Former Haystack director named MECA interim president

Photo / Courtesy of Maine College of Art Maine College of Art has named as its interim president Stuart Kestenbaum, an innovator in craft, writing and emerging technologies for 27 years as former director of the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts.

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Stuart Kestenbaum, a long-time director of the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, was named interim president at the Maine College of Art in Portland until a permanent successor to former President Don Tuski is hired.

MECA’s board of trustees made the announcement recently.

After six years as MECA’s president, Tuski in June announced his resignation from the downtown Portland art college to take the post of president at Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, Ore.

Kestenbaum also is known for helping make Haystack known as one of the world’s preeminent destinations for artists. While at the Deer Isle school, he was credited with establishing innovative programs combining craft and writing and craft and emerging technologies. He resigned from Haystack in May 2015, and was replaced by Paul Sacaridiz.

Matt Hutton, chair of MECA’s woodworking and furniture design department and current board president for Haystack, said in a statement: “Stuart has placed Maine as a destination and leader of art and craft through his stewardship of Haystack Mountain School of Crafts ... Now the Maine Poet Laureate, he continues to advance the field of creativity and maintain his role as a leader in this community. Having Stuart Kestenbaum as Maine College of Art's interim president is not only fitting but a privilege that we will benefit from in the upcoming academic year.”

A committee comprised of MECA’s faculty, staff and board of trustees is currently conducting a larger search to identify MECA’s next permanent president. More information on that process will be released in the fall.