The Human Condition: The Stephen and Pamela Hootkin Collection Sept. 2014 | Page 56
I couldn’t pick one piece because for me the whole is far
greater than the individual parts. The whole is just exciting,
a wonderful plus. It’s impossible to choose.
and look at a show, it’s great. Museums have the ability to
PH: I always joke that in our business careers we were
assemble works from various sources—from collectors, from
two “suits.” We both worked in finance in a very traditional,
other museums—and put on a wonderful show of work
conservative environment. At the end of the business
by a particular artist. But then when I come back to our
day we would put our suits aside and enter into a very
own living space, I am so happy and feel so invigorated to
different world that was in many ways antithetical to the
see again the work that
business careers we
we have. It’s a different
had. It really broadened
scale than a museum.
our perspective.
PH: For me, the museum
RP: You have very
experience is a museum
developed taste in art.
experience. Home is
Are there things you still
where the heart is.
want to do in terms of
collecting?
RP: I very much feel that
SH: We’ve slowed
your home with the art
has become your identity,
not only individually but as
a couple. Everything is so
down. There are one
Stephen and Pamela Hootkin (left) with Michael Lucero (right) at Michael Lucero
Installation, an exhibition at the Chazen Museum of Art May 10–August 18, 2013.
The Hootkins acquired fifteen of the seventeen figures in the show and presented
them to the Chazen.
shared. To know you one
entice us. A number of
years ago, we learned
must experience your home and the collection it contains.
that someone in Switzerland owned a piece that we had
You are both highly successful business professionals. For
been looking for for ten years. It was the Jesus figure by
many people their public identities are based on their
Michael Lucero. A dealer in Seattle who knew that we
professions. Although I’ve known you for several years, it
have a major interest in work by this artist called and asked,
is interesting to me that we never talk about your business.
“Would you have any interest in this particular piece?”
We talk about your art. I am inclined to conclude that, for
When he told me the name of the piece and described it I
you, your profession is merely a way of making a living, but
the art collecting is who you really are.
held my breath. I didn’t want to appear too excited. He sent
us the image and indeed this was the piece we had been
SH: Some might say it’s a split personality. People we
looking for. So by accident, because people knew about
are friendly with through business who barely knew that
our interest in ceramics, we were able to acquire it. But I
we collected art would come to the loft and be shocked.
would say that recently we’ve slowed down considerably.
They couldn’t figure out how our business persona
matched with the art that they saw here. For them it
just didn’t mesh. Some people still can’t figure it out.
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or two pieces that still
PH: I can’t think of a specific piece on our wish list
right now. Given where we are in life, we are slowing