September 2004		Vol. 23 No. 7
A publication of the International Sculpture Center

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From the Chairman

There is much news to report this month. First, Maria Pallante-Hyun has decided to resign as Director and President of the ISC and to return to the Guggenheim, a position she had difficulty leaving. In departing, she expressed pride in having been affiliated with the ISC, albeit for a short period of time, and she has the highest regard and hopes for our organization. We were disappointed that she arrived at this decision—disappointed but not discouraged.

We remain committed to take the time necessary to search again for the perfect person to lead the ISC. Recent experience taught us much about the characteristics essential to leading the ISC to an entirely new level. At the top of that list is superb leadership. We need someone who can communicate to both our members and the broader art world, someone to develop new resources for the ISC and to manage our financial affairs conservatively. We once again ask for your ideas. If you know of a qualified individual please e-mail me at RDuncan@sculpture.org with the name, a brief background, and contact information.

The ISC office remains under the able leadership of our Associate Director Mary Catherine Johnson. To strengthen and provide support to Mary Catherine your Board has asked Board Member Josh Kanter to assume the role of Vice-Chairman. Josh and I will work together to support Mary Catherine and the staff until a new full-time leader is on board.

John Young has served as ISC Vice-Chairman for many years. He has been a rock-solid part of the ISC team and a terrific support for me. John has stayed on as Vice-Chair at my specific request for the last two years, and will now be stepping down. There is no way that we can thank him enough for all that he has contributed to the ISC over the years. But the good news is that John will continue as an ISC Board member and member of the Executive Committee, and we will continue to seek his advice and council.

In early June six ISC Board members attended the launch of the ISC-E, a new organization committed to supporting the ISC while developing special programs and initiatives specific to Europe. It was a great weekend of art and friendship in Berlin. The ISC looks forward to working closely with the ISC-E as it undertakes a major effort to recruit new European members. Please see page 80 for photos and details.

The 2004 Student Awards program is shaping up as our best ever. We had a record number of submissions, and the jury has chosen 22 winners and 10 honorable mentions. The winners’ work will be exhibited at Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, New Jersey, October 9, 2004–May 1, 2005. I want to thank the record number of university sculpture programs and their faculty who nominated their top students. I also want to thank Grounds For Sculpture for once again partnering with the ISC to make this program a success.

The next 18 months will be the most exciting and event-filled time for the ISC in memory. We invite you to join us for as many of these activities as possible. For more information please visit <www.sculpture.org>. Here is a brief recap of what is ahead: Spiral Jetty Weekend in Salt Lake City (September 17–18, 2004); Fall Sculpture Symposium & Patron Gala Honoring Sydney & Walda Besthoff in New Orleans (October 29–31, 2004); the 20th International Sculpture Conference in Cincinnati (June 6–11, 2005); and the 2005 Lifetime Achievement Award Gala Honoring Magdalena Abakanowicz in New York City (October 20, 2005).

I have said it before but it bears repeating—the ISC is a solid organization with a great future. Membership is growing, and your Board is strong and fully engaged. This is your organization—tell us how we can improve and what we can do to serve you better.

Robert Duncan
Chairman, ISC Board of Directors

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