Russian Ukrainian Art outside the FSU

[mendeleyev]

From the Mendeleyev Journal:

What a privilege it was to visit and learn more this past week about the wonderful and very unique Museum of Russian Art in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The museum was founded in 2002 and maintains a vibrant and diverse program of exhibitions, seminars, docent-led tours, and related outreach events designed to foster international awareness and understanding.

Working in collaboration with museums and collectors in Russia and the United States, The Museum Of Russian Art designs and implements original exhibitions that feature extraordinary works of fine art rarely seen outside of Russia. Housed in a historic building, a major renovation in 2005 transformed the Spanish Revival-style structure into a state-of-the-art Museum at 5500 Stevens Avenue South in Minneapolis.

Led by Foundation President Bradford Shinkle IV and Director of Operations Lana Gendlin Brooks, Curator Maria Zavialova and her staff are currently conducting an exhibition called Shades of Red: The Evolution of Early Soviet Painting which brings together fifty-six superb works by Soviet artists painted during the decades immediately following the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917.

Beginning in October of 2011 the Museum will host an exhibition named Golden Treasures and Lost Civilizations: Antiquities from Ukraine.

Interested persons may join The Museum of Russian Art (TMORA) and as a member help support the only museum in North America dedicated to the preservation and presentation of Russian art and artifacts. The $45 dollar annual membership and other gifts of course are tax-deductible.

In addition to the Museum the foundation runs a gift store, called IZBA, on the Museum grounds with an impressive collection of Russian and Ukrainian art, music, jewelry, books, collectibles, cards and gifts. There is an Izba gift store also in the Mall of America.

This past January eight Russian museum curators and historic heritage site managers visited the United States for a three-week trip in which they found that U.S. museum officials face similar challenges and share similar aspirations as they work to preserve the past and bring it to life for new generations of museum visitors. The Museum of Russian Art hopes to help build bridges of goodwill for the preservation of this art for generations.

Museum website: www.tmora.org/index.html

IZBA Gift Store website: www.tmora.org/izba/index.php/home

[Gator]

Prices of antiques have declined considerably in America following the Great Recession.  There are some exceptions.  I have noticed that prices for Russian antiques (silver and porcelain) has zoomed upwards over the past 2-3 years at local auctions in Florida.  Increased interest by those with petro-economy dollars?
 
Years ago I had amassed a fine collection of small rugs woven in villages of the Caucasus in the 19th C (not Russian exactly but the FSU).  I sold them at a German auction upon moving to Florida.  I made a fair profit (which is not the primary goal of collecting), yet some of those pieces would bring even more money today.  Russians are important bidders for the best pieces at European auctions.