Monterey Museum of Art (MMA) Chief Curator Marcelle Polednik, PhD, has accepted the position of Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Jacksonville, a cultural resource of the University of North Florida. Dr. Polednik will be leaving the Monterey Museum of Art at the end of January, 2011.
Polednik joined the MMA from the Whitney Museum of American Art where she was Assistant Curator of Prewar Art. Since 2006 she has served to advance the MMA’s standing as a premier art institution. During her tenure she added acquisitions to the Museum’s permanent collection, garnered a number of major grants and facilitated twenty exhibitions annually. Polednik leaves an important imprint on the community’s resource for promoting the legacy of California artists and photographers. Notable achievements include the creation of In Process, the contemporary art series featuring current projects of emerging and mid-career artists; and MonteryNOW, the exhibition series presenting local artists who have made significant contributions to the visual arts. Polednik was also instrumental in promoting the Museum’s vital cultural role in the community.
“Marcelle’s scholarship and professionalism have made a deep imprint on the Museum and our community,” says MMA Executive Director E. Michael Whittington. “Her knowledge of contemporary art combined with her deep affection for early California painting and photography have significantly advanced our exhibition program and collecting efforts. She will be greatly missed”
G. Alan Howard, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at MOCA Jacksonville says, “We are very excited to have Marcelle join us as the Director of MOCA Jacksonville. Marcelle’s well known success as Chief Curator at the Monterey Museum of Art, her recognized scholarship, her mastery of the business side of museum operations and the energy that she brings to every task are the very qualities that we were looking for in our search for a new Director. We are confident that Marcelle will lead MOCA Jacksonville to even greater heights in the years to come.
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