NEWS NEWSLETTER OF THE COLLEGE ART ASSOCIATION Volume 27, Number 3 MAY/JUNE 2002 MEET MICHAEL AURBACH t its February meeting, CAA’s Board of Directors elected Michael Aurbach to serve as CAA president. A sculptor, he is the first visual artist to become president Asince 1996; he succeeds Ellen T. Baird, who will remain on the Buzz Spector, as if, 2002, 9" x 11.5", paper, fabric, and Board for one year as immediate past president. Aurbach’s term thread, edition of 60 is from 2002 to 2006. Aurbach has taught at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, NEW BUZZ SPECTOR TN, since 1986. He earned an M.A. in the history of art (1979), a B.F.A. in studio art (1981), both from the University of PRINT AVAILABLE Kansas, Lawrence, and an M.F.A. in sculpture (1983) from ranklin “Buzz” Spector, three-time Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas. Aurbach has recipient of a National Endow- had many solo and group exhibitions at museums and galleries Michael Aurbach, Witness: Conspiracy No. 1, 1998, mixed ment for the Arts Fellowship, is across the United States. An installation entitled The media, 50” x 44” x 25” Fthe fifth artist to create an artwork for Administrator (2001) was the inaugural exhibition of contem- sale by CAA to benefit its Professional porary art at the Frist Center of Visual Arts in Nashville, TN. Development Fellowship Program. The This work was reviewed in Sculpture and Art Papers; others print, entitled as if, was produced in an have been reviewed in New Art Examiner, Metalsmith, and The edition of sixty this year at the Rutgers New York Times. Center for Innovative Print and Paper in Aurbach took an unusual path to arrive at his present aca- New Brunswick, NJ. demic position. He completed two bachelor’s degrees—in biol- Echoing the shape and size of a book, as if is composed of three chine ogy and journalism—in the mid-1970s, prior to earning his collé layers of handmade hemp paper degrees in art and art history. Those early studies gave him an with embedded red string and linen ele- activist perspective: “I learned how to create opportunities, ments. A thread and a torn line form the while many artists tend to wait for them to be announced. I work’s title in cursive letters. learned a great deal about marketing, and when I applied some “The book is one of Buzz Spector’s Michael Aurbach, Witness: basic marketing principles to my art career I quickly learned Conspiracy No. 2, 1998, mixed obsessions and persistent themes,” notes how ineffective it would be for me to depend on commercial media, 68” x 46” x 26” Emmanuel Lemakis, CAA’s Director galleries because of the complex nature of and the time needed to complete my work. And because I live outside a major cul- CONTINUED ON PAGE 22 tural hub, I needed to work independently of that system—and it has paid off.” IN THIS ISSUE Aurbach has had many proud moments as an artist and an instructor. “Surviving academia, and maintaining an active pro- They Represent You: The fessional record at a southern institution, has been quite a chal- 3 2002–6 Board Members lenge,” he says. “I have done this without regular gallery repre- sentation or sales. I am also pleased that I have continued to Strategies for Publishing in the challenge myself with each piece I make. I don’t always suc- 4 Arts ceed, but I still feel the excitement that I experienced in grad school. I think my students pick up on my desire to grow as an Moral Rights for Artists: artist. My students and I are not worried about our artistic Michael Aurbach, Witness: 6 The Visual Artists Rights Act immortality, so the teaching environment at Vanderbilt is Conspiracy No. 3, 1998, mixed wonderful.” media, 40” x 36” x 15” CONTINUED ON PAGE 22 12 Advocacy Update 2004 CALL FOR ANNUAL CONFERENCE SESSION Call for Book-Reviews Editor, PROPOSALS: SEE PAGE 9 14 The Art Bulletin FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CHANGING OF THE GUARD: NEW BOARD OFFICERS pring is a planning process, are an increasingly time of important part of CAA governance. The rebirth and new officers are Michael Aurbach, Stransition, when Vanderbilt University, President; Thomas The Museum’s entrance facade, seen from the tram arrival new leaders on the F. Reese, Tulane University, Vice palza at the getty center. The Museum’s collection of paint- ings, sculpture, decorative arts, drawings, illuminated manu- CAA Board of President for External Affairs; Ellen K. scripts, and photgraphs are exhibited in five gallery pavil- Directors are wel- Levy, School of Visual Arts, Vice lions around a central courtyard. Designed by Richard Meier & Partners, the Getty Center opened to the public on Susan Ball, comed and those President for the Annual Conference; December 16, 1997. CAA