ArtsCriticATL.com

1. Jonathan Lerner

   1

   Could the High be heading for another low?

   During Julian’s tenure photography has been a consistent strength at the museum — maybe the consistently strongest presence. It’s an architectural irony that you almost always have to go down to the basement to see photos, while the pricier upstairs real estate gets the often disappointing (and/or pandering) blockbuster shows which the institution apparently feels compelled to mount for its financial survival. Vivid memories of Julian’s work include the exhibitions of work by Harry Callahan and Sheila Pree Bright. Can we hope for a successor as strong?

   09 Jul

2. Catherine Fox

   2

   I agree with your comments about Julian’s tenure. This is huge loss for the High, and for all of us.

   09 Jul

3. Rocio Rodriguez

   3

   Oh no what a loss! I don’t know Julian personally, but I have always been very interested in what he has done at the High, and I know that he has been a very supportive presence in our community.

   09 Jul

4. Susan

   4

   I am saddened by this news. Julian reached out to the photography community in ways needed to bring us together, rather than pull us apart.

   09 Jul

5. Barry Blackwell

   5

   I have been personally touched by Julian’s wide spectrum of photographic content. His commitment to traditional photographic values, and contemporary imaging, has profoundly enlightened our community. San Francisco has plucked the jewel.

   09 Jul

6. Anonymous

   6

   Stop with the faux shock-the entire Woodruff Arts Center is in serious financial straits, a fact that is public knowledge. The Symphony Hall project is now “officially” shelved after the expenditure of $7million in architectual fees alone. One Museum Place, Arts patron John Wieland’s modern art museum, is a hole in the ground and the list of highly sought after curators/ administrators is growing longer that the line ouside a Shake Shack store.

   And the answer is NOT the economy but the continued refusal of Atlanta’s monied class to support the advancement of the arts in proportion to their collections/ personal wealth. Case in point: Bernie Marcus was not a major contributor to the Symphony Hall campaign.

   So ,let’s have some more stories on the few, the brave and the committed patrons who ARe supporting the arts here in Atlanta and fewer about an institution who is often a victem of its own arrogance.

   09 Jul

7. Catherine Fox

   7

   Who said anything about being shocked? Talented, ambitious curators don’t stick around forever. Just disappointed because he did such a good job.

   If you want to read about committed patrons, read our posts about Flux Projects.

   09 Jul

8. John Dean

   8

   I’m definitely not shocked but I’m really happy for him. He was the best thing about that museum by far. But in an era of Disneyland museum strategy that is more interested in baseball shows, auto shows, and perpetual 19th century impressionism, ugh, and Leonardo’s horse, its a miracle he was able to achieve what he did achieve, like the remarkable and significant Road To Freedom exhibition -http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/notebook/2010/05/03/100503gonb_GOAT_notebook_aletti , and the major Misrach show. Now he will be able to rejoin the 21st century.

   and the Misrach show, while taking time to support local artists they way he

   did. He’s a class act.

   09 Jul

9. Rocio Rodriguez

   9

   This story has nothing to do with supporting the arts or not. Simply put Julian Cox did a very good job as a curator for the High. He will be missed, and I wish him the best.

   09 Jul

10. Lisa A.

    10

    Fantastic for Julian. Very sad for us–unless it is at all possible for the High to maintain a smidgen of the momentum that he has created. I was reading about a fascinating exhibit featuring the work of Peter Sekaer in the NYT last month–and realized as I read on that it was in the ATL and Julian had organized it. How often does that happen? “Road to Freedom”–the many exhibits of the past few years–have made the High seem so much less fluffy. I recently renewed my membership that lapsed over a decade ago, mainly because of his work (and, yes I am cheap, Groupon).

    09 Jul

11. Anonymous

    11

    Young, extremely talented, dynamic, creative, original, sophisticated, [gorgeous should not count], why shouldn’t he aspire to a more challenging career? Why look for other reasons but his desire to grow? His contribution as Curator, enriching the permanent collection of photographs and his admired exhibits added to the prestige of the Museum and will not vanish once he is gone. My fellow docents would certainly agree with my message, culled from an Irish blessing: May the wind always be at your back and the rain fall softly upon your fields, and Thank You for what we learned from you.

    09 Jul

12. BPJ

    12

    The High has been seriously collecting photography since the 70s, and there is a significant group of photo collectors here, as attested by the terrific show of works from local collectors which Cox curated. Atlanta Celebrates Photography is another indication of the status of photography here. That isn’t going away.

    09 Jul

13. Catherine Fox

    13

    You are right, Baxter. The strength of the photography community is in its multiple platforms. I’m sure the High recognizes the importance of this constituency, especially in its new (nascent) let’s- listen-to-the-community mode.

    09 Jul

14. Kael Alford

    14

    These responses remind me of the “stone soup” tale. A stranger arrives and puts a stone in a pot of water in the town square. He gets the interest of locals who each add their “garnish”. Soon the whole town is feasting on the brew.

    Julian’s support to artists and commitment to long term projects is an inspiration to those who’ve worked with him. As someone already said, his ability to engage with the community and bring good people together is unique –and rare in the art world. He helped Atlanta see her own strengths, homegrown and regional talents, and ability to cooperate.

    Atlanta has so much to offer, thanks in part to the people reading and posting here. I hope that Julian’s Cox’s departure will leave the ATL arts community and the High with a renewed commitment to local purpose and greater good.

    09 Jul

15. Donna Rosser

    15

    Atlanta is a big photography town. ACP has done a lot to raise the awareness of good photography. Many photo groups in the Atlanta area have come out of the woodwork in the past few years. Good exhibits are springing up — there are shows to be seen — good work is out there. The talent in this area is amazing. There is a lot of interest in photography here. Julian definitely raised the bar at High. What an awesome opportunity for him! He will be missed at the High and at other photography events in the area. I can only hope that his replacement continues the work.

    09 Jul

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