Re: [UC] Out of the Ivory Tower and Into the Streets

[Anthony West]

           /The Mennonites: Photographs by Larry Towell/ just opened at 
Arthur Ross Gallery on Penn campus, at 220 S. 34^th St. This 
black-and-white collection represents 10 years of work with a specific 
community that spans two nations. It combines an artistic effort with 
skill at ethnography and a concern for communities being buffeted by 
contemporary global economic pressures. It is at once lush and spare, 
honest and moving.
           The Towell exhibit was organized in part by Magnum, a 
business agency for fine-arts photographers. It is on tour now; its last 
stop was Paris.
           One of half a dozen different galleries on Penn campus, 
Arthur Ross is in the Fine Arts Library building. Although small, it is 
the only exhibition space with license to range across every artform at 
will.
           It is entirely owned by the University of Pennsylvania but 
independent of any department, explained Associate Director Dejáy B. 
Duckett. Its bedrock funding consists of a dedicated endowment by a 
single large donor around 30 years ago. This pays for organizational 
functions, carried out by a salaried staff of three together with 
contract work like UC-list's own Ray Rorke, who prepares vinyl exhibit 
signage for AG on demand, for pay. "He's very talented," said Sara 
Stewart, gallery coordinator.
           However, the cost of ARG's exhibits (which number in 2007) 
is entirely borne by large and mid-sized private grantors. This money 
comes from in part from a stable of sources; most are other branches of 
Penn but many are independent donors. During any one year, a half-dozen 
different ones may be tapped.
           ARG draws heavily from a support group, Friends of Arthur 
Ross Gallery. Long headed by the famed Broadway actress Kitty Carlisle 
Hart, who recently died, FoARG covers an essential component of ARG's 
ongoing program of exhibits. It has no internet page, no public meetings 
and can only be contacted through personal reference.
           Exact fiscal numbers are not available. Because ARG is a 
branch of Penn, all of its budget details are confidential, as are 
minutes of all its organizational meetings. Its 2007 activity ranges 
between $100,000 and $1 million, Duckett suggested.
           ARG is committed to carrying out the agenda of all its 
grantors, Duckett affirmed. If a grantor comes with an exhibit in mind 
that fits ARG criteria and needs, ARG will gladly consider it. ARG has 
never rejected a grant for political or other reasons, Duckett said.
           Some of the time, though, grantwork flows the other way. 
Exhibits seek out the Gallery, which then seeks out familiar sources to 
cover the expenses.
           The ultimate grantor for ARG is the University of 
Pennsylvania, which directly salaries all its employees. It is Penn's 
agenda that rules. Every exhibit must be hooked into an educational and 
artistic mission that involves and enhances some other branch of Penn.
           There is no corresponding commitment for ARG to represent 
the University City or West Philadelphia community. The Gallery holds no 
public meetings and provides no internet services to facilitate 
community feedback or input into its shows, at this time. It is about to 
launch a listserve, however.
That does not mean the Gallery is closed to community contacts. "The 
best way for anyone to explore anything like that," said Duckett, "is to 
contact me and arrange a personal meeting with me."
           Marketing and publicity is crucial to ARG's mission. It 
pushes out press releases through Penn News, the university's PR 
department, but has no further resources beyond its own staff time.
           The current exhibit is a good example. A Penn intern, Liz 
Frasco, contacted a wide array of Pennsylvania Mennonite churches, 
schools and cultural institutions to publicize the Towell show. One of 
her contacts was the University City Mennonite congregation. "Their 
administrative assistant did express concern that the title of the 
exhibit was misleading," Duckett related. Most Mennonites, in particular 
the Mennonites of University City, live a very different life from that 
portrayed in Towell's photography. They are multi-ethnic, with churches 
in Chinese and Spanish as well as English. German is little spoken in 
this city. Philadelphia Mennonites seek to function conventionally in 
the urban environment where they live.
           Towell's work, however, is devoted to one branch of 
Mennonism labeled the 'Old Colony Mennonites'. This community settled in 
Russia 300 years ago, leaving behind a German-speaking homeland. 
Whenever times turned tough for this group, from 1890 to 1990, most 
emigrated, first to Canada, then to Mexico, then back to Canada, always 
looking for viable agricultural land. The carefully curated exhibit 
makes clear the complex and shifting social boundaries of the particular 
group Towell worked with.
           Towell will be present at a reception at the Gallery on sep 
11, from 5 to 8pm. The public is invited to meet him in person.
           One other community service should be noted. The Gallery is 
available for small banquet or party space rental. Contact Stewart at 
[EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> for more information.

-- Tony West