Art critic calls alleged Remai Modern interference ‘absurd’

A longtime art critic and former contributor to the Mendel Art Gallery is calling the turmoil surrounding the Remai Modern a “disaster” that could ruin the gallery’s future.

Robert Enright, senior contributing editor to Border Crossings international arts magazine, has been following the news of upheaval at the Remai Modern with interest and appall.

“It strikes me as being absurd,” he said.

The gallery’s board chair, Scott Verity, and secretary Alison Norlen were told by the city their terms weren’t being renewed in February.

Five other board members left, most in protest, with some citing political interference from the city as a prime reason for their departure.

Earlier this week, outgoing Remai Modern CEO Gregory Burke wrote an op-ed in the StarPhoenix claiming he had a political “bull’s-eye” on him after the 2016 election, saying the gallery’s future was “uncertain” because of interference from city hall.

Enright, who has written about art galleries around the world for more than 30 years, agrees with Burke that any political interference from the city would be a detriment to the gallery.

“I know of no institution that has the aspirations of the Remai Modern … that is actually run by a city council,” he told 650 CKOM on Thursday.

“It’s one thing to have some input, but to have members sitting from city council on the board — then to have city council approve the slate of candidates for the entire board is unprecedented, and extremely dangerous.”

The University of Guelph professor, and Saskatoon native, noted the international arts community was under the impression the new gallery had become a “model for what a contemporary art museum could become.”

He said artists and critics have lauded the building, and the gallery has put Saskatoon on the map internationally — pointing to the New York Times designation of the Bridge City as one of its 52 places to go in 2018.

Enright emphasized the need for such a highly touted gallery’s board to be independent, and staffed with community members with expertise in art history, curation and fundraising.

Mayor Charlie Clark told reporters Wednesday that any allegation of interference over political ideologies was false, and that city council’s concern has been to ensure a safe workplace.

Burke, whose tenure at the gallery ended March 15, is facing a human rights complaint from an employee dating back to his work at the Mendel Art Gallery — which closed two years before the Remai Modern opened.

Enright doubted the mayor’s explanation.

“It’s really preposterous. I think that’s really a smokescreen,” he said.

The art critic said the Remai Modern is still the most attractive gallery in North America for curators, but warned city council’s moves that led to the near-complete changeup of the board could make investors and potential new CEOs think twice about committing to the gallery.

“If (a CEO is) prepared to move in and be controlled by city council, then is that the kind of vision you want for a director?” Enright asked.

“I think this is a disaster. It’s an extremely bad development for the Remai Modern.”

Former councillor sees no issue in city involvement

Former city councillor Pat Lorje, who opposed the gallery’s construction before losing a bid for re-election in 2016, disagrees with the notion the Remai Modern should be independent.

She told 650 CKOM on Thursday that oversight is necessary to maintain public transparency for the city-owned gallery.

“To say the owners of a gallery can have no say in the operations is nonsense,” she said.

In response to Burke’s op-ed, Lorje said some perceived “interference” may have been warranted by city council.

“If by political interference he means that he should have the right to have that gallery be his own personal playground and he has no accountability to anyone, then yes, there probably has been political interference,” she said.

Lorje said there has been too much focus on “one or two” individuals at the gallery and moving forward, it’s imperative the new CEO shares the Remai Modern vision outlined by city council.

— With files from 650 CKOM’s Brent Bosker.