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PARRISH ART MUSEUM BOARD ELECTS NEW CHAIRMAN Alvin Chereskin has been elected as The Parrish Art Museum's Chairman of the Board of Trustees. A longtime supporter of the Museum and a trustee since 2003, he succeeds Co-Chairs Fiona Druckenmiller and Susan B. Griffin, who will continue as vice-presidents. Alvin's appointment, announced at the December 1st board meeting, took effect in January 2005. Philip H. Isles, Co-Chair of The Parrish's Nominating Committee, notes, "Alvin's contributions to The Parrish are immeasurable. He is a delight to work with and his enthusiasm is contagious. His leadership and passion for the Museum will advance our mission and inspire us as we begin to plan for and shape The Parrish's future." "I am honored to assume the chairmanship of this venerable institution," said Chereskin. "Fiona and Su's distinguished leadership has set an impressive course for The Parrish's future plans and I look forward to working with them, the extraordinary board, the talented staff and Trudy Kramer, who is a remarkable director." Alvin Chereskin's studies at the Art Students League of New York initiated a lifelong interest in the visual arts, artists and museums. He turned to the field of commercial art, working for two of the great innovators in fashion publishing-Alexander Liberman and Alexei Brodovitch. Chereskin also worked as an assistant to the internationally-known poster artist Joseph Binder, and as an assistant to photographer and graphic designer Herbert Matter. A distinguished leader in the advertising and marketing world for twenty-five years, Alvin served as president and creative director of AC&R Advertising Agency, which became part of Ted Bates and was later acquired by Saatchi & Saatchi. At The Parrish Art Museum, Chereskin serves on the Museum's Collection Committee, the Architect Selection Committee, the Landscape Pleasures Committee and chairs the Marketing and Public Relations Committee. He has been deeply engaged for many years as a supporter of the arts and humanitarian causes. Currently, he is co-chair of the Board of Trustees of the Merce Cunningham Dance Foundation in New York City and also serves on the board of the United World Colleges. He and his wife Susan have three children, three grandchildren, and live in New York City and Wainscott TRAVEL WITH THE PARRISH Each year, The Parrish Art Museum hosts special art and cultural tours for Parrish Council and Art Club members. Our unique travel program offers a first-class opportunity to see museums, galleries and artists' studios at home and abroad, where guests enjoy fine hotels, gourmet restaurants, guided tours of cities and cultural institutions and private receptions. Trips in the past have included excursions to London and Berlin. In 2004, savvy travelers toured Moscow and St. Petersburg, where they reveled in the city's remarkable architecture, museums and palaces, visiting the State Hermitage Museum, the Mariinsky Theater (formerly the Kirov), and the Peter and Paul Fortress and the Yusupov Palace. In Moscow, highlights included a trip to the Kremlin to see priceless treasures of the Armoury; a stop at Red Square; a tour of the Tretyakov Art Gallery, which houses 20th-century Russian art; and excursions to Central Art Park, the KGB Building, and the Church of Resurrection. This year, join us for a visit to the newly expanded Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, one of the foremost museums of 20th-century art in the country and the home of the nation's largest urban sculpture garden. We will be among the early visitors to the Walker's newly designed expansion by the Swiss architectural firm of Herzog & de Meuron, already hailed as a great American museum building. Guests on this trip will enjoy a curator's tour of the expanded collection and a private luncheon at the Museum, as well as many other outings and visits to cultural institutions in the city. The Parrish's annual travel program offers members a chance to see renowned works of art, to experience exciting new venues, and to expand their knowledge of art and its history. For additional information on our travel program, please refer to the Membership Section of our newsletter or call the Membership Department at 631-283-2118, ext. 42. BECOME A PARRISH DOCENT The Parrish Art Museum's docents play an essential part in the educational work of the Museum. The term "docent" is derived from the Latin doceo, which means "to teach." These volunteer tour guides help our visitors understand and experience the artwork on view by giving tours and leading discussions. Docent training is held monthly on Tuesday mornings year-round and includes the study of topics in art history as well as an in-depth look at the Museum's collections. The training program also includes touring techniques. No previous experience is required, although a sociable nature and a desire to learn are crucial. Bilingual applicants are especially encouraged. For more information or an application, please contact Cara Conklin-Wingfield, Director of Education, at 631-283-2118, ext. 21. NEW TRUSTEES JOIN THE PARRISH'S BOARD Please join us as we welcome several new members to The Parrish's