I just got this email and I am absolutely shocked and saddened by the passing of this beautiful and amazing woman who devoted her life to supporting artists and creating a space for adventurous audiences.
ISSUE Project Room, currently located on Third Street in the American Can Factory in Park Slope (and soon to be at 110 Livingston Street in downtown Brooklyn), was the fruit of Fiol's life work; it was a labor of love that reflected her passion for experimental music, film, video and poetry. I send my condolences to her family and many friends.This is a true loss to the Brooklyn—and the international—arts community.
In the Brooklyn Paper, Borough President Marty Markowitz called Fiol “the heart and soul and
extraordinary visionary behind Issue Project Room, a symbol of the
forward-thinking culture that makes Brooklyn the creative capital of
New York City.”
He said that the 110 Livingston St. theater would become the “Carnegie Hall of the avant garde.”
It is with great heartbreak and remorse that ISSUE Project Room
announces the passing of our founder, artistic director, and driving
force, Suzanne
Fiol.
Born on May 9, 1960, Suzanne died at 1:05 pm on Monday, October 5,
2009, after fighting a courageous and inspiring battle against
cancer.
Suzanne passed peacefully surrounded by loved ones at New York
Presbyterian Hospital. Our hearts go out to her daughter Sarah, her
sister Nancy, and
her parents Lawrence and Arlene Perlstein.Anyone who has met Suzanne knows that she devoted her life to creating
and sustaining a space where artists — acclaimed and emerging,
local and international — could develop and perform new, challenging,
and exciting works. Regardless of the different venues we've inhabited
since
our inception in 2003, ISSUE has always been Suzanne's labor of love, a
space that housed and reflected her restless intellect, fiery spirit,
and
great heart. She would often jokingly refer to herself as "Mama Issue,"
a fitting moniker considering the unconditional love she unabashedly
showed
her friends, family, and the steadily growing audiences that have been
coming to ISSUE over the years.
We are grief-stricken by Suzanne's passing, yet inspired by her
vision and strength, and will devote ourselves to fulfilling her vision
with the
strength we draw from our memories of her. Programming will continue
this week in honor of Suzanne, and we welcome you all to come to ISSUE
and share
your memories.A memorial is currently being planned.
Please stay tuned for information on its time, date and
location.We would like to extend our most heartfelt thanks to all of you for supporting Suzanne and ISSUE's mission.Sincerest regards,Steve Wax, Board Chair
On behalf of Zach, Michelle, Lawrence, and all of us at ISSUE
Photo of Suzanne by Joseph Holmes