NEWSLETTER 2009 NEWSLETTER CONTENTS 2 Letter from the Chair and President, Board of Trustees Skowhegan, an intensive 3 Letter from the Chair, Board of Governors nine-week summer 4 Trustee Spotlight: Ann Gund residency program for 7 Governor Spotlight: David Reed 11 Alumni Remember Skowhegan emerging visual artists, 14 Letters from the Executive Directors seeks each year to bring 16 Campus Connection 18 2009 Awards Dinner together a gifted and 20 2010 Faculty diverse group of individuals 26 Skowhegan Council & Alliance 28 Alumni News to create the most stimulating and rigorous environment possible for a concentrated period of artistic creation, interaction, and growth. FROM THE CHAIR & PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS ANN L. GUND Chair / GREGORY K. PALM President BYRON KIM (’86) We write to you following another wonderful Trustees’/ featuring a talk by the artist and in June for a visit leadership. We will miss her, but know she will bring Many years ago, the founders of the Skowhegan great food for thought as we think about the shape a Governors’ Weekend on Skowhegan’s Maine campus, to Skowhegan Trustee George Ahl’s eclectic and her wisdom and experience to bear in the New York School of Painting & Sculpture formed two distinct new media lab should take. where we always welcome the opportunity to see beautiful collection which includes several Skowhegan Arts Program of Ohio Wesleyan University, where governing bodies that have worked strongly together to As with our participants, we are committed to diversity the School’s program in action and to meet the artists. artists. A number of them came to the event to talk we are confi dent she will be a great asset. make the organization extremely effective. Without the among our Governors, and as part of a review of The Class of 2009 was undeterred by the especially about their work. Carrying on in the New York offi ce are Kate Haw, our Board of Trustees the whole place would not exist, and our governance procedures last fall the Governors cold and rainy (even for Maine) summer, and worked without the Board of Governors Skowhegan would not Skowhegan alumni continue to shine in the art world. Executive Director for Development & Administration, reaffi rmed our commitment to having nationwide on a wide variety of interesting and creative projects, maintain the qualities that make it the most sought after This year they have received awards and grants from Elise Gardella, Melissa Calderón, and Adrienne representation on the Board. To that end, we are both individually and collaboratively. residency program in the U.S. for aspiring visual artists. Creative Capital, the John Simon Guggenheim Memo- Snow, whose knowledge and dedication make our exploring ways to include more of our members who Members of both boards are unpaid for their services. This year’s group of 65 artists was drawn from a record- rial Foundation, the Pollock-Krasner Foundation, and jobs as board members a pleasure. Bill Holmes live in the Midwest or on the West Coast in activities breaking pool of 2,005 applicants from 42 States and many other honors. As impressive as this appears, remains the key to insuring that our Maine campus My present task is to tell you more about the Governors’ like the application review process. The new online 33 foreign countries. The accepted artists represented we think it is more impressive still that even those who is in good shape year round, and plays an important side. The most important task the Governors perform application will make this much easier, as we are no 18 countries in terms of origin or citizenship. This are pursuing their work more quietly are still actively role in working with the artists during the summer. is to choose the incoming participants. In recent years longer limited to reviewing images in the offi ce. diverse group, along with a stellar faculty of Resident Waneeta Marquis, our campus chef for the past nine engaged—in a recent survey of alumni, over 90% of there have been as many as 2,005 applicants for 65 Three among our ranks stepped down this year, and and Visiting Artists, came together to form an excep- years, continues a tradition of delicious meals. Judith those responding indicated that they continue to maintain positions. Skowhegan's Governors continue to insist we want to thank Tishan Hsu, Glenn Ligon, and Charles tional community in 2009. Stoodley has professionalized our library and helped a studio practice. That long-term commitment is the mark on examining each application as carefully as possible. Ray for their years of service. Additionally, Bill King, to make it an even better resource for the artists. Our year has been a busy one, with both longstanding of a true artist, and that is what Skowhegan is about. We