Dialogues: Lori Fogarty - Arts Advocate (Oakland Magazine)

In January 2006, Lori Fogarty was named executive director of the Oakland Museum of California. A year later, Fogarty, a former director of the Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito and senior deputy director at SFMOMA, sat down with Oakland Magazine to discuss the museum’s $50 million renovation, her goals for the future and her struggles on canvas.

    What attracted you to the Oakland Museum, a museum devoted entirely to the art, history and nature of California?
    I’ve lived in California for 25 years and have always had a strong affinity for the state and its art. This hometown museum appealed to me very much.

    In what way have your experiences at the Discovery Museum in Sausalito and SFMOMA helped you in your present position?
    SFMOMA has a dynamic exhibition program, and the Discovery Museum is an educational and family-learning center. Oakland is really a combination of both—it seemed like a natural fit for me.

    What challenges have you faced as the new director?
    In 2002, Measure G passed, which is a bond that is earmarked to help fund the renovation of our museum. I want to move forward with the capital project and not let it stall any longer. Galvanizing the project and delivering on it is my aim.

    When do you anticipate reaching your objective?
    We are facing a $50 million capital project. Close to half of that figure comes from Measure G. If all goes as planned, fall of 2009 is when we hope to reopen the art and history galleries.

    Where do you see the museum in five years?
    I see it as an even stronger and more dynamic community forum. I’d like to see, on a daily basis, the same vitality that we have with our Day of the Dead community celebration.

    The Oakland Museum is known to be a kid-friendly environment. Do you think enough schools in the area take advantage of the facility?
    Right now we have about 50,000 students a year who come on field trips. Many of those come for the fourth-grade gold rush curriculum. Our goal is to increase participation by Oakland public schools by at least 10 percent.

    Which dream exhibitions would you like to see brought to the museum?
    I would love to see an exhibition on California railroads, which very much impacted our state’s history and development of land. I would also like to see us exhibit some great California contemporary artists in all different mediums. So many talented artists are emerging throughout the state.

    What you would like the Oakland residents to know about you?
    That I, too, am a part of this community and am raising my family here. I am open to ideas and want our museum to be a very welcoming place for everyone to visit.

    Do you frequent other museums for fun?
    Definitely. My love of museums is how I got into this! I go whenever I can, wherever I am. To me, museums take us to a different level.  It’s a place that helps us to slow down and stop and think.

    Do you paint as a hobby?
    Oh, no. I can barely draw. My 4-year-old daughter can already out draw me on butterflies and rainbows.

For original article, click here.

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