Michael Rush (museum director)

Michael Rush (1949 – March 27, 2015) was an American ordained priest, actor, and art museum director.

Rush had doctorates in theology and psychology from Harvard University.[1] He originally was an ordained Jesuit priest, but became an actor in the 1980s.[2] He founded an experimental theater, and also landed minor roles in the Spenser: For Hire and Law & Order television series.[2] He wrote art criticism for the New Haven Register, as well as books on video art and new media.[2][1] He was the only director of the Palm Beach Institute of Contemporary Art (2000-2005) during its brief existence, in Palm Beach, Florida.[3]

In 2006, Rush was appointed the Henry and Lois Foster Director of the Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts.[1] In January 2009, Rush was at first "shell-shocked" by the surprise announcement of plans to permanently close the Rose Art Museum and sell off its collection, but he soon organized some of the initial opposition to the scheme.[4] His employment contract with Brandeis was not renewed in June 2009, effectively forcing him to leave.[5] Ironically, he had been principal contributor to a substantial book commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Rose Art Museum and featuring its collection, which was published by Abrams Books in late 2009.[6]

In December 2010, Rush secured a position as founding director of the new Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University, a position he held until his death from pancreatic cancer on March 27, 2015, at the age of 65.[7][2]

  1. ^ a b c A Dream of the Rose Brandeis Magazine Spring '07
  2. ^ a b c d Miller, Matthew (March 31, 2015). "Michael Rush, who led the Broad Art Museum, has died". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  3. ^ Kaufman, Jason Edward (1 March 2005). "Palm Beach Institute of Contemporary Art closes this month". The Art Newspaper - International art news and events. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  4. ^ Lacayo, Richard (Jan 28, 2009). "A Talk With: Michael Rush". Time Entertainment. Time Inc. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  5. ^ Edgers, Geoff (February 14, 2010). "With the Rose Art Museum controversy behind him, Michael Rush moves on". Boston Globe (boston.com). Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  6. ^ Rush, Michael; others (2009). The Rose Art Museum at Brandeis. New York: Abrams. ISBN 978-0810955745.
  7. ^ Boucher, Brian (March 31, 2015). "Michael Rush, Director of Broad Art Museum and Former Rose Art Museum Director, Is Dead". Retrieved March 31, 2015.