Meet New Executive Director of The Aldrich, Cybele Maylone
Hailing from Brooklyn where she served as the executive director of UrbanGlass for five years, Cybele Maylone stepped into her role as executive director of The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum just two weeks ago. Packing up and heading from the city to the burbs with her two young girls and husband, a social studies teacher at Danbury High School, Maylone is thrilled to call Ridgefield home.
Here, we chat about life in the Ridge, Maylone's new role at the helm of The Aldrich, and the innovative joy that is born when community and art meet.
What does a day in the life of a busy mom, wife, and now the executive director of The Aldrich look like?
My husband is a teacher who leaves for work just after 6 am, so I have my hands full in the morning. I drop my daughters off at their schools-- Veterans Park and Ridgefield Montessori-- and head into the office. One thing that I love about the position is that no two days are alike: I can go from meeting with an artist to lunch with a donor to a conversation about a facility issue all in the span of an afternoon. If I don't have an event, at the end of the day I head back home for dinner with my family. I am lucky that my husband is a great cook! After my kids are asleep I tend to work a bit more, catching up on things that got away from me during the day.
If you could go out to dinner with one artist (living or deceased) who would it be?
He's not an artist, but I am learning so much about Larry Aldrich, the Museum's founder, and every day makes me more curious about him. He built a museum that was incredibly forward-looking in 1964 and I would love to know more about where his ideas came from, because they still resonate so much today.
Hidden gem inside The Aldrich the community may not be aware of?
The Aldrich has a small but impressive Shop that sells limited editions, books, and other kinds of artist projects. It's a great spot for purchasing unique gifts, and as my family settles into our new home, there are a number of prints that I am eyeing for our walls!
What do you consider is your greatest accomplishment?
I'm sure this will make sense to all parents out there, but my family is definitely my greatest accomplishment. And the fact that we've all navigated our recent move comes in a close second!
Anything you wish I asked?
Not a thing!