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William Stover Leaves the MFA

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston has announced that William Stover will be leaving his position as Asst. Curator of Contemporary Art at the end of January.

This comes as no surprise (I've known for several weeks) considering the way they have handled the hiring of the Curator of Contemporary Art. The musical chairs of Boston curatorial positions continues. I wonder if the MFA will replace him with someone who has less experience than Jen Mergel? I can't imagine someone more experienced wanting to work in an assistant position.

It is becoming clearer and clearer to me that the MFA is sidelining their contemporary department, which is a little stunning in light of the fact that they are about to devote a large portion of the museum to it.

It is disheartening to see William leave Boston. He has been a great champion of local artists, an outstanding curator, and a good friend. He will be missed.
POSTED BY JAMES NADEAU ON JANUARY 14, 2010
PERMALINK | COMMENTS (5)| ADD A COMMENT
Please don't let your personal feelings for an individual bleed into your intelligence.
You are greatly oversimplifying things.
Or perhaps you were involved in making the curatorial decisions for these institutions?
hmph.
I thought not.


That said.
Yes. William is a very nice person and it's too bad he is leaving.


-- impartial? i think not commented on January 15, 2010
I agree.
The MFA is always an easy target.
But it is a shame to talk disparagingly and nay-say a program that is just getting started just because a friend of yours is leaving in order to keep his pride in tact.
I hope above hope that the MFA's Contemporary Art department succeeds and gives some competition to the ICA. The bottom line is Boston really needs it.
Change never comes without a little trauma. It's a shame that a good person is leaving, but rather then pan the department, you just lament his loss and hope that the department moves on to great things despite his leaving.

-- Easy target. commented on January 15, 2010
it's all becoming clearer and clearer to me now. The exhibition "Seeing Music" was an intentional stinkbomb left by William as a farewell eff you. Bravo Mr. Stover, but I sure wish you had found another way to upset the museum, I can't sleep at night with those horrendous Madonna songs rattling my skull.
-- angry museum guard commented on January 15, 2010
So, it sounds like a lot of sour grapes from the commentators...

From my experience with Mr. Stover, he is one of the greatest champions of artists in this city. (I take it he didn't like your art?)

The fact the MFA hired someone even the ICA determined was not ready for a senior position...and has a resume that started in 2007...shows they have other motivations. Being a leader for new artists is not one of them.

So, it appears Mr. Nadeau knows Mr. Stover - who cares? We all know this is a small town.

(And for "angry museum guard") From what I have heard through the grapevine, other large museums have already asked to host his "music" show.

There is a real difference from a curator that creates shows that travel to other museums and one that only presents shows created elsewhere.

Hopefully, Ms. Mergel will rise to the occasion. Regardless, this is a loss for Boston.
-- Realist commented on January 16, 2010
Was not nominated. Oh well.
-- NEAA commented on January 19, 2010

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