Board News
It is with regret that AHC says farewell to the following Board members: Susan Braunstein (2005-2008), Carol Henry (2007), and Frank Irr (2005-2008). Thanks to each of them for their service and efforts in advancing the goals of AHC.
AHC welcomes new Board members Carrie Gustavson of Bisbee, and Clayton Hamilton of Tucson. They were elected to three-year terms at AHC's Annual Meeting in February. The new members will be profiled in the next newsletter.
The following officers for 2008/2009 were elected at the Annual Meeting: Chair Kim Fernández, Vice Chair Neal Lester, Secretary Maire Simington, and Treasurer Karen Underhill.
Board member Sarah Kriehn will have artwork on exhibit at the University of Arizona, College of Medicine-Phoenix, in partnership with Arizona State University through April. Her monotype prints can be seen in the BioMedics Building, the Library, and Building 3 third floor offices. The facility is located in Phoenix at 550 E. Van Buren.
In January, Arcadia Publishing released its book Mesa in the Images of America series. The book is the result of a joint project developed by the Arizona Museum of Natural History and the Mesa Historical Museum. The exhibition, Searching for Mesa, was first shown at the Arizona Museum of Natural History and then installed at the Mesa Historical Museum as its long-term exhibition on the history of Mesa. In spring 2006, the Arizona Humanities Council funded a speakers series to accompany the exhibition. The fruitful collaboration is an excellent example of how institutions can partner on joint projects with multiple results in different formats. The book Mesa provides a lasting history of the community that is easily accessible and should be a useful resource for the community for years to come. Thomas H. Wilson is a joint author with Lisa A. Anderson, Alice C. Jung, and Jared A. Smith. The book is available from the Mesa Historical Society online store, www.mesahistoricalmuseum.org.
Board member Neal A. Lester, in collaboration with Maureen Daly Goggin, has published a new book, Racialized Politics of Desire In Personal Ads, exploring the complex intersections among the social categories of race, gender and sexuality within personal ads. The book provides critical insight into how African Americans influence and are influenced by American pop culture during the computer age, and challenges the belief that African American contributions to contemporary culture are limited to rap and hip hop. Lester's book is available from Changing Hands Bookstore.
Former AHC Executive Director Dan Shilling has written a book, Civic Tourism, The Poetry and Politics of Place, with a foreword by Scott Russell Sanders. The book is the product of a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and considers tourism as a public good with the potential to change social, economic, and natural landscapes. The book was designed by Cero Wood Graphic Design and published by Sharlot Hall Museum Press. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the ASU English Department. The book can be purchased by special order at Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe, or at www.civictourism.org.
Staff News
AHC welcomes Administrative Assistant Jovanna Perez, who is also a full-time student working on her bachelor's degree in Communication Studies at ASU. Her career objective is to work for a nonprofit in the area of arts and culture. She previously coordinated events at University of Phoenix Stadium, produced concerts, and worked for a radio station, a skateboard company, and Arizona Game & Fish.
Program Director Ann-Mary Johnson became engaged to Dan Lutzick on Christmas Day at his home in Winslow. They met while working on the Between Fences project. Dan, an artist, created a sculpture as a Christmas gift for Ann-Mary, with a secret compartment that contained her diamond engagement ring.
AHC is fortunate to have from time to time the support of volunteers who give their time and expertise to help the staff provide meaningful humanities programming across the state. Since January, Thanasis Kinias, a doctoral candidate at Arizona State University, has generously donated many hours of his information technology expertise, providing critical software and hardware updates, and performing general system maintenance. AHC is very appreciative of his time!
