Alumni Association Members Tour American Artist Bruce Nauman Exhibit

22 January 2010

Alumni Association members at the exhibition tour of Bruce Nauman in the Center of Contemporary Art in Warsaw

On January 14, 2010, over 30 members of the Alumni Association gathered at the Center of Contemporary Art of Zamek Ujazdowski in Warsaw to view the work of one of the most distinguished American contemporary artists, Bruce Nauman. Cultural Attaché Chuck Ashley, Curator Pawel Polit, and President of the Alumni Association Jacek Nieckula welcomed the guests to this special tour of the exhibit “No/Nie.”  The works, which cover three decades of Bruce Nauman’s career, are representative of the artist’s reflection on the human condition. 

Bruce Nauman represented the United States at the 2009 Venice Biennale, where the U.S. won the prestigious “Golden Lion for the Best National Participation at the 53rd International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia” for the Bruce Nauman: Topological Gardens installation.  Alumni also had a unique opportunity to watch a PBS video about the artist. Pawel Polit, curator and initiator of this exhibit, described the presented the details of the exhibition and the artist’s background and achievements. After the exhibit tour, the alumni enjoyed some refreshments and had an occasion to meet the new Counselor for Press and Culture Lisa Helling.  This social event brought together alumni from many different walks of life and provided an opportunity for networking and a platform to discuss ideas for new projects.

On the same afternoon the Alumni Association’s Board of Directors met to discuss the process for selecting the winners of the Alumni essay contest, the development of the Alumni Association community website at http://alumni.state.gov, the creation of thematic teams among members of the Association, and the Association’s plans for the near future.