Art Sanctuary readies for new leadership

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“Founders are notorious for sabotaging a process that lets somebody come in and do better than they did,” Lorene Cary said July 12 at Art Sanctuary, 628 S. 16th St. “That was my vision. I wanted someone to come in and do better than I.”

The noted author, whose 1995 novel “The Price of a Child” became the first One Book, One Philadelphia selection in 2003, tabbed Valerie Gay as her successor, deeming the Southwest Philadelphian “the most extraordinary candidate for this job.” As the South of South location’s second executive director, Gay will work to inspire and promote African-American contributions to literary, visual and performing arts.

With ensemble conducting projects and musical theater, opera and solo concert recital credits on her résumé, she emerged as the choice after an 18-month search, receiving another boost from her most recent role as Temple University’s assistant dean for institutional advancement for the College of Education. As that position and key assignments with the PNC Financial Services Group helped her to foster community relationships and to secure copious funds, she offered Cary and Art Sanctuary board members and stakeholders an irresistible blend of talent, passion and financial acumen.

“As I’ve gotten to know Art Sanctuary, what really excites me most about the organization is its enormous potential,” Gay said of the organization Cary founded in 1998 as the North Philadelphia-based Church of the Advocate. “Everything it’s doing is excellent and has the potential to be more deeply embedded in Philadelphia.”

Though her brainchild, which she relocated to South Philly two years ago, has earned a reputation as a haven for African-American creative endeavors, Cary has never coveted insularity, and her selection will advocate for expansive interest in her employer’s creed.

“I know the idea of having black art as the basic foundation for connecting where everything is,” Gay said. “I believe it is a missed opportunity if people of all ethnicities don’t see their connection to black art, and Art Sanctuary can actually be that bridge.”

A member of the School Reform Commission and a senior lecturer in creative writing at the University of Pennsylvania, Cary, the 2003 Philadelphia Award winner, used New York’s Rochester Arts & Lectures as a model when devising Art Sanctuary, hoping to give fellow Philadelphians occasions to interact with esteemed creators. The 55-year-old, whose local ties include receiving piano instruction at Settlement Music School, 416 Queen St., had overseen the lauded organization with input from a compact staff but realized a new voice could propel its outreach, which board of directors chair Mellanie Lassiter said has increased by 15,000 community members over the last year.

“For the first time, I am feeling a little sad,” Cary said. “However, I know Valerie Gay will advance Art Sanctuary’s mission and remind everyone that to make excellent art, culture trumps strategy.”

Gay, learning of the executive director post in February and receiving great news in May, relayed her reactions and aspirations to 30 arts enthusiasts.

“When I got the call, I was absolutely floored,” she said of assuming the top duties for the body she often assisted at open houses. “The doors are open, and I am honored and humbled to lead Art Sanctuary.”

Gay joins the site during what has amounted to a very successful year. Art Sanctuary is using “Growing from Good to Great” as its theme and has already added three major successes to its annals. Its winter housing of the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program’s “Behind These Walls: Visions of Courage, Beacons of Hope” exhibition celebrated the one-year anniversary of the Albert M. Greenfield African-American Iconic Images Collection, and April’s Black Professionals Got Talent event met with acclaim.

Supreme recognition came April 23, when the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation declared it a Knight Arts Challenge victor, allotting it $100,000 to finalize Hip H’opera. Through the efforts of Art Sanctuary, the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, the Opera Company of Philadelphia and Philadelphia Young Playwrights, the endeavor, conceived in ’07, has used artists to teach workshops on the aesthetics and history of hip-hop and opera in seven institutions, including Edwin M. Stanton School, 1700 Christian St., and South Philadelphia High School, 2101 S. Broad St.

Librettists worked on student pieces the next year, with pupils first performing the output as poetry then in musical form with an intergenerational chorus, opera singers, a pianist and a string quartet. With the endowment, Art Sanctuary will take learners on field trips and engage them in supplemental work with professionals, who will craft an opera, with an autumn ’14 debut scheduled at the Kimmel Center.

Gay has familiarity with the 11-year-old venue, having served as a soloist for December’s preview performance of composer Hannibal Lokumbe’s “Can You Hear God Crying?” The work, which examines the perils of incarceration, enabled Art Sanctuary to create a curriculum for teachers as part of its Reading in Concert Program. It will aim to educate a full audience Sept. 21.

Along with those milestones, Gay, who formally commenced her employment Monday, will strive to make her locale’s Celebration of Black Writing Festival an even more well-attended and greatly respected venture. The 28-year-old opportunity for reverence, which Center City bookstore owner Larry Robin began as a Black History Month writing conference, allows professional and aspiring writers and artists to discuss their work through panels and workshops. The festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award has honored renowned scribes such as Chinua Achebe, Nikki Giovanni, Terry McMillan and Sonia Sanchez in past years.

The celebration bears special meaning to Gay, as many of its events occur on Temple’s campus, but every aspect of her new identity figures to excel, as she is planning to engross herself in bettering Art Sanctuary’s status.

“We are certainly at a very good point in our progression,” she said. “I am going to welcome every bit of my new responsibilities.”

As her time with Temple and PNC forged strong ties with the School District of Philadelphia, she plans to broaden Art Sanctuary’s interaction with youngsters, which she already sees as a hallmark.

“South Philadelphia’s arts identity is strong,” she said, “but nothing is wrong with being stronger.” SPR

Contact Staff Writer Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.

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