Chicago Art Institute President Under Scrutiny Over Alleged Incident During Flight to Munich
Partyin' on a Plane: Art Institute Director's Wild Ride
James Rondeau, the rowdy ringmaster of the Art Institute of Chicago, one of the US's most buzzing museums, has hit the brakes on his reign amid a heavy-duty probe into his wild antics on a international flight last month.
CBS News cracked the whip late Friday reportin' that ole Jimbo, the president and director of the Art Institute of Chicago since 2016, tossed his hat in the ring for a break while that investigation rolled on.
An Art Institute of Chicago spokesperson spilled the beans to our website, "The Art Institute takes this big-time hoo-ha seriously and has called in an independent squad to snoop around and snag all the skinny on the incident." They confirmed that Rondeau was coachin' his horse in the offal-deaf and let his hair down durin' the investigation.
Gossips ‘Round Town
The CBS News report claimed the investigation was sparked by a nutty happening on United Airlines Flight 953 from Chicago to Munich in April. Nosy parkers, speakin' on the QT, said cops were called to the plane after a commotion over a passenger who shed his threads[1][2][3]. Insiders hipped CBS News that Rondeau caught their eye dancin' the night away on that flight, and it all unfolded after he'd knocked back some booze and swigged his prescription meds.
Rondeau has been with the Art Institute of Chicago since 1998, joinin' as an associate curator of contemporary art in '98. He became the big cheese of contemporary art in '04, and while he was callin' the shots, he merged the contemporary art department with the institution's modern art department. This fusion led to a $400 million art donation from Stefan Edlis and Gael Neeson in 2015, the museum's largest gift to date. This heavenly treasure trove includes works by Jasper Johns, Cy Twombly, Andy Warhol, and more.
As the museum's lead cowboy, Rondeau kept wranglin' big-ticket gifts, like a $75 mil' one from Aaron I. Fleischman and Lin Lougheed last year to build fancy new galleries for 19th-century art, as well as modern and contemporary art.
The museum stirred up controversy in 2024 when it handled a pro-Palestine encampment on its grounds that was orchestrated by students at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, a related wing of the museum[4]. Sixty-eight students wound up behind bars, and more than 40 Art Institute staffers penned a letter to Rondeau, urging the museum to sever ties with any board members packin' Israeli dough.
[1] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/james-rondeau-art-institute-of-chicago-president-director-accussed-of-stripping-off-clothes-on-flight/
[2] https://www.lloydsaccess.com/article/view/8257456
[3] https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/james-rondeau-step-down-art-institute-chicago-1234615102/
[4] https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-pro-palestine-arrests-art-institute-20240502-x6agnlo64zfhso9mcnen7757y4-story.html
[5] https://www.chicagobusiness.com/sponsored/the-art-institute-of-chicago-fights-for-art-free-of-politics-war/
- The contemporary curator at the Art Institute of Chicago, James Rondeau, known for his wild antics, is currently under investigation following an incident on United Airlines Flight 953 last month.
2.Amidst the ongoing investigation, Rondeau, the museum's lead cowboy who merged contemporary and modern art departments, has decided to take a temporary break from his responsibilities as the president and director.
- The Art Institute of Chicago has enlisted an independent squad to investigate the incident, with a spokesperson confirming that Rondeau continued to coach his horse during the investigation, suggesting a casual approach to the situation.
- Having joined the Art Institute of Chicago as an associate curator of contemporary art in 1998, Rondeau's tenure has seen significant donations, including a $400 million art donation in 2015, and a $75 million gift for new galleries last year.
- The museum has faced political controversy in the past, such as in 2024 when it handled a pro-Palestine encampment on its grounds, leading to the arrest of 68 students and a letter from over 40 staffers urging the museum to disassociate from board members with Israeli funding.
