Like you, I was stunned by the events of September 11, and relieved simply that
we would be able to continue to function as an organization, doing what we do best, providing a forum for dialogue in the visual
arts. Each of us has been touched by the trauma. But we remain more committed than ever to continuing our mission to serve
visual artists, both as a protest against the recent insanity and as an affirmation of the healing power of art.
So, once again, we are presenting a full season of panels and one-on-one dialogues to you. Molly Barnes and her programming
committee members have really outdone themselves in putting together the winter/spring 2002 series of panels and dialogues.
Responding to the events of the fall, they have programmed a panel on the plans for a World Trade Center memorial, called
"Expressions of Loss," on March 1st. And, an open slide night, April 19th, devoted exclusively to artist's reactions to the sad
events. Be sure to attend both.
On February 15th "Women and Expressionism" brings artists Brenda Goodman, Louise Fishman, Joan Snyder and curator
Joel Silverstein to our table, moderated by George Rada. March 8th brings noted illustrators Natalie Ascenios, Dan Adel and
Peter deSeve and Terry Brown, director of the Society of Illustrators, to a panel moderated by Norma Greenwood. If you believe
that realism is alive and well, you will want to join us on April 5th, when Philip Pearlstein and other significant realist artists are
led through their paces by critic, Joel Silverstein. Leading art magazine editors will address "Getting the Word Out" on April
12th. Robert Dash tells Patricia Hamilton how to get rid of "Artist's Block," on April 26th. After surviving blockage, you might
want to consider artistic collaboration, which is the subject of our May 3rd panel with moderator Lance Fung, and artists Chuck
Glickman, Ginger Andro, Agnes Denes, Jene Highstein, Richard Humann and Joshua Selman and Village Voice critic and art
historian, Kim Levin.
The 2002 Curator's Choice competition is well under way, with entries due in by April 28th. The slides will be curated by Kim
Foster of the Kim Foster Gallery in Chelsea and a show of the five winners held at the 450 Broadway Galley in Soho opening on
Friday, October 18th, 2002. The winners will appear on a panel on May 17th, 2002, moderated by Kim Foster.
Our sucessful December fundraising letter showed us that many of you really care about our survival. To those of you who
made generous donations, thank you. If you missed the letter, why not purchase an annual pass? It would help us carry on and
it entitles you to a year's free admission as well as to participation in the group health plan.
I look forward to seeing you on a Friday evening soon.
Doug Sheer