Board of Trustees. In the fall of 2003, Tim Davis, Stacey Okun-Mindich, Allison Morrow, Lynne Pasculano and Meryl Witmer were elected to serve as new trustees. Joining them in September 2004 were Ira Druckier and David Wassong. Their appointments signify the Museum's continuing efforts to further strengthen and diversify the board at a time when The Parrish is poised for dynamic growth. Director Trudy C. Kramer remarked, "I am delighted that these talented individuals will play a more active role in the institution. Their exceptional qualities and personal expertise will ensure The Parrish's continued stability and future growth. This superb museum and its fine board are advancing admirably and we look forward to setting a course that will enhance our offerings and position The Parrish as the region's premiere cultural institution." Tim Davis A principal in Allan M. Schneider Associates, Inc., Tim Davis has also played an active role in the Museum, spearheading the formation of The Art Club, an innovative level of membership that serves the local community by bringing people together to learn about art. Mr. Davis serves as a trustee of Have a Heart Community Trust, and is founding director of Hanfra Hampton/North Fork Realtor Association. He and his wife Susan have three children and reside in Southampton. Stacey Okun-Mindich Stacey Okun Mindich was formerly a senior editor at Town & Country and now serves as a contributing editor who writes features, profiles and essays for the magazine on a regular basis. She has also written for The New York Times, Newsday, Self, Savvy, Departures and Vogueand is the author of the book Town & Country's Elegant Weddings.A graduate of Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Ms. Mindich currently serves on the University's board. She and her husband, Eric, reside in New York City and Water Mill with their three sons. Allison Morrow For several years, Allison Morrow has been a generous donor to the Museum's major fundraising event, the Midsummer Gala, and is actively involved in the Parrish Council and the Collection Committee. She has had a career on Wall Street for more than 25 years, serving as a Vice President at JP Morgan Chase and as a Senior Vice President in Fixed Income Capital Markets at Lehman Brothers. She and her husband, Jonathan L. Cohen, share an active interest in the arts through their own collecting and affiliations with the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where they are Bryant Fellows. She and her husband live in New York City and Southampton. Lynne Pasculano As a member of the Museum's Collection Committee and through her generous contributions, Lynne Pasculano has long supported The Parrish. Through The Lebensfeld Foundation, founded by her father Harry Lebensfeld, she helps to support The New York Public Library, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Lincoln Center, the Metropolitan Opera, The Joyce Theater and The Bruce Museum in Greenwich, Connecticut, where she has served for six years as a trustee and is currently chairman of the Collections Committee. She also serves on the board of The American Classical Orchestra. Ms. Pasculano and her husband, Richard, reside in Greenwich, Connecticut and Southampton and have two children and six grandsons. Meryl Witmer Meryl Witmer's expertise in finance led to an immediate appointment as Assistant Treasurer of the Board of Trustees. She and her husband are managing general partners of Eagle Capital Partners, an investment management firm based in New York City. Ms. Witmer is active in the Student/Sponsor Program, which underwrites scholarships in private education for inner-city children. She received her B.S. in Science from the University of Virginia and resides in New York City and Southampton with her husband, Chuck, and their twin boys. Ira Drukier Ira Drukier is co-owner of BD Hotels, whose successful ventures include The Blakely, the Chambers, the Maritime, the Wellington, the Mercer and Downtown Hotels. An avid collector with significant holdings of Surrealist drawings, Mr. Drukier has long been involved with The Parrish and with Cornell University's Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art in Ithaca, New York. He received a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University and worked in that field before becoming involved in the hotel market. He resides in New York City and Southampton with his wife Gale, who serves as a co-chair of the Museum's annual Landscape Pleasures fundraiser. David Wassong Trustee David Wassong has also been a steady supporter of The Parrish. A partner in Soros Private Equity Partners, he currently sits on the Boards of Directors of Bluefly, Intralinks, Irsa and AutoEurope. For several years, he has assumed an active role in The Parrish's major fundraising event, The Midsummer Gala. Mr. Wassong served on the Gala's Associates Committee, helping to raise visibility and support for the institution with the 35-year-old and under crowd. He earned an M.B.A. in Finance from the Wharton School and received a B.A. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Wassong resides in New York City and Southampton. |
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