News: Hammonds House closed for now, executive director out, exhibit canceled

Shock waves rippled through the art community this week when the board of trustees at Hammonds House announced it is temporarily closing the prestigious museum and canceling the upcoming exhibit. The board also eliminated Karen Comer Lowe’s position as executive director and chief curator. Dedicated to the work of visual artists of African descent, the museum hired her for that role in June 2021.

The solo exhibit Donald Locke: Southern Mansions and Related Paintings from the 1990s was scheduled to open February 11. Donald Locke Studio posted the following on Instagram: “A press release had already been circulated for the February exhibition . . . Needless to say it is totally disrespectful and unprofessional to everyone involved to cancel an exhibition in this manner without prior discussion or notification.”

When contacted by ArtsATL on Tuesday, Comer Lowe said she was made aware on Wednesday, January 12, “that the museum would be restructured and my position as executive director would be phased out effective immediately. It was a total surprise. I was disappointed I wouldn’t be able to move the museum forward the way I had planned. I had some exciting exhibits coming up.”

Comer Lowe began her career as program coordinator at Hammonds House in 1996 under Edward S. Spriggs, who was director at the time. Spriggs was formerly with the Studio Museum in Harlem and was named inaugural director of Hammonds House in 1988. As executive director, Comer Lowe had hoped to make Hammonds House “a small version of the Studio Museum, which is the best African American museum in the country.” Her core mission, she told ArtsATL in September 2021, was to educate the public.

W. Imara Canady, president of the board of trustees, stated the reasons for the change in a press release: the pandemic, the economy and the challenges that African American arts and cultural institutions face. “We can’t continue to operate with a traditional business model because we are not a traditional business,” he states in the release. “To be relevant and move forward, we must embrace new ideas and innovation.”

When reached by phone, Canady said the organization is embarking on a three-year phase “to fully get a structure that works for us. Any organization focused on leadership of one person, particularly Black led and focused organizations, is doomed for failure.” He said the board envisions a two-person team to lead the museum, a managing director “and someone on the artistic side. It won’t be a traditional artistic director role.”

The Fulton County Arts Council awarded Hammonds House $200,000 in 2021, a substantial increase over the previous year’s $70,000 contribution. Canady said he is hopeful “those dollars will sustain themselves,” and that the board will find new, diverse funding streams. They are also looking to create innovative programming that includes a more robust online presence.

The Hammonds House website includes a statement that the museum is closed because of Covid. Canady added that because the museum building is a Fulton County facility the board wanted to “be in alignment with other Fulton County institutions that are currently closed, such as the Abernathy Arts Center.” He anticipates the museum will be open again in the spring or summer. “We know there is still a need for the museum,” he said. “It is still relevant. We want to do everything for the continued vitality of the organization.” But, he added, “we are in flux.”