Letter to the Editor

An edited version of what’s below was published on Thursday as a letter to the editor of the Post-Standard in response to Katherine Rushworth’s article. Nancy is passionate about pointing out that our presence as a temporary art gallery is indicative of a progressing environment for the arts in Syracuse. The fact that we exist is a positive sign of what’s to come. This brings up an interesting point.

As the gallery comes to a close (our closing reception is this Friday from 5-8 p.m. and our last day open is Aug. 1), how do you feel about our temporary nature? Many many people have expressed their sorrow to see us go, but it has also been a wonderful experience to exist even for a short while. Dean Potter, who has a way with words, described it as a performance. I like that idea… a performance in terms of weeks instead of hours. What do you think? Are we a positive sign of what’s to come or is it still frustrating because we can’t sustain ourselves? What is your hope?

-Courtney

To the editor:

I read Kathryn Rushworth’s latest Sunday art column in “Stars” with very mixed feelings.

First, it’s terrific she acknowledges Contemporary Gallery’s exhibit, “Whimsy: Celebrating the Power of ‘Why Not?’” I too enjoyed the warm standing room-only welcome this engaging and well-mounted show got on opening night, and the gallery’s frequent events are a savvy use of its space.

But Contemporary’s short life-span isn’t a sign Syracuse is a tight-fisted backwater. Rather, intentionally seasonal galleries are a sign of the diversification of art venues that begins to occur when communities actually achieve the status of “art towns.” They abound in places that are already precisely the kind of “destination” that local planners hope Syracuse will be.

Rushworth is correct that the local art scene shows disturbing underlying financial wobbliness despite burgeoning multimillion-dollar development plans that hinge on the arts. Some independent conventional galleries and organizations are having a hard time. We have not yet as a community looked deeply beyond plans for luring tourist dollars to ask harder questions. Beyond faith in the trickle-down theory, how will we make sure our local artists can make a living? How can we develop local art collection so that nationally-known artists who already live here will also exhibit here? How do we expect to grow the audience for all this art when mainstream media’s trend is toward shrinking arts coverage? Meanwhile, Contemporary Gallery is one exciting sign of life.

Nancy Keefe Rhodes