Today we have the pleasure of spotlighting Drs. Herman J. Milligan, Jr., & Constance Osterbaan-Milligan
Dr. Milligan is currently a Managing Partner with The Fulton
Group, LLC, an independent consultant firm specializing in marketing research,
competitive intelligence, non-profit organizational development, and
culturally-specific initiatives. He has over twenty-five years of experience
working in the financial services industry. He retired in 2010 as a
Vice-President of Marketing Research/Competitive Intelligence within the
Enterprise Marketing/Marketing Insights and Measurement division for Wells
Fargo and Company. He received his Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of
Minnesota-Twin Cities and his B.A. in Sociology from the University of
Wisconsin-Madison.
Dr. Milligan was as a Ford Foundation Fellow in Music at the
Center For Contemporary Music at Mills College (Oakland, CA) and performed with
the Cecil Taylor Black Music Ensemble at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in
1971 (Tenor Saxophone) and also served as a music reviewer for the schools’
newspaper, the Daily Cardinal. As a photographer, he has participated in and
organized several exhibitions and taught Visual Sociology at Macalester College
(St. Paul, MN).
He currently serves on the Board of Directors/Advisory
Boards for Artspace Projects, Inc. (Minneapolis, MN); IFP Center for Media Arts
(St. Paul, MN); The Center for Cuban Studies (New York, NY); The Givens
Foundation For African American Literature (Minneapolis, MN); The Soap Factory
(Minneapolis, MN); Juxtaposition Arts (Minneapolis, MN); Interact Center for
the Visual and Performing Arts (Minneapolis, MN); Seattle 911 Media Center
(Seattle, WA); SOO Visual Arts Center (Minneapolis, MN); Town/Craft Advisory
Board for Iowa State University, University Extension, Community and Economic
Development/College of Design (Perry, IA); TuckUnder Projects (Minneapolis,
MN); I Do My Part (Tallahassee, FL) ; Ananya Dance Theatre (Minneapolis, MN);
Contempo Physical Dance (St. Paul, MN).
When did you start your collection? What was the
inspiration?
"Actually for me the inspiration to collect started in high school by
collecting 45’s and LPS and continued into college and beyond. My first
art-related pieces were a poster by Romare Bearden announcing his The Prevalence of Ritual: Painting and
Collages exhibition at The Museum of Modern Art in 1971. It was given to me
by a poet/writer friend of mine named James
W. Thompson (The Yellow Bird and You
Are Alms) who I met through Cecil Taylor, the jazz musician/composer. I
played with Cecil’s Black Music Ensemble at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
that year. We had travelled to New York to perform at Hunter College. At that
same time, James also gave me a mailing designed by Bearden to promote the Arthur
A. Schomberg Collection located in Harlem. The Collection is now part of the
New York City Public Library system. James was working there helping to promote
the Collection and the Bearden show.
My interest in collecting grew as I learned photography in
Cambridge, MA and I began to understand the art of preserving images for historical
purposes. I began collecting books at this time as well. This continued when I
started graduate school at the University of MN-Twin Cities.
When in graduate school I began to purchase more photography
and art. After meeting my wife in graduate school we began collecting together
and separately. In those days, we would visit galleries and get to know the
owners. Our favorite Gallery Owners would call us back and let us know what
they had to offer. They were very knowledgeable and were eager to showcase the
work and their knowledge about the work. You really got to know them, the work
itself and its provenance. As I
began to volunteer with nonprofit arts organization, I felt it was important to
support the work of emerging artists and began collecting their work locally,
nationally and internationally when I traveled for work or on vacation."
-Herman Milligan
-Herman Milligan
Roughly how many pieces of art do you own?
Is there a theme or focus in your collection?
"Emerging contemporary; photography; Cuban contemporary artists;
African sculpture; established modern/contemporary artists who are local,
national, or international in location."
-H.M.
-H.M.
Have some questions for Herman or Constance?
Please join us for a talk with some of the collectors this Thursday, November 14 from 6-8 pm at SooVAC.
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