3rd Top Getty Official Quits Under Munitz

For the third time since Barry Munitz became president of the J. Paul Getty Trust in January, a top official has resigned.

Miguel Angel Corzo on Monday announced his abrupt departure from his job as director of the internationally renowned Getty Conservation Institute, which promotes preservation of the world’s cultural heritage.

This follows the resignation this summer of Eleanor E. Fink, director of the Getty’s now-defunct Information Institute, established to improve the technology of art historical research, and Leilani Lattin Duke, director of the Education Institute, which designs school art curricula.

Corzo could not be reached for comment, but sources close to the Getty contend that he was pushed out of the position he had held for eight years. During his tenure he has presided over field projects all over the world, including the preservation of paintings in an Egyptian tomb and caves filled with Buddhist art in the far west of China.

In the last year, Munitz has led a major internal review of the Getty that has put all its programs under close scrutiny. Although most changes to date have simply involved moving parts of once-independent institutes under different administrative umbrellas to avoid duplication of effort and save money, Corzo’s resignation has stimulated speculation that the Conservation Institute--along with the Education Institute--may be drastically changed or phased out as the Information Institute was.

Munitz declined requests for comment Monday but issued a statement denying the rumors.

“As conservation is a core element of the Getty’s mission, our search for a new director of the Conservation Institute will begin immediately.

“The Conservation Institute will continue to contribute significantly to the field, working closely with other Getty organizations such as the J. Paul Getty Museum and Getty Grant Program, which are also engaged in conservation. The Conservation Institute will continue to build on its track record developing new techniques and technologies in conservation science; training the next generation of conservators internationally; disseminating important information to professionals in the field; and working in partnership with other cultural organizations on specific projects to help preserve arts and cultural heritage,” the statement said.

Under Corzo’s leadership, the institute established global standards for the conservation of the world’s artistic heritage and led international policies affecting the preservation and management of cultural monuments. It also has a presence in Los Angeles: Among local projects undertaken during Corzo’s tenure are the conservation of Ed Kienholz’s sculpture “Back Seat Dodge” at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and Robert Graham’s figurative sculptures at the Los Angeles Coliseum. Still underway is an effort to preserve Mexican artist David Alfaro Siqueiros’ influential mural, “America Tropical” in the El Pueblo Historic Park on Olvera Street.

Corzo worked for the Getty as a consultant and as head of special projects from 1985 to 1987 and returned in 1990 after organizing the popular and critically acclaimed exhibition “Mexico: Splendors of Thirty Centuries,” seen at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 1991.