then I realized, it’ s probably better for me to just finish what I’ ve started, and I actually felt that there was some advantage to be gained by embracing my nontraditional route rather than going backwards to fill in,” she says.
Gilman finished her MFA and began applying to Ph. D. programs in art history, but most of them declined her applications.“ Case Western Reserve decided, probably because they are associated with the Cleveland Museum of Art and are very heavy on museum practice, that they would take a chance on me. And that’ s how I ended up moving into the museum field,” she says.“ You know when something is right, and that is how I’ ve approached the rest of my career.”
It was just this sort of informed intuition that brought Gilman to the Chazen.“ Although the Chazen was certainly on my radar, I didn’ t immediately think,‘ Yes, that’ s the one’,” she says.“ In many ways, I had to take a little journey, but after visiting, it became very, very, clear to me that this was the place.”
While Chazen faithful are eager to know her plans for the museum, Gilman spent her first semester listening and learning, with dozens of meetings, receptions, and lunches, and trips across campus and across the country.
“ My goal has been to ask a lot of questions in order to free up everyone’ s thinking,” she says.“ We will have an actual plan, but in the shorter term, I don’ t think we can develop a plan that is as transformative as I hope for, if we don’ t start from a place of real experimentation. And that includes questioning current assumptions about how we serve our current visitors, and of course the larger community.”
Valuable Support
To carry out its mission, the Chazen Museum of Art depends on the valuable support of individuals, businesses, and private foundations, as well as government grants and funds from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.
The following individuals and organizations deserve special recognition for their recent support of Chazen Museum of Art programs and exhibitions March – September, 2017.
Lauren Blough Lois Bradbury Christopher Cold Mary Ann Cook James Herman Bernard Hotzel Kay Jarvis-Sladky Joan Jones Heidi J. Knapp Anne E. Kunen William N. Lane Meri Lau Stephen Lowry Lydia K. Feidler Trust John Martens Jeanne M. Parus Sarah W. Potts Bill Reedy Gary Schultz Laura Simon Thomas E. Terry The University League, Inc.
Chuck Bauer and Chuck Beckwith
Linda and Niles Berman Anne Bolz Paula Bonner and Ann Schaffer Richard E. Brock Joyce Bromley
Martin and Lorraine Cadwallader
Grace Chosy Bernard C. Cohen
Daniel and Carole Doeppers James and Sandra Fitzpatrick Marc and Eve Galanter Janice Golay Robert and Linda Graebner John and Carol Green Linda Gunkel Philip and Mary Jane Hamilton Tim Heggland and Mary Behan Ellen & Peter O. Johnson Maureen Kind Paula and David Kraemer Beth Kubly Anne Lambert Yuhang Li Anne Lucke Corinne Magnoni Rona Malofsky Marjon B. Ornstein Steven N. Orso Lee Pondrom Carol S. Pylant Dan Ramirez Sheryl Renslo Toni and Donald Richards Nina Rogers John and Sarah Schaffer Ellen Seuferer and Dick Tatman Ben and Judy Sidran Joel Skornicka Richard and Ann Solomon Dr. Andrew Laurie Stangel Ken and Colleen Statz
Martha Taylor Thomas E. Terry Andreé Valley Kim Vergeront David and Judith Ward Nancy Webster Phyllis Holman Weisbard Mary Alice Wimmer Kristine Zickuhr Mike Carpenter Peter Quilling Jim Escalante D. Frederick Baker
Dr. Michael R Bernhard & Ms Nancy Doll
Helen & Mark Burish Jane T. Coleman Jerome and Simona Chazen Betty & James C. Custer Timothy B. Erdman
Prof. Willy Haeberli & Dr. Gabriele S. Haberland
Stephen & Pamela Hootkin Frank R Horlbeck Richard & Jean D. McKenzie Joan B. Mirviss Frederic & Mary M. Mohs Emily B. Nissley Donald & Diana Ryan Jay & Patricia H. Smith Michael W. Stout Harry Roth
15 artscene January – June, 2018