MCA Denver director to lead ICA Boston, Utah artist who formed 21st-century art salon dies, and more top Southwest art news headlines for December 2024.
News
Influential Salt Lake City artist and philanthropist Pilar Pobil dies at 98:
Spanish-born painter and sculptor Pilar Pobil, whose vibrant artworks and philanthropic efforts transformed her Salt Lake City home into a hub for artists, passed away on November 13 at 98 years old. “People say I paint everything, but that’s not true,” Pobil told 15 Bytes in 2019. “I only paint things that are not already beautiful.”
Guy Cross, founder of SWC precursor THE Magazine, passes away at 84:
Guy Cross, founder and longtime publisher of Santa Fe’s THE Magazine, died in mid-November at 84 years old. Cross sold the publication, which he founded with his wife Judith in 1992, to Lauren Tresp in 2016. Tresp subsequently shifted to a regional focus by launching Southwest Contemporary. A year after the sale of THE, Kathryn Davis reported on several creative projects Cross was cultivating. Of his semi-retirement, he said, “I learned a little bit of kindness. It’s about time, right? It’s not important what you want; it’s what you need. If you live within your needs, not your wants, it’s a simpler life.”
Art project led by formerly unhoused Denverites to debut in March:
Through an Arts in Society grant, artist Emma Balder is guiding residents of Denver’s Saint Francis Apartments—individuals who have experienced homelessness—in creating a five-foot canvas boulder representing their struggles and resilience; the artwork, part of the Heard to be Seen, Seen to be Heard project, will appear in downtown Denver next spring. “I’m loving it. I’m overwhelmed. I’m anxious. I’m happy,” said resident Dexter Kennon about participating in the project.
Leonardo Drew’s first Phoenix Art Museum commission unveiled:
The Men’s Art Council has funded a new permanent, site-specific work by acclaimed artist Leonardo Drew for the Phoenix Art Museum, marking the museum’s first such commission in two decades and the first of Drew’s works in its collection. Included in the museum’s current exhibition The Collection: 1960–Now, the towering piece utilizes natural materials subjected to transformative processes to reflect on cycles of decay and renewal. Born in Tallahassee, Florida, and based in Brooklyn, New York, Drew began exhibiting his art at thirteen years old and is now featured in prestigious collections like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Tate London.
Grants and Awards
Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber Honors IAIA President with “Dr. Robert Martin Day”:
On November 8, Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber officially proclaimed “Dr. Robert Martin Day” to honor Robert Martin (Cherokee Nation), president of the Institute of American Indian Arts, for his significant contributions to Indigenous education and the arts. Martin has led IAIA since 2007 and was recently awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Joseph R. Biden.
New Mexico Museum of Art’s Sarah Zurik named Art Educator of the Year:
The New Mexico Art Education Association has honored New Mexico Museum of Art educator and volunteer coordinator Sarah Zurik with the Museum Education Art Educator of the Year Award. Zurik has been with NMMA for over two years, previously working in education at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum for twelve years.
Utah’s annual statewide exhibition announces award winners:
Utah Arts & Museums has unveiled the winners of the Statewide Annual UT ’24 exhibition, on view at Ogden Contemporary Arts. Ashley Bautista secured Best in Show with Que Sueñes Con Los Angelitos, and Scout Invie garnered the OCA Choice Award for The Wild West (Real Estate). The exhibition, featuring diverse works in craft, photography, video, and digital art, is open through January 12, 2025.
Southwest-focused writer among recipients of Andy Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Grant:
The Andy Warhol Foundation has announced the recipients of its 2024 Arts Writers Grant, awarding a total of $945,000 to an international slate of thirty writers. Among the winners is Caroline Eaton Tracey, a Mexico City-based writer who covers the environment, migration, and the arts in the American Southwest, Mexico, and their borderlands. She will receive a grant in the Short-Form Writing category.
Leadership Changes and Appointments
MCA Denver director Nora Burnett Abrams appointed to lead ICA Boston:
After a notable fifteen-year tenure at MCA Denver, including four years as director, Nora Burnett Abrams will depart on April 1, 2025, to accept the directorship at the Institute of Contemporary Art Boston. Abrams wrote in the November 20 announcement, “I believe so deeply in MCA Denver and the work we do: centering artists, prioritizing teens and their creativity, and collaborating with the incredible staff and Board who make the magic happen.”
Dallas Museum of Art director Agustín Arteaga to step down after eight years:
Agustín Arteaga, who has led the Dallas Museum of Art since 2016, will depart his role as director on December 31, 2024. Arteaga spearheaded significant initiatives during his tenure, including establishing a $1 million fund for Latin American art.
Jane Burke named executive director of Denver’s Union Hall:
Union Hall has appointed Jane Burke as executive director of the nonprofit arts space located in the mixed-use condominium complex The Coloradan in downtown Denver. Burke brings extensive experience from roles at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art and the Denver Art Museum.
Danyelle Means promoted to executive director of Santa Fe’s MIAC:
After serving as interim director for eight months, Danyelle Means (Oglala Lakota) has been named executive director of the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture in Santa Fe.
Museum of International Folk Art announces key appointments:
The Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe has announced the appointment of Kyle Olmon as the head of the Bartlett Library and Archives and Patricia Perea as director of education and outreach. Olmon brings experience from Christie’s auction house, while Perea is a published poet, weaver, and quilter with a PhD in American Studies.
