Warhol museum plans for continuity and innovation under acting director Eric Shiner
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Eric Shiner, a New Castle native, is the acting director of The Andy Warhol Museum.
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Change at the top of an organization generally heralds the untested, and that stirs people up, particularly if they feel an attachment beyond the pragmatic, which frequently happens between arts institutions and their patrons.
The departure of Tom Sokolowski at the end of last year from the directorship of The Andy Warhol Museum raised questions about the museum's future. The Warhol's identity and success had been integrally linked to Mr. Sokolowski's leadership during his 14-year tenure.
Under his watch the motto "More than a museum" was adopted, and the institution has lived up to that claim with programming that manages to be simultaneously enjoyable and educational, cognizant of the tradition of great cultural institutions while being saucily contemporary.
While Mr. Sokolowski's presence is missed by many in the larger arts community, the good news is that The Warhol is on solid footing. Its commitment to challenging and engaging exhibitions and events remains under Eric Shiner, who has been the museum's first Milton Fine Curator of Art since 2009 and was appointed acting director.
Mr. Shiner said the museum continues "thinking outside the box, promoting Andy Warhol and his work, giving voice to people who otherwise might not have it."
Planning for the institution's next stage includes an enhanced business model, a further democratization of the staff and a larger collaborative presence with sister organizations within The Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh: Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Museum of Natural History and Carnegie Science Center.
Mr. Shiner's history with The Warhol precedes his current appointments. A New Castle native, his first museum job was a Warhol internship. Since then, he's traveled extensively, learned Japanese, gained proficiency in Chinese, lived in New York.
First Published June 1, 2011 12:00 am
