DeCordova sculpture museum curator resigns

Rachel Rosenfield Lafo, the DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park's director of curatorial affairs and curator of their main exhibition, has resigned after 25 years, citing creative differences with the museum's new director.

"I have decided to leave DeCordova because I realize that the Board and new Director seek a different creative direction for the Museum," Lafo said in a statement Tuesday. "After nearly twenty-five fulfilling years of leading the curatorial program at DeCordova it is time to move on to new challenges."

Lafo said she would pursue "independent curatorial and writing projects."

She arrived in Lincoln in 1984 as the museum's senior curator and was promoted to director of curatorial affairs in 2001.

Lafo is currently the lead curator on DeCordova's current main exhibition, Drawn to Detail, on view through January 4. But she will take a reduced schedule until her last day, November 1.

"Rachel has been a valuable member of the DeCordova community for many years," said museum director Dennis Kois. "Her intellect and professionalism have helped build DeCordova into the nationally recognized institution that it is today.'

"I join the Board and staff in wishing her well in her new curatorial and scholarly pursuits," Kois said.

-- John M. Guilfoil