Close-Knit

1960s Board Events Exhibitions

Recalling the early days of the board, John D. Cartland remembers everyone pitching in.

During that period of time, the museum board as I remember it was very, very close. It was a relatively small group. Started by a small group of people off the Art Institute board, since the Art Institute didn't seem to have any interest in twentieth-century art. And we were all so close that on Friday nights, for the opening of exhibitions, most all of us would be there, or many of us would be there. And I could remember working as a carpet sweeper, right before the opening of the exhibition. Or putting labels up at the last minute. The opening would be at 5:00, and at 4:45, we still weren't ready for an opening. But it was a lot of fun.

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