After three years of working at New York City’s prestigious Guggenheim Museum, Rod Faulds took over an art gallery the size of the museum’s restrooms. And probably less visited.
Anyone who knows art knows the Guggenheim. But, most students who go to the 24-hour study lounge above the Breezeway don’t even know the Ritter Art Gallery exists. And it’s right next to it.
But Faulds, director of FAU’s University Galleries, is doing something about it – the Political Circus exhibit gave it a big push.
“It’s the second-floor retail syndrome,” says Faulds, who oversees all the exhibits in the Ritter Art Gallery and the Schmidt Center Gallery in the performing arts building. “We are hidden, but with good exhibits and good PR, attendance is growing.”
In fact, in Faulds’ 12 years at FAU, the Political Circus exhibit has seen some of the highest numbers in attendance. The gallery has seen an average of 15 to 20 visitors per day, up from the normal five to 10, plus at least three visiting classes per week.
Yet, Faulds, who has been in the business more than 20 years, says the gallery could see more visitors if the exhibit was more controversial.
“In my time at FAU, I’ve seen a lot of controversial exhibits and this isn’t one of them,” says Faulds. “Maybe I’m jaded, but I wish it was more controversial. I wish someone would come protest – it’s great PR.”
The most controversial he’s seen: An exhibit he curated in 1999 called Stereo Typocal Errors, which showcased a series titled “Black Cuddly Dick.”
The exhibit, which showed the work of Michael Ray Charles and Joyce J. Scott, had paintings that used stereotypical racist images of African-Americans and slavery derived from popular culture sources dating back to the early 20th century.
“I thought it was pretty offensive at the time,” Faulds says. “But we didn’t really hear too many complaints, so I was never worried about [Political Circus] causing any problems.”
Regardless of whether or not the Ritter sees controversial exhibits, Faulds says he enjoys working at a smaller gallery so he can “do a little bit of everything.”
After spending six years at famous art museums in New York City – three years at the Guggenheim and three years at the Brooklyn Museum of Art – Faulds got tired of what he calls “NYC politics” and decided to make a move.
Twelve years later, the California native says he’s surprised he’s still around.
“I didn’t think I’d be here this long,” he says with a chuckle. “I had planed to stay for three or four years, heal up from New York and then move on. It took a bit longer than I expected, but for the program we have now, I think we have accomplished a lot and been very successful. It feels like home now. I’m happy I stuck around.”
University Galleries Director Rod Faulds says the Band-Aid-shaped flag is the most controversial item in the Political Circus exhibit. “We haven’t gotten any heat yet for defaming the flag – which is good.”
