Cassandra Young
For Susan and Michael Hort, collecting contemporary art extends beyond investment value or the artists’ catalogue raisonné – collecting bonds the two of them together. Both Susan and Michael have developed their personal tastes for over twenty-five years, collecting installation, video, painting, and sculpture by some of the world’s most intriguing contemporary artists. The couple are catalysts for social engagement through the arts, and, since the Rema Hort Mann Foundation’s (RHMF) inception in 1995, art has been a platform for exchange, support and, most importantly, a familial activity.
Rema Hort Mann, Susan and Michael’s daughter, died an untimely death from stomach cancer at age thirty, and, for over fifteen years, the RHMF has contributed financial support to cancer patients unable to afford time with their loved ones. In honor of Rema, recipients can afford travel expenses, a hotel room, phone calls, and related costs to fund their time together. In partnership with numerous New York City and New Jersey-based hospitals, the foundation has helped reunite families and friends from over eleven different countries and continues to grow.
The foundation also supports artists who are out of school and without a solo exhibition at a commercial gallery. By funding these artists’ careers at an early stage, the Horts directly promote emerging talent. Artists previously granted funding include Keltie Ferris, K8 Hardy, Adam Helms, Rashaad Newsome, Kehinde Wiley and Michele Abeles.
The RHMF has established an ongoing benefit called Buy What You Love: an idea inspired by their son Peter. The foundation’s director, Quang Bao, explains, “so much of the art world turns on the reputation of an artist or gallery and what is said or written. Buy What You Love asks the viewer to revert back to the pure idea of seeing something beautiful and wanting it.” With that in mind, the name of the artist behind the artwork will only be revealed after the buying has ended, with the prices falling by the hour.
“Our human impulses and desires are over-informed,” Quang affirms, “real passion skips the brain.” By removing the statistics behind an artwork, the visitor is reminded of the Hort’s efforts to replace sterility with pleasure, human connection, and a shared experience.
Artlog is featuring non-profits in the arts as a series devoted to arts and social change. Visit http://www.remahortmannfoundation.org to learn more about the foundation and how to get involved. Buy What You Love is on March 24, 2011 6:30 – 9:30pm at Marianne Boesky Gallery. We hope to see you there!
