Esteemed arts administrator Scott Lundius has been named executive director of the Morrison-Shearer Foundation, a Northbrook-based organization aimed at preserving the legacies of Chicago dance luminary Sybil Shearer and photographer Helen Balfour Morrison, Shearer's creative partner. Announced Friday, Lundius' appointment comes at a critical juncture for the Foundation, which has provided major funding toward the construction of the Sybil Shearer Studio at Ragdale, an artist residency located in Lake Forest. Lundius moves into his new role with this project well-underway.
A former dancer with the Limón Dance Company, Lundius' 10-year career on stage preceded administrative positions with Pentacle and Prospect Park Alliance in New York, and Taos Center for the Arts in New Mexico. A Chicagoan since 2002, Lundius was director of education at Marwen, a visual arts program for underserved teens, and director of education and performance projects at Old Town School of Folk Music. Lundius joins Alida Szabo, newly appointed as board chair for the Foundation.
“We are fortunate to have found someone like Scott with a passion for dance, experience in administration and familiarity with our community” Szabo said in a statement. “His talents will be invaluable as we continue our mission to perpetuate the legacy of dancer/choreographer Sybil Shearer and photographer Helen Balfour Morrison as an inspiration for new creativity in the arts.”
The Morrison-Shearer Foundation is currently based out of Shearer and Balfour's Northbrook home. In June, they will release the final volume of Sybil Shearer's autobiography, “Without Wings the Way is Steep.” The Sybil Shearer Studio at Ragdale is scheduled to open this fall, with a kick-off event screening a new documentary film created by Bob Hercules of Media Process Group. The film aims to connect the dots between Shearer’s original Northbrook studio, designed by Morrison in 1951, to the new studio at Ragdale, both intended as an artists' refuge from Chicago's hectic pace.