'No excuses': Frick director offers apology over Islamic art exhibition controversy
The head of The Frick Pittsburgh art museum apologized for “failing to communicate clearly and openly” about the initial indefinite postponement of an Islamic art exhibition over perception concerns in light of the Israel/Hamas war.
In a statement Thursday evening on the museum’s website and social media channels, executive director Elizabeth Barker said there were “no excuses for what I said, regardless of my intentions” and noted that the museum’s decisions around the exhibit “hurt people we deeply respect in the Muslim community, Jewish community, arts community, and beyond.”
“My words gave the offensive and utterly wrong impression that I equated Islam with terrorism and that I saw Jews and Muslims—communities with millennia of peaceful interconnection—as fundamentally opposed,” Barker said.
“My failure to tell it straight from the beginning undermined trust in our organization and had the effect of retraumatizing people who were beginning to perceive the Frick as a psychologically safe space for people who hadn’t previously felt welcome here, including the communities of color we have tried earnestly to welcome”
Barker said she was “humbled by the grace and human kindness” of community leaders, especially those in the region’s Muslim community. She said they have “reframed this moment as an opportunity for us to learn and grow, and expressed interest in working together to promote inclusivity and understanding in our community.”
In a statement Friday, executive director Christine Mohamed, said the Pittsburgh chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) had a “constructive meeting” with the Frick. She welcomed the apology, noting the meeting “fostered a positive dialogue that paves the way for a more inclusive exhibition and strengthened community ties.”
“We appreciate the sincerity of The Frick Museum’s apology and their commitment to accountability,” Mohamed said in the statement. “Our meeting was a positive step forward, fostering understanding and cooperation.”
CAIR anticipates “continued collaboration” with The Frick Museum “to ensure that future exhibitions reflect the richness of diverse cultures and contribute to a more unified community.”
Adam Hertzman, a spokesperson for the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, said Friday that his organization has been in discussions with the Frick through its community relations council.
“We are pleased that the Frick Museum is being responsive to community needs,” Hertzman said of the most recent statement.
Background
TribLive initially reported in October that the museum quietly postponed the “Treasured Ornament” exhibit that was scheduled to open Nov. 4.
At the time, Barker said the decision was because of concerns it might be hurtful to the Jewish community and others. She said it would have seemed “insensitively superficial,” given the conflict and high tensions that have followed the violence in Gaza.
Last week, the museum announced the exhibition would be rescheduled to open in August 2024. A statement cited wanting to engage further with community partners, and lamented having “hurt neighbors” with the handling of the exhibit.
“The Frick is devastated to have hurt neighbors we deeply respect with our unclear communication about the postponement of this exhibition featuring 10 centuries of Islamic art,” the previous statement said. “We will work earnestly to repair our relationships with the Muslim community.”
Local Jewish and Muslim community organizations previously criticized the museum for indefinitely postponing the exhibit.
“Treasured Ornament” features ancient to more modern glassware, ceramics, metalwork, painting, weaponry, and more from countries across the Middle East, and is meant to invoke the “rich history of the Islamic world and the shared human experiences that bind us,” according to a Frick news release.
The traveling exhibition organized by the Huntington Museum of Art in West Virginia has been shown at other museums across the country.
Julia Maruca is a TribLive reporter covering health and the Greensburg and Hempfield areas. She joined the Trib in 2022 after working at the Butler Eagle covering southwestern Butler County. She can be reached at jmaruca@triblive.com.
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