LACMA GETS NEW DIRECTOR.Byline: Valerie Kuklenski Staff Writer The Los Angeles County Museum of Art The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, also known as LACMA, is the official and world-renowned art museum of the County of Los Angeles, California, located on Wilshire Boulevard along Museum Row in the Miracle Mile vicinity of Los Angeles. on Friday named Michael J. Govan, a shaker and mover of the New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of contemporary art scene, as its new director and chief executive officer. Govan, head of the Dia Art Foundation Dia Art Foundation, American foundation that supports contemporary art and artists, est. 1974 by art dealer Heiner Friedrich and his wife, art patron Philippa de Menil. in New York, replaces Andrea Rich, who retired in November as president and director. Govan, 42, brings with him not only a solid background in contemporary art, which LACMA LACMA Los Angeles County Museum of Art LACMA Los Angeles County Medical Association LACMA Latin American and Caribbean Movers Association is expected to focus on in the coming years, but also success in fundraising and construction with the creation and 2003 opening of DIA:Beacon, the new home of the foundation's permanent collection of art dating from the 1960s to the present. ``We are so pleased to have Michael join LACMA at this pivotal moment in its history,'' said Nancy Daly Riordan, chairwoman of the board of trustees board of trustees Politics The posse of thugs who oversee an institution's administration. See Board of directors. . ``He has a keen understanding of the institution, its rich and varied collections and programs, and its vital regional, national and international roles as an encyclopedic en·cy·clo·pe·dic adj. 1. Of, relating to, or characteristic of an encyclopedia. 2. Embracing many subjects; comprehensive: "an ignorance almost as encyclopedic as his erudition" museum and public institution. ``He is a modern-day renaissance man Renaissance man n. A man who has broad intellectual interests and is accomplished in areas of both the arts and the sciences. Noun 1. who possesses tremendous intelligence, skills, interests and passion for art from different disciplines and eras.'' Govan could not be reached Friday, but in a statement he said, ``Tremendous opportunities exist to build upon the successes of the past four decades. This starts with the collection and identifying innovative approaches to present these artworks with a special relevance to the region.'' Govan also said he would like to give greater exposure to the works of extraordinary local artists through LACMA. ``I'm so excited about this. Michael Govan is very hip, very cool,'' said one L.A. art expert unconnected to LACMA. ``He's one of those bright stars of the art world, and he's very young.'' Govan arrives at LACMA in March as work is gearing up on its three-phase expansion and renovation, including the new Broad Contemporary Art Museum and redevelopment of LACMA West, the former May Co. site that hosted last year's popular King Tut exhibit. LACMA broke ground on the $145 million first phase, designed by Renzo Piano Renzo Piano (September 14 1937) is a world renowned Italian architect and Pritzker Architecture Prize winner. Biography Piano was born in Genoa, where he still maintains a home and office (Building Workshop). , in January. Eli Broad, the home builder, art patron and LACMA trustee, gave $50 million to the LACMA renovation campaign and is said to have significant clout in decisions about the project as a condition of the gift. Govan already has experience with Broad, whose gifts to the New York institution have qualified him as a member of the Dia Art Council. At Dia, Govan undertook the conversion of a Nabisco factory in Beacon, N.Y., about an hour's drive from Manhattan, to the Dia:Beacon. The foundation's permanent collection nearly doubled in size during his 12-year tenure. Its corporate sponsors include Barnes & Noble, Prada and Starbucks. Prior to joining Dia in 1994, Govan was deputy director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum: see Guggenheim Museum. for six years. He earned a bachelor's degree in art history from Williams College in Massachusetts and also studied at the University of San Diego and in Italy. Valerie Kuklenski, (818) 713-3750 valerie.kuklenski(at)dailynews.com |
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