have not cut corners as the numbers have grown. In a participant in 1948, 1951, 1952, a Visiting Artist in We benefi t greatly from all their skills and commitment, my experience there is no other arts organization aimed annual activities as well as new programs that are In April we welcomed Alan Wanzenberg to Skowhegan’s 1967 and 1975, and a Resident Artist in 1977, 1982, and look forward to continuing our work with them. at adult artists that reviews each image submitted by thriving. The annual Skowhegan Awards Dinner, held Board of Trustees. He has already made excellent and 1989, had been a Governor since 1972 when he each applicant separately. Two thousand applications, on April 28th at Cipriani Wall Street, honored another contributions to our work, drawing on his expertise as Of course, the past year has been a very challenging decided to retire from the board this year. In recognition ten images or fi ve minutes of video, a panel of four outstanding group of people. The Gertrude Vanderbilt an architect to inform our discussion of our facilities one at Skowhegan from a fi nancial point of view. In of his near lifetime of involvement with and service or fi ve Governors and incoming faculty members con- Whitney Award for Outstanding Patronage of the Arts needs. We look forward to working with him in the years light of the exceptionally diffi cult circumstances many to Skowhegan, the Governors established the role of sidering each image individually. Think about this: the was given to Philippe de Montebello, the Governors’ to come and are delighted to welcome him to the family. people have found themselves in, we are grateful for Governor Emeritus for Bill, and we are so pleased that Award for Outstanding Service to Artists to Bill Aguado, the support so many of you have provided to help us organization with one of the highest application rates he is still engaged in this way. and the Skowhegan Medals to Merce Cunningham, This year we celebrated the opening of two new build- continue to fulfi ll our mission. However, throughout in the country puts the most energy and care into each As Governors, our partner in tackling issues concerning Paul McCarthy, and Catherine Murphy. Over 350 friends ings: Brinn Cottage, a new residence made possible the year as we talk to artists, see exhibitions, and application. I have done these kinds of slide juries for Skowhegan’s program for the past ten years has and supporters joined us to celebrate the honorees’ by Trustee Mildred Brinn, welcomed its fi rst residents listen to lectures we are reminded in so many ways so many foundations and schools over the years, and been Linda Earle, the School’s Executive Director for accomplishments. The privilege of having been able to this year. The newly re-built Bearden Studio Building— of how important Skowhegan is to emerging artists. I haven't found any to compare to Skowhegan’s. Program. It’s hard to put into words how much Linda honor Merce for 90 years of achievement is especially featuring the Looker Family Studio, Palm Studio, and So we would be remiss not to ask you to please We are also deeply involved in discussions about all has done for Skowhegan, because on top of the poignant now, as we mark with respect and sadness Elizabeth Murray Studio made possible by Trustees help us keep our commitment to them by sending in our facilities on campus, and while waiting in line for tangible improvements she has overseen, she has his death on July 26th. Mary Looker and Robert Looker, Board President Greg the coupon at the back of this newsletter with your lobster rolls during July’s Trustees’/Governors’ weekend, brought so much that is intangible—and invaluable— Palm, and Skowhegan Governor Robert Gober and contribution or visiting us at www.skowheganart.org Our collaboration with the 92StY on the “Art and I got into an interesting conversation with one of this to the experience of artists during their nine weeks Donald Moffett, respectively—was also ready for artists (click SUPPORT). They need our help more than ever! Insight” series continued last February with a lively year’s participants about technology. Skowhegan is in on campus. Linda’s quiet strength and deep knowledge this session, providing new and needed studio space Thank you. conversation between Fred Wilson and Donna DeSalvo, the early planning stages of building a new media lab of the contemporary art world have helped guide for those working in various disciplines. These buildings and we look forward to the next event in the series, to accommodate the growing number of artists working the Governors as we address issues that affect the are two important ones in a series of recent improve- a conversation between video artist Mary Lucier in or eager to learn about electronic media.