From the outside, one does not notice much difference in the
Samuel Cupples House here at Saint Louis University’s campus, but
there have been changes on the inside. Cupples House has switched
to new management.
The previous executive director of the Cupples House, Pam
Ambrose, was offered a job with Loyola University Chicago to work
on cultural affairs. She has been replaced by David Suwalsky S.J.,
a former curator of the Jesuit collection at the Saint Louis
University Museum of Art.
“After nine years of being Executive Director at Samuel Cupples
House,” Ambrose said, “I was offered an intriguing new position at
Loyola University Chicago as the director of cultural affairs and
the opportunity to be instrumental in the develop and design of a
new art museum opening in October 2005. It was an offer I couldn’t
refuse.”
Suwalsky, the new executive director, has previous experience
not only as a museum curator but he is working on his Ph.D. in
American studies here at SLU.
“My first experience at SLU,” Suwalsky said, “was in ’85 when I
came to study philosophy and get a masters in history.”
He later taught at SLU High School before continuing on to study
at Cambridge. He then became assistant principle of Rockhurst High
School in Kansas City for five years, before returning to SLU to
get his Ph.D.
“Directors of museums,” Ambrose said, “are usually selected by a
‘search’ committee comprised of knowledgeable people in the
specific field and often times members of the institutions Board of
Directors. Sometimes, however, an individual exists as a ‘known’
and is appointed to the position without a local or national
search.”
Suwalsky already has plans for the Cupples House. He would like
to work more on celebrating the holidays at the Cupples House. It
will be set up for Christmas by Nov. 15 so that the staff, faculty
and students can appreciate it before they leave for the
holidays.
Cupples House, however, needs other, more technical work. One
week into his job at the Cupples House, Suwalsky had to deal with a
fallen chandelier in the dining room due to a low flying
helicopter. The chandelier will cost $50,000 to repair. But, the
situation was complicated because the chandelier fell on a $75,000
table. Suwalsky is hoping to have the chandelier back in Cupples
House by the Christmas celebrations. He is also working on
replacing the cracking tile on the conservatory floor.
Another idea on the list of things to do with Cupples House is
to open a gift shop featuring some of the art that is prevalent in
the house.
Both Suwalsky and Ambrose expressed that one of their pressing
challenges as executive director of Cupples House is to get
students to visit and learn more about the historic home and the
man who owned it.
“My goal,” Ambrose said, “was to make sure that every student
who attend SLU at least set foot in the door and create programs,
exhibitions, etc. that were of value to the faculty, students and
general public. Did I succeed? I think not, but I certainly had my
share of parents who visited over the years.”
“I feel my greatest success was integrating Cupples House into
the course work of many academic departments, the naturals being
American Studies, Art History and Studio Art. But surprisingly I
had a good number of business school majors intern with me in order
to learn more about non – profit organizations.”
“It has turned out to be like the arch, you look at it but never
go in,” Suwalsky said.
