Letter: Museum curator should not have been released

Monday, Oct. 29, 2001 | 8:49 a.m.

I read with dismay your Oct. 4 article, "Las Vegas museum, curator part ways." Many aspects of James Mann's position as curator of the Las Vegas Art Museum could not have possibly been considered by the board of directors when making this decision to " release" him from his contract.

This belief is shared by local and noted artists from around the country and by museum members, volunteers and docents who worked alongside Mann to make the museum a success, as well as by many perceptive and knowledgeable board members. The adjectives which were used in the article to describe the present executive director -- "big, executive, professional" -- should be applied to Mann, as there would not be a Las Vegas Art Museum today without this "big, executive, professional, executive" curator.

Mann's love, knowledge and appreciation of art have been presented in over 50 professional exhibitions he originated at the museum. In great measure because of Mann's leadership and dedication to this institution, the museum has developed and steadily grown in a variety of positive directions.

Mann's supporters forgive those who have made this mistake in judgment and implore them to not only reinstate him to his curator position but to seriously consider him for executive director of the Las Vegas Art Museum, a professional who would be both intellectually outstanding and fiscally responsible.

JEANNE I. CAMIRE