OGUNQUIT, ME.- The Ogunquit Museum of American Art has appointed Michael P. Mansfield, Curator of Film and Media Arts at the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM), as its new Executive Director. Mansfield begins his new position on February 1, 2017.
“After a nine-month, nationwide search, we have selected an admired curator and administrator from the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C.,” announced Ogunquit Museum of American Art Board President David J. Mallen. “Michael has organized and overseen a number of initiatives at the Smithsonian, leading both administrative efforts and curatorial programming. His experience and credentials are a perfect match to move our museum forward. Michael established his reputation as one of America’s foremost experts in media art at SAAM, which is known for its excellent collection of American art. He also has a proven track record of attracting financial support through grants and gifts for his projects.”
Mansfield recently oversaw programs spanning a range of thematic and conceptual topics in contemporary art, film, photography, and electronic media. During his tenure he initiated and organized new acquisitions, exhibitions, and stewardship of the electronic and moving image collections.
Mansfield received his B.A. in photography and art history from the University of Houston and he holds an M.A. in digital and electronic media from the Maryland Institute where he was a fellow with the Mount Royal School of Art. In 2007, he was appointed as an associate in the director’s office at the National Museum of Photography in the Czech Republic. He joined the Smithsonian American Art Museum in 2008, organized the museum’s Media Art Working Group, and was a founding member of the Smithsonian’s Time Based Media Art Conservation Initiative. In 2009, he established and designed the museum’s first permanent gallery space devoted to moving image installations, and has curated several major exhibitions in a range of media at the museum.
“I am truly honored to lead the Ogunquit Museum of American Art and to be entrusted with the future of this important collection,” said Mansfield. “OMAA is an American treasure. The museum has a remarkable 63-year history. The enthusiasm of the Board is inspiring, and of course, it’s an extraordinary location. This is an opportunity I could not resist. My wife’s family resides here in Maine, and we were married here. We are really eager to join the staff, the volunteers, and the creative community in Ogunquit to develop an innovative program for what promises to be a transformative chapter in the museum’s history.”
Mansfield succeeds Interim Executive Director and Curator Andres A. Verzosa, former Board Vice President, who assumed his role in March 2016. “Verzosa’s contributions to OMAA are commendable and key to our successful season,” said David Mallen. “Andy oversaw a seamless transition in 2016 that resulted in increased visitation and fundraising efforts, and he has planned a full schedule of exhibitions and programs for 2017.” Verzosa will assist with Mansfield’s onboarding and transition.
The search committee, chaired by Board of Directors member Diana Joyner, included Board President David Mallen and Board of Directors members Chris Caraviello, Robyn LeBuff, Jennifer Moores, and Alan Shepard. The Museum hired Marilyn Hoffman of Museum Search & Reference, an executive search firm in Manchester, NH and Boston, MA to conduct the national search.
