“It is literally a coup! It looks like the Russian Revolution. It’s the same method! Marc Mayer, former director general of the National Gallery of Canada (NGC), does not mince words when it comes to describing the crisis affecting the largest museum in the country. Freshly returned from a trip to Europe, he agreed to speak to me on Monday morning.
Posted at 5:00 a.m.
“We find ourselves with someone who has no training in art and who is trying to reinvent the most important institution for art in Canada,” he continues. As Pierre Lassonde said: if you don’t have a license to fly a Boeing 777, you have no business there. »
The one who led the NGC from 2009 to 2019 refers to Angela Cassie, who has served as the general manager of the museum on an interim basis since last July. Despite this temporary status, it does not hesitate to make important gestures (such as the dismissal of four executives – in addition to several others – who held key positions and rich expertise) in order to put in place a vast plan of transformation aimed at fostering inclusion and diversity within the museum. At the heart of this controversial plan is the Indigenous Ways and Decolonization section.
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, PRESS ARCHIVES
Marc Mayer, former Director General of the National Gallery of Canada
“She completely erased my passage,” said Marc Mayer, visibly upset by this affair. But during the time I was there, we spent a lot of money to diversify the collection: millions of dollars on women’s art, millions on artists from cultural minorities, we gave more than place for native art and, according to Angela Cassie, nothing happened. This is a lie ! We have completely changed the relationship with aboriginal artists and aboriginal art. We did this, not her. That’s why I’m furious! »
I’ve written it and I’ll say it again: the NGC has long been an example of diversity. We are entitled to ask what is the meaning of the revolution that we are currently trying to lead.
If Marc Mayer wanted to deliver his thoughts with great aplomb, it was because he couldn’t get over hearing the remarks that Angela Cassie made last Friday during a round of interviews intended to extinguish the fire that has been going on for a few days at the NGC.
Angela Cassie made great use of the language of wood with the journalists of The Pressfrom To have to, ICI Première and several other Canadian media. In my column “Thick fog in Ottawa”, I said that the management of the museum must explain clearly and quickly what it is doing. Friday’s exercise was a dismal failure. The acting CEO was unable to say how many employees have been fired to date. Not strong !
She repeated the same things. She did not answer questions and only said the message she wanted to convey. Did she want to protect the government?
Marc Mayer
Angela Cassie took advantage of these interviews to clarify that the museum’s decolonization plan, put in place by her predecessor, Sasha Suda, would have no impact on the museum’s artistic choices and that it is desired by many citizens. “It’s very easy to say that, adds Marc Mayer. It’s like saying that people have been saying for years that there aren’t enough women or diversity in NGC exhibitions. Me, when I was director, the comments I received most often came from arachnophobes who wanted us to remove Louise Bourgeois’ spider in front of the museum. »
Marc Mayer does not digest the dismissal of Stephen Gritt, director of conservation and technical research. The latter, with the help of an American patron, enabled four employees to receive training in Aboriginal art. “It fits perfectly into their strategic plan,” says Marc Mayer. But after he did that, he was fired. It’s incredible ! »
The fear of many observers is that the NGC, one of the few Canadian museums subsidized at 75% by public funds, will lose the support of major donors and private foundations. “It’s already started,” says Marc Mayer.
In interview with Alain Gravel, from the show Facts first, art collector and patron Pierre Lassonde confirmed these statements. Owner of the most important collection of works by Helen McNicoll (a great Canadian painter of impressionist inspiration), the latter affirmed that it would certainly not be at the NGC that he would offer these works. He also added that Michael Audain, another great Canadian patron, has stopped donating to an NGC chair.
During this same interview, Pierre Lassonde mentioned something that I have heard from several sources over the past few weeks. When the project for a retrospective dedicated to Jean Paul Riopelle was proposed to the management of the NGC, the management clearly expressed its lack of interest in the Quebec artist whose 100e birthday. “Sasha Suda did everything to prevent this exposure,” said Pierre Lassonde at Alain Gravel’s microphone.
At the NGC, we didn’t want this “old white man artist,” certain people told me on condition of anonymity.
Marc Mayer has just returned from a stay in France, where he had the opportunity to see several exhibitions. “I wanted to use social networks to talk about art and share my impressions with those who follow me. But no, there is fire in the barn and the furniture must be saved. »
Mark Mayer is right. What is happening at the NGC is serious. A concrete (and audible) intervention by Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage, is urgently needed. “We have to put seasoned professionals at the helm of the National Gallery of Canada and we have to do it right away, there’s a rush,” implores Marc Mayer. People are destroying a major institution in Canada. I’m back from France, I’ve met a lot of people and we’re being watched right now. You can’t do such stupidity. »
P.-S. I tried to get a reaction from the NGC, but without success.
Tags: Crisis National Gallery Canada coup detat exCEO Marc Mayer