Executive Director PHOTO CREDIT: ANDREI RALKO stepping down are Andrea S. Norris, Spencer Museum of PHOTO CREDIT: Tom Bonner © The J. Paul Getty Trust gratefully Art, Vice President for Committees; acknowledged. At the Board meeting held Catherine Asher, University of on May 12, 2002, four newly elected Minnesota, Vice President for PROFESSIONAL Board members began a four-year term. Publications; and Joyce Hill Stoner, DEVELOPMENT I would like to congratulate these Winterthur Museum of Art and University four: Kaucyila Brooke of CalArts, Diane of Delaware, Secretary. The Board also WORKSHOP AT Edison of the University of Georgia, renewed the terms of John Hyland, Jr., Dennis Ichiyama of Purdue University, as Treasurer and Jeffrey P. Cunard as GETTY and Mimi Hall Yiengpruksawan of Yale Counsel. Ellen T. Baird will continue to University. serve on the Board for one more year as AA and the Getty Research A day-long orientation, conducted on Immediate Past President. Together, these Institute will co-sponsor a one-day May 10 at CAA’s home office in New officers constitute CAA’s Executive Regional Professional Develop- York, was an intensive introduction to the Committee. This committee meets Cment Workshop and Seminar for graduate organization in all its complexity: staff, bimonthly online, communicates on a list- students to be held at the J. Paul Getty departments, organizational chart, serv, and takes action as needed between Center in Los Angeles on November 2, finances, and the Board’s role in areas meetings of the full Board. I greatly look 2002. This is the first time CAA has taken such as fundraising and advocacy. Board forward to working with this excellent its mentoring programs, so popular at the members were walked through CAA’s team this year. Annual Conferences, on the road; it is lim- governance procedures and informed of Since 1986, I have worked with eight ited to the Southern California region. their fiduciary responsibilities. They are presidents. The CAA presidency is a Future workshops will be offered in other required to act in good faith and in the demanding job. Perhaps its greatest chal- U.S. locations. best interests of the organization, to honor lenge is one faced by every leader in a The day will begin with a morning CAA’s articles of incorporation and by- democratic system: How to inspire while Seminar for University and College laws, to exercise care in making deci- remaining impartial, and how to move Administrators. This session will introduce sions, to be loyal to CAA, and to be faith- forward while allowing every point of CAA programs and services and provide ful to our mission and goals. view to be heard. Aurbach has shown his guidance to administrators who wish to Stepping down from the Board are ability to meet this challenge in his years develop mentoring and professional devel- Joe Deal, Nancy Friese, Joanna Frueh, of dedicated service to CAA. Of course, opment programs in their schools. Alison Hilton, Dorothy Johnson, and he has a hard act to follow. Ellen Baird The day’s events will center on two Bruce Robertson. Deal and Robertson repeatedly proved both a good listener concurrent afternoon Studio Art and Art served on the Long Range Planning and a strong manager, sensitive to the History Workshops. These are designed Committee and as the first officers in the range of opinions represented on the for students who seek guidance as they new governance structure. Frueh served Board and in the membership, and com- approach the job market for positions in as Board liaison to Art Journal’s editorial mitted to CAA’s development. CONTINUED ON PAGE 20 board. Friese remains on the Publications Implementing the current strategic plan Task Force. We thank them all warmly has truly been a team effort, but every CAA News is published six times per year by the College Art Association, 275 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY for their service. team needs a good captain. For the past 10001; www.collegeart.org At its February 2002 meeting, the two years, Bebe Baird has been our cap- Editor-in-Chief Susan Ball Board elected six new officers. All tain. I’d like to take this opportunity to Managing Editor Christopher Howard Graphic Designer Tom Brydelsky elected officers serve a one-year term thank her once again, and to say how Material for inclusion should be sent via email to (renewable once), with the exception of pleased I am that she will remain on the Christopher Howard at [email protected]. Black- the president, who serves a two-year, Board for 2002–3, a year that promises and-white photographs may be submitted to the above street address for consideration. They nonrenewable term. Each of the vice many new accomplishments for CAA.