Jeffrey J. Hoone Gallery Dedication

It is our great pleasure to dedicate the Hallway Gallery at Light Work as the Jeffrey J. Hoone Gallery in honor of his visionary leadership at Light Work. Starting in 1980, Hoone worked with founding directors Phil Block and Tom Bryan for two years. After becoming director in 1982, he led the organization on a path of steady and sustainable growth while expanding the core Artist-in-Residence, exhibition and publishing programs. After 41 years in a leadership position, Hoone retired in 2021, leaving behind a legacy that included curating over 200 exhibitions, hosting over 400 Artists-in-Residence, producing over 250 publications, raising over $ 25 million, and establishing five endowment funds totaling close to $3 million. During his last 15 years, he helped start, and then run, the Coalition of Museum and Art Centers at Syracuse University. He also helped start Urban Video Project, the Photography and Literacy Project, managed a major permanent installation by Sol LeWitt and established the Syracuse University Art Museum.

Hoone considers the diversity of the programs and the artists that have been supported by Light Work to be his most important achievement. These efforts were recognized nationally and internationally as Light Work received top grants from the New York State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts and several national foundations. Hoone developed a close relationship with Syracuse University alumnus and philanthropist Robert B. Menschel. For nearly four decades until he passed away in 2022, Menschel was Light Work’s biggest benefactor and helped support a major renovation that resulted in the creation of the Robert B. Menschel Center, Light Work’s home since 2001. Menschel introduced Hoone to collector Howard Stein. Together, they formed the foundation Joy of Giving Something (JGS). After 20 years on the board, Hoone also now serves as president of JGS, which provides support to Light Work, Urban Video Project, the PAL Project and other photography organizations across the country to support emerging and under-recognized artists.