Nearly a year after Franconia Sculpture Park fired its founding executive director for "inappropriate conduct toward a young female artist," the arts organization has finally filled the job.
Ginger Shulick Porcella, who now serves as executive director and chief curator of the Museum of Contemporary Art Tucson, said she was attracted by Franconia's mission to "provide wide and open spaces to create work."
A 43-acre park near Taylor Falls, Franconia features more than 120 sculptures in a rural setting that is free of charge and encourages visitors to observe resident artists at work.
"I like the role art can play in our daily lives," said Porcella, who will start Sept. 3. "I think Franconia does a really great job at incorporating art into people's lives who may not go to a museum or a gallery."
Franconia's board came under fire from some community members who questioned the abrupt departure last August of John Hock, who had led the nonprofit since it was established in 1996. Initially, it offered no explanation, but later released a terse "reason for termination letter" that it had given Hock.
While the board refused to discuss details of the incident, Hock told the Star Tribune that it involved a "regrettable conversation over drinks that included some sexual content" but said there was "no coercion, no harassment, and no sexual touching of any kind."
Hock has since launched a new artist residency program and exhibition space in northeast Minneapolis, the NE Sculpture Gallery Factory.
Franconia board chairwoman Dorothy Goldie declined to comment on the effect his departure had. "Clearly the organization was strong enough, interesting enough and enough of the fundamental core values remained in place so that someone of [Porcella's] caliber and quality was attracted to the opportunity," she said.
