Behind the scenes at The Harwood Museum of Art, a few women are very busy making sure everything runs like a well oiled machine.
Behind every great man, there’s a great woman, the old saying goes and I’d take it a step further; behind every great institution, there are a few great women. This is especially true here in Taos, where women have left their imprint all over this town since its inception.
Following in the footsteps of those early remarkable and intrepid women, including Lucy Harwood (shown here with her friends), who were so influential in making Taos the renowned art colony it became, the women who currently work at The Harwood continue to build on that legacy in their respective positions at the museum.
I’ve talked to three of them recently and will share their words with you over the coming weeks.
Sonya Davis is the New Development Director at the museum. She replaced Juniper Manley and I thought the community would like to know who has filled Juniper’s position. Interestingly enough, Sonya has a Minnesota connection (where Burt and Lucy Harwood were from.) Sonya kindly answered the questions I posed to her via email.
1) Having replaced the very popular Juniper Manley, when Juniper was accepted to the NM Humanities Board, our community is very curious to know who has stepped in to fill that vacant spot at the Harwood. Could you please tell us a little about yourself?
I have an academic background in art history and a little more than 15 years experience as a non-profit, fine arts organization administrator and professional fundraiser. Coming from the state of Florida most recently, my family is from the Midwest. I earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Minnesota. Before moving back to Florida in 2001, I lived for many years in a northern Minnesota town on the Canadian border that is about the size of Taos. Having visited New Mexico — including Taos — many times over the past 25 years, it’s been on my (and my husband’s) “bucket list” to live and work in the Southwest. My husband and I look forward to becoming part of the community as active volunteers and outdoor enthusiasts.
2) How do you see your role at the museum going forward?
My role is as a major gifts fundraiser with the goal of helping to provide the Harwood with both current and future financial stability. Focusing on the big picture and the long term are ever more critical with the perennially decreasing State and University of New Mexico funding for the Museum.
Thanks Sonya!
For more about The Harwood Museum of Art, please visit their site linked below this post.
All photographs (from Burt and Lucy Harwood’s albums) all c/o The Harwood Museum of Art
