We have been expecting Tyler Green's interview with PAM's new diector Brian Ferriso for a week now and it doesn't disappoint. Nice to see press from outside of Portland give their take on a guy we like very much and I think some of the candor Brian reveals is a just a part of the very open, accessible civic/ethical dialog in the Rose City. PAM's new director has got a lot of work to do but he's making great headway. (disclosure I am VP of PAM's Contemporary Art Council)

There have been a ton of Ferriso interviews here in the last 8 months and PORT will probably do a formal sit-down with him and maybe some senior staff in the future but we really want things to be settled in more before we ask those nitty gritty and probably unique to Portland questions. I can say I know literally hundreds of people who have worked with him in Milwaukee and Portland and it is almost unanimously enthusiastic about his thoughtful dedication to the important role of museums. In short Portland has almost Roman civics and Ferriso seems to fit right in here. Museums should lead and challenge not pander to some statistical lowest common denominator audience. That strategy ultimately cheats everyone, while looking great on paper.