Media

contact: Carolyn Mandelker 914-242-0010 ext. 101

cmandelker@harrison-edwardspr.com

A joint statement by Dr. Tracy Fitzpatrick, Director of the Neuberger Museum of Art,
Purchase College, SUNY, and Thomas J. Schwarz, President Purchase College, SUNY
regarding the opening of When Modern Was Contemporary: Selections from the Roy R.
Neuberger Collection, at the Mississippi Museum of Art:

Dr. Tracy Fitzpatrick: At the Neuberger Museum of Art, we are delighted that the
residents of Mississippi will be afforded the extraordinary opportunity to view works by
some of Americas most important 20th century artists from our collection in When
Modern Was Contemporary: Selections from the Roy R. Neuberger Collection. This
exhibition reflects the ways in which our founding patron, Roy R. Neuberger, supported
living artists irrespective of their backgrounds and beliefs, and valued open dialogue
through a mix of ideas even those that were controversial and unpopular, an approach
that is in opposition to Mississippis new, sweeping, discriminatory anti-gay and
transgender legislation.

As an academic art museum our role is to educate diverse audiences in and through the
visual arts by presenting a variety of media and cultural perspectives, and works by
artists from diverse backgrounds and convictions. While I hope that the presence of the
works by such a diverse group of artists in When Modern Was Contemporary will help
create dialogue around these issues, in view of Mississippis new discriminatory law it is
with great regret that I must decline the Mississippi Museum of Arts kind invitation to
celebrate with them on the occasion of the opening of the Neuberger exhibition.

In keeping with its values, the Neuberger Museum hopes that its newly opened
exhibition, Louise Fishman: A Retrospective, will also contribute to this dialogue in a
meaningful way. The exhibition is the first career survey of this important American
artist who has long fought for the meaningful recognition that we believe has eluded
her and many women artists because of sexism and anti-gay bias. Hopefully, both the
Louise Fishman exhibition and When Modern Was Contemporary will stimulate
comment and thoughtful dialogue as many in the nation struggle to achieve a greater
climate of acceptance and equality. Many of the programs associated with the Louise
Fishman exhibition will focus on LGBTQ issues.

Purchase College President, Thomas J. Schwarz:

Purchase College, as an inclusive and diverse community, stands with Governor
Cuomo, the American Association of Museum Directors, and the American

Association of Academic Art Museums and Galleries, in denouncing this law. We

strongly support Dr. Fitzpatricks decision to stay in New York rather than attend
the opening exhibition festivities in Mississippi, as regularly scheduled. This law is
a step back in time, out of keeping with the values of Purchase College or the
Museum.