Alumni Spotlight: Wendy Clark
10/8/2014 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
After walking on to the Michigan field hockey team in the fall of her freshman year, Wendy Clark played a contributing role in the Wolverines' transition to Big Ten play, highlighted by a runner-up finish at the second-ever conference tournament in 1979. She earned two varsity letters (1979, '80), posting three career goals and two assists in her collegiate career.
A political science major at Michigan, Clark's passion was art and art history, cultivated by a strong artistic family background and several related courses at the old Frieze Building on campus. After graduating in 1983, Clark worked with the Illinois Arts Council for several years before moving to Washington D.C. to accept a position with the National Endowment for the Arts, where she has now been for 25 years.
In July, Clark was appointed as the NEA's Director of Museums, Visual Arts and Indemnity after previously serving as acting director since 2012.
Q. As the NEA's Director of Museums, Visual Arts, and Indemnity, what exactly does your position entail?
A. In this role, I oversee the National Endowment for the Arts grant-making and initiatives that support the nation's museums, visual arts organizations. This includes advising hundreds of museums seeking funding for exhibitions, conservation, commissions, care of collections, educational outreach and reinstallation projects. I administer a peer-review process -- providing museums and visual arts organizations with matching grants for projects totaling approximately $7 million annually. I also manage special initiatives, such as the Blue Star Museum Program (now in its fifth year), which encourages museums to offer free admission during the summer for active-duty military personnel and their families. Last summer, more than 2,200 museums participated.
In terms of Indemnity, I oversee the implementation of an important program, The Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Act (P.L. 94-158), established by congress in 1975 to help minimize the costs for museums of insuring international exhibitions, making it possible for great works of art and cultural treasures from overseas accessible to the American public, often for the first time. This legislation facilitated federal insurance of art, artifacts and other objects owned by foreign lenders for exhibition in the U.S., protecting their value in cases of damage, vandalism or theft during transport and while on view.
Q. You have been with the NEA for several years now. What were some of your previous roles en route to your current position?
A. That's true, I began my career at the NEA in the Design Program, which includes grant making and special initiatives in architecture, urban design, historic preservation, landscape architecture, graphic design and product design. In the mid '90s, I transitioned to the Visual Arts Program and then moved to Museums a dozen or so years later.
Prior to moving to Washington to join the Arts Endowment, I held positions at the Illinois Arts Council in Chicago. I worked in Visual Arts, Design, as well as in the Arts Council's Public Affairs Office. While there, I worked on a program called Building by Design, a cultural facilities planning and design effort, which was awarded a Federal Design Achievement Award by the NEA's Presidential Design Awards jury.
Wendy with her father and two sons
Q. When did you first cultivate your passion for the arts? How did that passion grow/evolve during your time at Michigan?
A. I think my parents had a great influence on me in this regard; they have a great appreciation for art, culture and history. I have aunts and an uncle, who are artists, as is one of my sisters and several cousins; I was always a very visual person -- pouring over books and catalogues. I've always been really drawn to good design, good architecture. In fact, I chose my freshman dorm based on its architecture (as in, at the time, I much preferred the Gothic-revival style of Stockwell over Couzens or Alice Lloyd.) I discovered art history and architecture courses in my sophomore year and was happy to make the trek across the campus from the Kappa House on Hill Street where I lived to the Frieze building, where we had to go to use the slide library -- way before the digital and internet age. I took several art history and art classes but discovered it too late to change majors, so I ended up with a political science degree, which has also been useful since the NEA is a federal agency.
Q. Over your time at the NEA, how have you seen the landscape change?
A. The NEA continues to bring the arts to all of the American people. Because our grants require matching, they leverage support and guarantee a lot of buy-in from many sectors -- corporate, foundation, private, individual and many levels of government -- city, state, county, and federal.
I'm thrilled to help the nation's museums and visual arts organizations-- with their aligned missions and divergent needs-- continue to present the work of excellent artists to the American people. To be part of this community is an honor. Museums have a tall and challenging order, increasingly called upon to be civic anchor, community gathering place and stewards of our most prized cultural heritage. I remain energized and fulfilled by public service.
Q. What are some of the initiatives that you have overseen that you're particularly proud of? Or have been particularly successful?
