All entries tagged with “Ringling College”SMOA: Surkis Steps Down
In a statement released this morning, former Sarasota Museum of Art (SMOA) President Wendy Surkis has announced she will be stepping aside and “passing the reigns” to Ringling College and previously announced incoming SMOA executive director Anne-Marie Russell, “an exceptionally competent, delightful and experienced visionary,” according to Surkis. Those following SMOA’s development will know Surkis as the project’s founder and initial driving force when first conceived nearly 10 years ago. Beginning as a volunteer venture, SMOA partnered with Ringling College in 2007 in a joint effort to secure the former Sarasota High School for the museum grounds. Weathering the Great Recession, SMOA finally reached its funding goal last year and is slated to open in 2016, with construction and renovation currently underway. “We joined together to make a dream become a reality,” said Surkis of the community support the endeavor has received. “My memories are filled with heartfelt emotion about the amazing journet of giving life to this phenomenal SMOA project, while looking forward to my tears of joy on Opening Day.” New to Sarasota, Russell comes from the Museum of Contemporary Art, Tuscon, where she served as executive director for thirteen years, after a decade in the art business in New York City. Surkis will remain involved as President Emeritus for SMOA. Ringling Team Wins Imagineering Competition
A team of students from Ringling College of Art and Design won first place at the 24th Walt Disney Imagineering Imaginations. The annual contest, held since 1992, has been one of the cief ways the Disney has discovered talent to hire as Imagineers to design the resort and theme park attractions of tomorrow. The Ringling team—consisting of Elizabeth Fox, Diana Han, John McDonald and Josh Newton—brought a design for a two-tiered train system imagined as a transit system for New Orleans; the bottom train on this dual-cart monorail would have digital overlays of historic New Orleans projected on top of views of the city as it exists today. “We are very proud of the professionalism and creativity shown by the Ringling College team in designing such an innovative and imaginative transportation solution,” said Ringling College of Art and Design President Dr. Larry R. Thompson. “We value the time and effort Walt Disney Imagineering allocates to driving the Imaginations design competition and inspiring creativity in universities across our country. And to our Ringling College Imaginations student team -- Elizabeth, Diana, John and Josh – we applaud your achievement.” Last week, the Ringling team spoke with SRQ about the event. Read our previous article here. |
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