By Melody Hanatani
Daily Press Staff Writer

BERGAMOT STATION When the Santa Monica Museum of Art celebrated its 20th anniversary with a birthday party last month, executive director Elsa Longhauser was able to savor the moment knowing she has served an important role in the evolution of the local institution.

It was the year 2000 when Longhauser, a Philadelphia native, left her hometown with her husband to take on the role as the executive director of the Santa Monica Museum of Art (SMMOA), a position left without a permanent suitor since the founding director, Tom Rhodes, left in the late 1990s.

She came with a slightly different perspective than her predecessor who focused on the works of social consciousness and politics and the products of local artists whose voices were not always heard in the community.

Her passion is for the works of important artists who may not necessarily have name recognition in the Los Angeles area, or even in the United States.

“Many local artists are internationally known but not so well known here,” she said.

Longhauser made her mark on the museum early on with her first two exhibits — one by Austrian artist Valie Export, and a second by Brooklyn artist Stephen Keene, whose exhibit was titled the “Miracle Half Mile.” More than 10,000 pieces of Keene’s work were on display during the exhibit, all for sale at affordable prices ranging from $10 to $25.

“It was an incredible phenomenon because art isn’t usually dealt that way,” Longhauser said.

Over the past eight years, Longhauser has overseen countless exhibits, some more popular than others, but all focusing on artists whom she believed had an important voice that needed to be heard.

The museum, which opened at the Edgemar Center for the Arts in 1988 and later moved to Bergamot Station 10 years later, kicked off its 20th anniversary with an exhibit by Michael Asher, an exhibition that outlines the conceptual history of all the exhibits that have taken place at the museum while at Bergamot, which does not house a permanent collection.

“It’s about reconstructing every temporary wall that has been built here for every exhibition since the museum moved to Bergamot,” Longhauser said.

The installation by the internationally renown artist consists of steel and wooden beams that have shaped each of the 44 temporary exhibits that have been erected at the museum in the past 10 years.

“The configuration of the museum changes dramatically with each show,” Longhauser said of past exhibits.

The museum is also housing works by artist Brody Condon whose exhibit, titled “Judgment Modification,” is a digital representation of the “Last Judgment” by Hans Memling.

The celebration of the 20th anniversary will continue throughout the year with a series of lectures and presentations by arts professionals and academics.

“All of this programming is about the essence, the importance, the history of art work,” Longhauser said.

After receiving her degree in art from the University of Pennsylvania, Longhauser embarked on a long career working in small arts organizations in Philadelphia, focusing on showcasing the works of local artists.

Claiming to have no artistic talent whatsoever, Longhauser said she decided to be an art curator because she felt it was where she could have the most impact.

“I was fortunate to be able to find the kind of jobs where I could make my vision manifest into the work that I do, through showing the work of artists who I found really interesting,” she said.

In 2000, Longhauser and her husband decided it was time for a scenic change and headed west, excited about the various arts opportunities presented in a multicultural city like Los Angeles.

“I think Los Angeles is a city of mysteries that you are required to uncover yourself,” she said. “The more you search, the richer the discovery.”

melodyh@smdp.com