internationally. It was the first exhibition ever its peers. It is essential that the Gallery is properly funded to constructed the building, and provided great vision for its Bacon, and Andrea Zittel exhibitions, new large-scale to encompass the entire Albright-Knox campus. It com- sustain the highest level of exhibitions and acquisitions for its construction. These three individuals deserve our thanks for sculpture acquisitions for the permanent collection, and the bined key historical works from the permanent collection, new permanent collection. The following steps have been taken this wonderful and much-needed project. results of an update of the Strategic Plan after the Board acquisitions, important loans, and twenty different installa- in that regard: addresses issues such as facilities expansion, new fundraising tions (some permanent) by visiting artists. The October 2005 Fifth, the Albright-Knox volunteer groups, some 254 people First, the Investment Committee, chaired by Richard Hopkins, initiatives, and steps to increase the endowment. issue of Art in America published a wonderful, ten-page strong, continue to dazzle us with one great fundraising has done a brilliant job managing the endowment, which, af- review of the exhibition. The last sentence of this review event after another. For example, this fiscal year’s Rockin’ at Meanwhile, I want to thank the Board of Directors once again ter significant withdrawals each year to support operations confirmed the successful pursuit of our Strategic Plan: “This is the Knox was one of the most successful. for their critical financial support as well as their proactive and to acquire works of art for the permanent collection, an exhibition that honors the history of the Albright-Knox’s leadership in many areas of the Gallery’s daily operations. stands at $58.2 million as of June 30, 2006. Sixth, the Development department, under Susan Reeder’s collections, while placing the museum back on the contemporary I want to thank Louis for his vision and never-ending willing- leadership, has been busy identifying new sources of funding. map in one grand flourish.” Second, the Board of Directors has once again generously ness to take risks. I want to thank our key sponsors, including The A successful format for cultivation dinners has been devel- provided record levels of funding through personal contribu- John R. Oishei Foundation, The Buffalo News, M&T Bank, Second, the multi-venue exhibition The Wall: Reshaping oped, which provides a very special experience for new donors. tions and through their affiliated companies. The Seymour H. Knox Foundation, WNED, The Margaret L. Contemporary Chinese Art, a collaboration with the University Meanwhile, Louis and Susan have been busy working on a Wendt Foundation, Northtown Automotive Companies, HSBC, at Buffalo Art Galleries and the Millennium Art Museum in Third, we welcome the restoration of prior funding levels series of exciting development initiatives, which we hope to and Entercom Communications. Finally, I want to thank all of Beijing, was yet another critical success. The April 2006 from the County of Erie. We thank County Executive Joel announce in the next fiscal year. you, the Members of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, for your issue of Artforum carried a glowing review of this exhibition. Giambra, his top staff, and the County Legislators for The fiscal year 2005/2006 financial statements show $6,461,704 recognizing the important role the Albright-Knox plays in the support and your involvement. You are important and effective Third, in response to the Strategic Plan, the curatorial staff in revenue and an operating deficit of $509,937. The community and for providing meaningful funding to make ambassadors of this great institution. has mounted engaging periodic reinstallations of the perma- Albright-Knox is not in the business of making money or in that happen. nent collection. Some of these artworks have not been seen the business of losing money. Our mission is to operate one in years. The curators have given them a fresh look in new of the world’s greatest modern and contemporary art museums. and innovative contexts. In the process, we strive over time to balance our cumulative operating budgets and to grow our endowment, one of the Charles W. Banta great pillars of our financial stability. President, Board of Directors The Buffalo Fine Arts Academy 02 Albright-Knox Art Gallery Albright-Knox Art Gallery 03 DIRECTOR’S REPORT I look back on this year and feel a sense of accomplishment and Of course, the Gallery’s programs extend beyond the realm of gratitude. As a result of a tremendous amount of teamwork exhibitions, and offer enriching and exciting ways to engage on behalf of the Board of Directors, the staff, and all volun- with the best art of our time. I am proud to be a part of an teers, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery enjoyed one of the most institution that collaborates with artists, scholars, other cultural dynamic years in its history. institutions, and performers of all art forms. After two years, Gusto at the Gallery is one program that brings this together The exhibition schedule began with the largest and most com- and continues to attract new crowds in large numbers every prehensive presentation of abstraction ever mounted. Every Friday evening. I credit the program’s sponsors and the Gallery available space inside and outside the Gallery was occupied staff for this stunning success. The popularity of this weekly by some of the finest expressions of abstraction, collectively event is due in part to outstanding programming and the entitled Extreme Abstraction. This exhibition presented the support of The Buffalo News, M&T Bank, The John R. Oishei opportunity to commission and acquire the work of some of Foundation, The Margaret L.