The ISC Welcomes New Board Member Dr. Livia Straus

The International Sculpture Center Welcomes New Board Member Dr. Livia Straus

(Hamilton, NJ) The International Sculpture Center (ISC), a global nonprofit arts service organization, celebrates the addition of Dr. Livia Straus to the ISC Board of Trustees.

Dr. Livia Straus holds a Ph.D. in Theology from New York University, specializing in Medical Ethics. For many years she served as Director of Education at major religious institutions in both Westchester and Manhattan. She is Professor Emeritus of The Academy for Jewish Religion, a non-denominational Rabbinic Seminary and was Adjunct Associate Professor of Theology at Fordham University.

In addition to her work in academia, Dr. Straus has served on the Board of the Neuberger Museum in Purchase, New York, the Hebrew Union College Museum in Manhattan, and the Contemporary Acquisition Committee at the Jewish Museum in Manhattan. She also served on the Advisory Board for the Cincinnati Museum of Contemporary Art and as Curatorial Advisor for Riyadh Metro, Saudi Arabia.

Dr. Straus and her husband, Marc, have been avid collectors of contemporary art since their early twenties, focusing on emerging artists and traveling worldwide to conduct studio visits. Their collection has been the subject of nine touring museum shows. Together, Livia and Marc founded Hudson Valley MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art), a public museum in Peekskill, NY, an economically challenged multicultural town one hour north of NYC. Since its founding, HVMOCA has serviced over 25,000 students in challenging education programs, organized 6 editions of Peekskill Project, a city-wide art festival, hosted over 50 artists in residence, and launched exhibitions that have received accolades in the press and in the artist and collector community alike. In 2010, Dr. Straus was recognized for her contributions to education and the development of culture along the Hudson Valley.  She is the recipient of the Philanthropist of the Year award.

Board Chair Raymond Tymas-Jones, Ph.D. says, “I am delighted to welcome Dr. Livia Straus as a new member of the ISC Board of Trustees. Our Board members are highly committed to fulfilling the organization's mission and vision through various programs that celebrate and support the artists who enrich our lives. We are excited to have Dr. Livia Straus on board and look forward to her contributions.”

Dr. Straus is welcomed by the International Sculpture Center's Board leadership members Raymond Tymas-Jones, Ph.D. (Chair), Hilary Nitka (Vice Chair), Doug Schatz (Secretary), George Tobolowsky (Treasurer), and 13 other dedicated members of the ISC governing body, eager to champion the ISC mission, oversee ISC activities, and ensure that the organization is well-equipped to fulfill its mission.

The International Sculpture Center (ISC) is a member-supported, non-profit organization founded in 1960 to advance the creation and understanding of sculpture and its unique and vital contribution to society. ISC programming includes awards to lifetime and student sculptors, patrons, and educators, ISConnects, the web site www.sculpture.org, conferences and symposia, publication of Sculpture magazine and ISC Press books, and membership services to sculptors, collectors, patrons, architects, developers, journalists, curators, historians, critics, educators, foundries, galleries, and museums-anyone with an interest in and commitment to the field of sculpture.

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International Sculpture Center, Publisher of Sculpture magazine
1 N. Johnston Ave., Suite C240. Hamilton, NJ 08619-3447, USA
TEL 609.689.1051 www.sculpture.org

Contact:
Courtney Lester
Community Engagement Manager
609.689.1051, ext. 319. engagementmanager@sculpture.org

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