Jeremy Strick

In July 1999, when Jeremy Strick emerged from the Art Institute of Chicago's curatorial shadows and stepped into the director's spotlight at L.A.'s Museum of Contemporary Art, he thought he had found a near-perfect opportunity. He had watched from afar as MOCA burst into life in 1979. As it moved into adolescence, he was impressed with its ability to build a collection, exhibition program and international reputation with astonishing speed. "And I loved Los Angeles," he said this week in an interview in his office.

Update: Former MOCA director Jeremy Strick has sold his Westwood-area home for $2,235,000, according to the Multiple Listing Service. The Spanish-style house, with six bedrooms and 4 1/2 bathrooms in 4,327 square feet, was built in 1930. It has two walled courtyards, a step-down living room with a beamed ceiling, a paneled library with built-in bookcases, arched doorways and a covered patio with an outdoor fireplace. There is a swimming pool and spa, a circular driveway and mountain views.

About a year ago, when Jeremy Strick was chosen to be the new director of the Museum of Contemporary Art, skeptics rolled their eyes and crossed their fingers. The problem wasn't his art credentials. Strick is a Harvard University-educated scholar who was curator of 20th century painting and sculpture at the Art Institute of Chicago and previously held curatorial positions at two other prestigious institutions, the National Gallery of Art in Washington and the St. Louis Art Museum.

Jeremy Strick, who led Los Angeles' Museum of Contemporary Art during a nine-year period of vibrant programming and critical acclaim but resigned in December amid a financial crisis that threatened the institution's survival, has been appointed director of the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas.

Update: Former MOCA director Jeremy Strick has sold his Westwood-area home for $2,235,000, according to the Multiple Listing Service. The Spanish-style house, with six bedrooms and 4 1/2 bathrooms in 4,327 square feet, was built in 1930. It has two walled courtyards, a step-down living room with a beamed ceiling, a paneled library with built-in bookcases, arched doorways and a covered patio with an outdoor fireplace. There is a swimming pool and spa, a circular driveway and mountain views.

Jeremy Strick, who led Los Angeles' Museum of Contemporary Art during a nine-year period of vibrant programming and critical acclaim but resigned in December amid a financial crisis that threatened the institution's survival, has been appointed director of the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas.

How disgraceful that MOCA sees fit to spend $1 million on an advertising campaign by the agency TBWA/Chiat/Day instead of supporting living artists and challenging them to evince interest in MOCA ("In So Many Words," Jan. 4). How oblivious of the museum's new director, Jeremy Strick. This move casts a pall on MOCA's image as a cutting-edge museum--and shows a distinct lack of faith in living artists. One wonders if MOCA is now beholden only to corporate interests and the bottom line instead of being a vibrant, risk-taking institution.

Jeremy Strick, curator of 20th century painting and sculpture at the Art Institute of Chicago, has been appointed director of Los Angeles' Museum of Contemporary Art. The announcement, made Monday after a meeting of the museum's board of trustees, is being viewed as a surprising move because it catapults a little-known curator into the top administrative position at one of the nation's highest-profile art institutions.

Eight months into his job as director of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Jeremy Strick has decided to close the museum's department of experimental programs, headed by longtime curator Julie Lazar. She and her assistant, Brent Zerger, will leave the museum at the end of the month, Strick said Friday. The decision follows an evaluation of the museum's curatorial structure, Strick said. "This is basically a move to concentrate our programmatic efforts.

In a pledge that reinforces a philanthropic tradition, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles has received the promise of a gift of 33 pieces from Clifford Einstein, chair of MOCA's board of trustees, and his wife, Madeline. The donation comprises works made over the last three decades by an international slate of prominent artists, including Kiki Smith, Nam June Paik, Mark Grotjahn, Sigmar Polke, Mike Kelley and Lari Pittman.

In July 1999, when Jeremy Strick emerged from the Art Institute of Chicago's curatorial shadows and stepped into the director's spotlight at L.A.'s Museum of Contemporary Art, he thought he had found a near-perfect opportunity. He had watched from afar as MOCA burst into life in 1979. As it moved into adolescence, he was impressed with its ability to build a collection, exhibition program and international reputation with astonishing speed. "And I loved Los Angeles," he said this week in an interview in his office.

In a pledge that reinforces a philanthropic tradition, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles has received the promise of a gift of 33 pieces from Clifford Einstein, chair of MOCA's board of trustees, and his wife, Madeline. The donation comprises works made over the last three decades by an international slate of prominent artists, including Kiki Smith, Nam June Paik, Mark Grotjahn, Sigmar Polke, Mike Kelley and Lari Pittman.

In the waning days of 1999, Jeremy Strick sat at the round, black, wooden table that dominates his sixth-floor director's office at the Museum of Contemporary Art in downtown Los Angeles and opened a letter stuffed with brilliant portents. The greeting from museum trustee Dallas Price bid him a happy new year and announced that she was giving MOCA $1 million per annum, no strings attached, for the coming 10 years -- the largest cash gift in MOCA's history.

How disgraceful that MOCA sees fit to spend $1 million on an advertising campaign by the agency TBWA/Chiat/Day instead of supporting living artists and challenging them to evince interest in MOCA ("In So Many Words," Jan. 4). How oblivious of the museum's new director, Jeremy Strick. This move casts a pall on MOCA's image as a cutting-edge museum--and shows a distinct lack of faith in living artists. One wonders if MOCA is now beholden only to corporate interests and the bottom line instead of being a vibrant, risk-taking institution.

About a year ago, when Jeremy Strick was chosen to be the new director of the Museum of Contemporary Art, skeptics rolled their eyes and crossed their fingers. The problem wasn't his art credentials. Strick is a Harvard University-educated scholar who was curator of 20th century painting and sculpture at the Art Institute of Chicago and previously held curatorial positions at two other prestigious institutions, the National Gallery of Art in Washington and the St. Louis Art Museum.

Eight months into his job as director of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Jeremy Strick has decided to close the museum's department of experimental programs, headed by longtime curator Julie Lazar. She and her assistant, Brent Zerger, will leave the museum at the end of the month, Strick said Friday. The decision follows an evaluation of the museum's curatorial structure, Strick said. "This is basically a move to concentrate our programmatic efforts.

POP/ROCK Dylan, Simon Double Bill: Bob Dylan and Paul Simon are teaming up for a summer concert tour in which the acclaimed singer-songwriters are expected to perform at least a couple of songs together during each show, sources confirmed Tuesday. This will be Simon's first tour since 1991, while Dylan has remained almost constantly on the road in recent years, both on his own and in a recent package with Joni Mitchell and Van Morrison.

Jeremy Strick is a museum guy. Because some art museums, including ones in Los Angeles and Chicago, are now turning to professional administrators and university educators to assume the top post, many observers were relieved when the Museum of Contemporary Art recently went the traditional route, elevating an experienced curator to the director's chair.

When we moved to Los Angeles last June, my family and I spent a week driving here from Chicago. We visited three national parks. Rocky Mountain, pictured, made the greatest impression on me. I stopped at lookout points along the road and just marveled at the scenery. DISCOVERY: There are these hanging gardens in Zion that you get to by hiking along a narrow canyon. A stream runs through the canyon, and the cliff walls extend quite high.

Jeremy Strick is a museum guy. Because some art museums, including ones in Los Angeles and Chicago, are now turning to professional administrators and university educators to assume the top post, many observers were relieved when the Museum of Contemporary Art recently went the traditional route, elevating an experienced curator to the director's chair.