A. The Blue Star Museums program is of special significance to me, because it's a way for us to honor the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform -- paying special attention to their children and families -- by giving them free access to the country's incredible cultural treasures and masterpieces. I'm also proud that I can represent the agency annually at the American Alliance of Museums conference as both a presenter and exhibitor. I'm a member of ArtTable, an organization dedicated to advancing women's leadership in the visual arts field. I've worked on various other programs including the American Masterpieces/Visual Arts Touring Program, the Rosa Parks Sculpture Competition for the Architect of the Capitol and the Renna Scholarship Grants Program. I've delivered presentations and webinars about the work of the Arts Endowment over the years for the College Art Association, Americans for the Arts and Heritage Preservation's Connecting to Collections. Additionally, I've been a juror for the United States Mint's Artistic Infusion Program to improve coin design and for the United States Department of Justice's Poster Design Competition to bring attention to the plight of missing and exploited children.
Q. Do you have any personal favorite museums, small or large?
A. No, that's like picking a favorite child. I love them all.
Q. How was your experience as a Michigan field hockey player?
A. Although it was a long time ago, 35 years ago to be exact -- it feels really fresh in my mind. When I played, it was just at the Title IX moment -- I think there had only been a varsity team for a few years. Several (I think most, actually) of my teammates were on scholarship -- I just "walked on." My father has always been a big proponent of the notion of "trying." So, with that inspiration, I found out when the tryouts were and headed down to Ferry Field. Truth be told, there weren't that many other walk-ons, so then coach Candy Zientek and the assistant coach Carol Elwell gave me a shot. I was moved from center forward to left wing, which was new to me, but I loved taking a big whack at the ball from the left, whipping my stick and feet around and centering a flat pass across the goal. I could hold my own on the field with decent footwork, speed and hand/eye coordination, but I don't think I worked as hard or was as fit as most of my teammates. There were some fantastic players during that time -- some major talent, and all the women were really spirited and fun -- Mary Callam and her sister Alex, Jean McCarthy, Martha Maugh and the Forrestals and Perky our goalie. The upperclass women had great camaraderie and were welcoming to new players like me. I remember they were big Talking Heads fans, which was a brand new band at the time. My small high school in Dayton, Ohio (Oakwood), has a long tradition of field hockey excellence and big rivalries. I have three older sisters, who all played as well and served as my role models. Two of them also went on to play in the 70s in college -- one at Wooster, the other at Kenyon. Field hockey in high school gave me the confidence to do a lot of things at Michigan. My best friends in the world were on that Oakwood team -- and we continue to get together to this day. I was at center forward, Cathie and Delie were land right inners with Susie and Nancy at the wings. Polly, Joanna, Mary, and Julie had my back at center half, right back and fullbacks, respectively. (We played that classic 5-3-2-1 lineup.)
Wendy with her 1978 high school team (left) and playing at Michigan (right)
Q. As a field hockey alum, are you excited to see how much the program has evolved -- from an NCAA championship and multiple Big Ten titles to, just this past weekend, breaking in a new, state-of-the-art complex?
A. Yes, of course! It's incredible, as in the student-athlete experience today. Back in my day, our "locker room" was in Yost, but it wasn't fully functional. In fact I don't even remember having a locker. I would hike down from Stockwell (my freshman dorm on the Hill), carrying my stick, mouthguard in my pocket, wearing my shin guards. In those days, I must confess I didn't really train in the offseason, except maybe a little running to stay fit. Of course, Title IX changed all that, and it seemed like overnight we had access to the same facility as the football players. It was at this time (after my second varsity year) that I decided I needed to pay closer attention to my studies, so I didn't continue playing. (I can still vividly recall the strain on my knees using that early 80s nautilus equipment.) I've enjoyed coming back for alumni gatherings, and although I missed the dedication of the new complex earlier this fall, I plan to see it later this season. The commitment and fitness and professionalism of today's players is awe-inspiring. I'm reminded of that adage, it's not your mother's field hockey program anymore......
The recently created Office of Alumni Engagement strives to foster a community, recognize the holistic student-athlete and honor the great Michigan Athletics history. This alumni spotlight illustrates the impact that our alumni are having around the world and how they stay engaged with Michigan.
