Kate Fowle, who became director of MoMAPS1 in 2019 and had little opportunity to lead the museum as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, suddenly announced on Friday that she would resign from the museum in Long Island City. , Queens.
“This was a great opportunity to lead MoMA PS1 in the last (almost) three years and work with you along with the board, patrons and funders,” she said in an email to staff. .. “I want you to know that I have deep respect and praise for you, and that I am incredibly proud of all the work we have accomplished together.”
She gave no reason for her departure and declined the request for comment. However, one who knows of the situation where he spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not allowed to speak publicly, Fowle recently did her job during a meeting with museum presidents Sarah Arison and Glenn D. Lowry. He said he stated it was difficult to manage. Director of MoMA.
Nevertheless, MoMA PS1 enjoyed its benefits GalaHeld on May 18th, in honor of Agnes Gund, the former chairman of MoMAPS1. The president continues to serve on the boards of the Museum and MoMA. This was the first time a gala was held in the MoMA PS1 courtyard.
Just two months ago, in an interview with The New York Times, Foule focused on working with the neighboring Queens community, emphasizing social justice issues, and providing the museum with a website. I gave an overview of the ambitious plan to open up. Independent of MoMA.
In a statement, Allison called Fowle a “talented curator and director.”
“Kate pilots an innovative model of community engagement, diversifying the use of buildings and their courtyards, deepening connections with the Queens and New York communities, and PS1’s commitment and role as an artist-centric institution. We have strengthened, “Alison added. “We all have a great deal of admiration and respect for Kate — including her incredible work ethic and artistic vision.”
Fowle has stated in his staff that he will continue to be a co-curator of an exhibition of recent works by Puerto Rican artist Daniel Lind-Ramos, which is scheduled to open in April next year. Move the project forward. “
The interim leadership team will be headed by Deputy Director Jose Ortiz. Molly Crusius, Governor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Under the guidance of Allison and Raleigh, the museum curator Luba Catrib.
“I am grateful for everything she has done for the MoMA PS1 and hope she will be a huge success no matter what she does next,” Laurie said in an email.
“She put the community and the artist first,” Gand said in an interview. “She tried to make it work.”
Gand told the Times in April that he wanted MoMA PS1 to be independent of MoMA. Fowle at the time said he did not agree with the analogy that his facility was a child and MoMA was a parent, but did not share that view. “I’m looking at relationships in terms of collective influence,” she said.
However, officials from both museums say there has been a long-standing tension between the two institutions as MoMA is more powerful and continues to control PS1.
MoMA’s operating budget is quite large (about $ 300 million), accounting for 25% of PS1’s $ 8 million budget. This includes 10% of operational support and 15% of discretionary donations from MoMA trustees and related groups.
PS1 — which has focused on experimental contemporary art since 1971 — provides MoMA with an additional programmatic aspect.
Those who have worked closely with British-born Fowle were surprised by the announcement. “I’m surprised,” said Jimmy Van Brammer, a former chairman of the New York City Council’s Cultural Affairs Committee. “She was a true thought leader and I thought she did great things at the museum. I’m sure she’s missing.”
Came to MoMAPS1 from Garage Museum of Contemporary Art In Moscow, where she was the chief curator, Foule was the first director appointed from outside the museum. Her predecessor, Klaus Wiesenbach, started as a curator in 1995 and was taken over by the museum’s founder Alanna Heiss in 2010. The museum, which has been called the PS1 Contemporary Art Center since its establishment in 1976, merged with MoMA in 2000 and changed its name to MoMA PS1 in 2010.
Fowle, who took the position of director shortly before the pandemic, had to fight the financial losses that challenged all cultural institutions during the blockade. MoMA PS1 needed to reduce its staff from 64 to 17 (and then back to 55).
By leading the museum in a more progressive direction, Foule was widely seen as a prominent departure from Biesenbach, who gave the museum’s celebrities a cashier.
Local activists said they were grateful for the increased openness of MoMA PS1 to its social objectives: the creation of a homeroom gallery, an exhibition space curated by community groups. Fowle has also contacted Queensbridge Houses, the country’s largest public housing project.
She more physically welcomed the museum to the community and oversaw efforts to create breaks on the exterior walls and add equipment to keep the courtyard open when the building was closed. Last year, the city approved $ 9 million in capital for the project.