Aspen Arts Conversations with Major Museum Directors Thelma Golden and Adam Weinberg

The Arts Program at the Roosevelt House on 65th held a very interesting talk with Thelma Golden, Dir & Chief Curator of the Studio Museum and Adam Weinberg Dir of the Whitney.  It was moderated by Damian Wetzel, Dir of the Aspen Instit Arts Prog.  Both Golden & Weinberg were engaged in a lively, candid discussion of the passion, privilege & power they feel in their prestigious positions Directors of the Studio Museum & the Whitney, respectively.  Both expressed their commitment to represent both the community & the artists with respect to what they bring to their "Institutions."  Firstly,  the term "Institution" was dismissed. It doesn't align with how they want the Studio & Whitney to be regarded.  The Museums are intended as a safe, welcoming public space.  Part of their mission is to support & represent artists.  Weinberg conceded to "glamour" in his position with exposure to artists & curators.  But, he maintains the ideal for the Whitney "to be a safe place for unsafe ideas - an arena for for conversation." Golden said the Studio "is a neighbor in the community that is up front with the idea of what a Museum can be."  Ms Golden stated the Studio's mission has always been to present works by African Amer artists who have been under represented in major museums.  The talk centered around the ways in which art is a major factor in affecting social change, providing new ways to challenge the status quo.  Weinberg explained the design of the Whitney was to provide a 360 view around the city, exposure looking into the building and realizing inside the building you are inbedded in NYC. "museum behavior" is being question & aimed at being flexible; allowing people to absorb works indidivudally.  To remain, faithful to their creative visions, they agreed every choice matters. "It's important to give art primary possibilities for openness for the future."