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# Week in Review: Biden and Harris’s Stance on the Arts; Met Museum’s First Curator of Native American Art
- URL: https://hyperallergic.com/week-in-review-biden-and-harriss-stance-on-the-arts-met-museums-first-curator-of-native-american-art/
- Published: 2020-09-11T11:00:46.000Z
- Updated: 2025-11-24T16:38:50.000Z
- Description: Also, the Everson Museum of Art will sell its prized Jackson Pollock to buy works by underrepresented artists, and more.
- Author: Jasmine Weber
- Tags: News, Week in Review, #wp, #wp-post, #image-position-hidden, #Import 2025-11-24 07:41 (2019, 2020, part 2)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/kamala-biden-1.jpg)

*Week in Review is a weekly collection of news, developments, and stirrings in the art world.* [*Subscribe*](https://hyperallergic.com/newsletters?utm%5Fsource=page&utm%5Fcampaign=artmovements) *to receive these posts as a weekly newsletter.*

Curious about **Joe Biden** and **Kamala Harris**‘s histories with the arts? Hyperallergic looked at the [Democratic candidates’ **track record in the cultural sector**](https://hyperallergic.com/joe-biden-kamala-harris-arts/), from legislative achievements to museum affiliations and personal support of the arts.

**Glenn Dubin**, chairman of the **Museum of Modern Art**, is the second MoMA trustee who will be [subpoenaed by the Virgin Islands](https://hyperallergic.com/virgin-islands-glenn-dubin-subpoena/) in connection to his ties to **Jeffrey Epstein**.

During a live-streamed Board of Trustees meeting held by the **San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)**, former and current workers confronted the museum’s trustees and management with [scathing accusations of inequity and structural racism](https://hyperallergic.com/sfmoma-workers-call-for-major-reform-during-during-public-board-meeting/).

This weekend, listeners gathered to hear the [14th chord change of a **John Cage** concert](https://hyperallergic.com/a-ceremonial-chord-change-for-john-cages-639-year-long-concert/) that began in 2001 and will run until 2640.

On Labor Day, adjunct and full-time faculty at the **University of the Arts in Philadelphia** [announced their union efforts](https://hyperallergic.com/philadelphia-university-of-the-arts-union-announcement/) and rallied outside the school to ask the university to voluntarily recognize their union. David Yager, President and CEO of the University of the Arts (UArts) in Philadelphia, later [declined](https://hyperallergic.com/uarts-denies-to-voluntarily-recognize-union/) to voluntarily recognize the union.

Acclaimed filmmaker and activist **Ava DuVernay** is partnering with **Signature African Art** to [present a two-part exhibition](https://hyperallergic.com/ava-duvernay-partners-with-gallery-for-exhibition-benefitting-law-enforcement-accountability-organization/), called *Say My Name,* featuring work by African artists reflecting on the Black diaspora in Europe and the United States.

The **Everson Museum of Art** in Syracuse, New York [plans to sell its prized **Jackson Pollock** painting](https://hyperallergic.com/587521/transactions-1/) to acquire work by underrepresented artists. Made in a significant year for Pollock, “Red Composition” (1946) is among the first works to feature the artist’s hallmark drip technique; it is expected to sell for between $12 and 18 million.

## Awards & Accolades

The **Association of Art Museum Curators Foundation** announced the selected participants for its 2020 Mentorship Program: **Andrea Alvarez**, **Alejo Benedetti**, **Kristen Gaylord**, **Shoko Haruki**, **Joanna Lee**, **Mia Lopez**, **Ksenia Nouril**, **Margaret Shortle**, **Akili Tommasino**, and **Diva Zumaya.**

**Widline Cadet, Genesis Jerez, Texas Isaiah,** and **Jacolby Satterwhite** were selected as participants in the **Studio Museum in Harlem’s 2020-21 Artist-in-Residence** program. Satterwhite will be the first artist selected for a mid-career mentorship component of the residency.

**The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council** announced its 2020 residents at its Arts Center at Governors Island: **Sherwin Banfield, Juan Hinojosa, Kate Hughes, Ann Kim, Eleanor Kipping, Daniel Kukla, Erica Molesworth, Lovie Pignata, Tony Sjoman, Ian Tousius,** and **André Zachery.**

**José Roca** was appointed artistic director of the **23rd Biennale of Sydney**. | [*Sydney Morning Herald*](https://www.smh.com.au/culture/art-and-design/colombian-curator-named-for-sydney-s-2022-biennale-20200908-p55tm8.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)

**Peter Williams** was awarded the **Artists’ Legacy Foundation**‘s 2020 Artist Award.

## Transitions

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/patricia-marroquin-norby_photo-by-scott-rosenthal-scaled-e1599665704625.jpg)

**Gail Harrity**, president and chief operating officer of the **Philadelphia Museum of Art**, will step down in 2021\. | [*Philadelphia Inquirer*](https://www.inquirer.com/news/pma-gail-harrity-stepping-down-retire-philadelphia-20200904.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)

**Patricia Marroquin Norby** was elected the first full-time curator of Native American art at the **Metropolitan Museum of Art**. | [Hyperallergic](https://hyperallergic.com/patricia-marroquin-norby-metropolitan-museum/)

**W. Richard West, Jr.** will retire as President and CEO of the **Autry Museum**. He will be succeeded by **Stephen Aron.**

**Diya** **Vij** was named Associate Curator at **Creative Time.**

**Obituaries**

Forrest Fenn (1930–2020), art dealer famous for his notorious treasure hunt in the Rocky Mountains | [Deadline](https://deadline.com/2020/09/forrest-fenn-dead-treasure-hunt-1234572993/?ref=hyperallergic.com)

Gary Peacock (1935–2020), jazz bassist | [Pitchfork](https://pitchfork.com/news/jazz-bassist-gary-peacock-dead-at-85/?ref=hyperallergic.com)

Neelanshu Shukla (1990–2020), television journalist in India | [*New York Times*](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/08/obituaries/neelanshu-shukla-dead-coronavirus.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)

Diana Rigg (1938–2020), actress in theater, television, and film known for her roles on *The Avengers* and *Game of Thrones* | [*New York Times*](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/10/obituaries/diana-rigg-dead.html?auth=login-google&ref=hyperallergic.com)

Cecilia Romo (1945–2020), television actress in Mexico | [*New York Times*](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/08/obituaries/cecilia-romo-dead-coronavirus.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)