The Tamesis
For the first time since returning to work from a voluntary leave of absence last May, Art Institute of Chicago President James Rondeau has spoken candidly about a bizarre incident on a plane that attracted attention far beyond the art world.
In the incident last April, Rondo reportedly began taking off his clothes on a plane from Chicago to Munich. cbs news Report. The report said Rondo was “drinking alcohol and taking prescription drugs” and police were called to the plane.
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Rondo took a voluntary leave of absence for a month and a half. Then, in May, the board issued a statement saying it had “full confidence in James Rondeau’s leadership and ability to continue serving as president and director.” Rondeau, who is now celebrating his tenth anniversary as museum director, said he regrets the events.
Now, by chicago star tribune As for WBEZ, Rondeau spoke more candidly about the incident. He told two Chicago media outlets that the incident was a “very low moment personally and professionally” and said he was grateful the board was so willing to bring him back.
“As cliché as it may be, every challenge is an opportunity, which has provided me with many opportunities to move forward with a healthy work-life balance and a serious understanding of wellness,” Rondeau said. “I believe it’s in the rear-view mirror, but it’s important to acknowledge it.”
In that interview, Rondeau also hinted at expansion plans for the museum, one of the most visited and largest museums in the United States. The art school had previously said it intended to expand in 2024, when it received a $75 million gift from Aaron I. Fleischman and Lin Lougheed for a new gallery, but it has since not provided much information about how it will be achieved.
Rondeau said the museum can only display 15 percent of its modern and contemporary art collection, even though the Art Institute has built a sizeable wing for its collections separate from the building. Furthermore, he said Surrealist art is a strength of the museum’s collection but is “barely represented” in the galleries, which already have a lot of space devoted to works related to the movement.
“We have very specific desires,” Rondo said. “We have no approved building projects.”
Furthermore, he said, “When you visit this museum, you are in one of the great museums in the world. If we spend a decade letting our peers perfect their facilities and visitor experiences and improve access to their collections, and we don’t do that, we will fall behind.”
