The minutes from 2001 which had appeared in a post-conference newsletter were accepted.
Treasurer Sallie McCorkle announced that financial figures were about the same as last year, fairly bleak. A more vigorous renewal notice will go out to members in the next few months, with a cut-off date for those that neither renew nor indicate an interest in staying on the mailing list. It was suggested that members be reminded that we have a sliding dues scale and that those that can pay the full $25 or more are supporting student members and those that cannot afford the full rate (e.g. independent artists, independent curators and historians, adjuncts, retirees). The mailing list database is in good order and ready for tighter control of renewals, as reported by Sallie and indicated by few returned issues.
Maura Reilly and Jim Saslow were nominated as co-chairs for a two-year term and were accepted by acclamation. The other officers will stay on (i.e. Sallie McCorkle as Treasurer and Membership Coordinator, Sherman Clarke as Secretary, Tee Corinne and Sherman Clarke as newsletter editors).
The newsletter editors were recognized for continuing to produce effective and interesting issues. Members were encouraged to ask their institutions to subscribe. Presently, there are less than ten institutional subscriptions.
Jim Saslow described the Caucus-sponsored panel for 2003 -- “Beyond the usual suspects” -- that has been accepted by the CAA Program Committee. He has been working with Harmony Hammond and Flavia Rando on the panel. Tee Corinne will work on the lunchtime panel for 2003. James Smalls and Maura Reilly will begin working on a proposal for 2004.
Robert Repinski and Dean Dresser, among others, have been working on preparations for a 2003 exhibition. The LGBT Community Center of New York which has moved back to its permanent space has been approached as venue. Lesbians for the Visual Arts will have an exhibition there in fall 2002 and Happy Hyder of LVA is willing to pass on information. Jim Sanders, Dean Dresser, and David Brown agreed to start working on the 2004 exhibition in Seattle.
Co-chair Jonathan Katz discussed possible activities around the Eakins show at the Metropolitan Museum, opening June 18th. Potential activities include protest on the steps, attendance at the sponsored lectures and questioning the speakers if they do not address Eakins’s sexuality, and suggesting a panel clearly addressing Eakins’s sexuality. At least five lectures are being sponsored by the Met during May and June. James Smalls is on a panel in Paris during its display there, before the show arrives at the Met. A review in the New Yorker talked extensively about his passion for women. Jim Saslow will talk to Barbara Weinberg who is affiliated with the Met and involved with the Eakins show.
Jonathan Katz described the gallery which is part of the new LGBT center in San Francisco. The gallery will be AAM-approved six months of the year and open the other six months. During the open period, meetings and other gatherings may be held in the space. The center is scheduled to open in March 2002 and the gallery in May. The opening show at the gallery will center on Robert Rauschenberg.
It was reported that the Art Bulletin Editorial Board is considering how the journal could be less stodgy. Jim Saslow, with Jonathan Katz’s collaboration, will draft a letter to the board suggesting an overview article on the state of sexuality and gender studies in art history. Maura Reilly will begin to work on organizing such an overview with several suggested authors, e.g. John Clarke on ancient, Jim Saslow on renaissance.
Jonathan Katz described the Queer Visualities conference that will be held in Stony Brook and New York City in November 2002. The papers are to be published, probably by Routledge or Rutgers. An exhibition will be held in conjunction with the conference.
Other political concerns included covering the nude statue behind John Ashcroft at a recent press briefing. Jim Saslow and Maura Reilly will work on some longer-term strategizing, including possibly an information packet that could be distributed to museums, press, etc. and conference exhibitions. Erica Rand will continue to coordinate general political activities and Jonathan Katz will coordinate activism relating to museum and other art world business. Ivana George volunteered as a new member.
Jim Saslow will talk to Ray Anne Lockard about progress on the new edition of the bibliography.
Jonathan Katz is willing to work with Stony Brook to host the caucus website which could evolve out of the Queer Visualities conference website. Desirable items on the site include links to queer art sites and a simple calendar. Funding might be sought from someone like the Kaplan Foundation to support a part-time webmaster. Meanwhile, Sherman Clarke will notify CAA that they could link to the page with recent newsletter issues which also includes membership information, list of officers, and current by-laws.
The Center for Gay and Lesbian Studies at City University of New York is always looking for program opportunities. Jim Saslow is affiliated with Queens College, a CUNY unit, and is therefore eligible to suggest programs. Happy Hyder, Erica Rand, James Smalls, and Jonathan Katz expressed interest in working with Jim on investigating a Caucus-CLAGS cosponsorship.
The business meeting adjourned at about 2 p.m., with the “Post Queer” panel in the next conference time slot followed by the reception and the “Nude” panel on Thursday evening.
Recorded by Sherman Clarke, QCA Secretary
sherman.clarke@nyu.edu
N.B. Many CAA session are audiotaped by Audio Archives International - 800-747-8069 or audioarc@flashnet.net (forms were available in Philadelphia; if you did not get one, I can send you a copy or provide the session number on request).