The San Diego Museum of Art Presents American Artists from the Russian Empire
Exhibition Explores the Contributions Made to the U.S. from Russian Immigrant Artists

American Artists from the Russian Empire premiers this fall at its only West Coast venue, The San Diego Museum of Art. The exhibition features nearly 70 paintings and sculptures by many of the best-known artists working in America in the postwar period, among them Louise Nevelson, Jules Olitsky, Mark Rothko, and Ben Shahn.

On view Saturday, October 24, 2009 to Sunday, January 17, 2010, American Artists from the Russian Empire presents a fascinating foray into the work of artists of Russian descent and training who left the Russian Empire before the end of the 1930s. These artists all created a significant body of work in the U.S., and the exhibition provides unique insights into the immeasurable contributions they made to the creation of American culture.

The exhibition brings to San Diego a broad selection of works on loan from museums, galleries, and private collections in the U.S. The installation at the Museum also features works from its own permanent collection and some local loans from private collections by artists who emigrated to the U.S. from Russia, among them: Alexander Archipenko, Nicholai Fechin, Jacques Lipshitz, Joseph Solman, and Max Weber.

“American Artists from the Russian Empire will give our audiences an exciting opportunity to see a broad range of artistic styles and media used by some of the most active and influential Russian artists who lived and worked in the United States. The Museum is thrilled to partner with major institutions in Russia and the United States to bring this dynamic exhibition to San Diego,” said Julia Marciari-Alexander, deputy director for curatorial affairs at The San Diego Museum of Art.

In addition to the exhibition, The San Diego Museum of Art will offer two related programs. “From Art History to Art Making,” a panel discussion inspired by American Artists from the Russian Empire, explores the roles of identity, place, and culture in art. The lecture, which is free with Museum admission, will be held Saturday, November 14 at 1 p.m., and is followed by a workshop inspired by sculptor Louise Nevelson. There is a $5 fee for the workshop.

Family Drop-in Day on Sunday, November 15 from 1-3 p.m. encourages exploration and learning about mood and color inspired by American Artists from the Russian Empire. This program is designed for families with children 6-12 years old and is free with Museum admission.

The San Diego Museum of Art is proud to be the second and final U.S. museum to host this exhibition. Curated by Evgenia Petrova, deputy director for science at the State Russian Museum, the project will be managed at The San Diego Museum of Art by Julia Marciari-Alexander, deputy director for curatorial affairs.

The exhibition is organized by The Foundation for International Arts and Education, Bethesda, Maryland, and the State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia. It is generously funded by Morgan Stanley, Konstantin Grigorishin/Energy Standard Group, Severstal, Trust for Mutual Understanding, Anthony and Judy Evnin, Russkiy Mir Foundation, Gail and Mike Yanney/The Burlington Capital Group, and Slade Foundation. An indemnity has been granted by the Federal Council on the Arts and Humanities.

The local presentation of this exhibition is made possible by the generous support of the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture, the County of San Diego Community Enhancement Program and members of The San Diego Museum of Art.

American Artists from the Russian Empire is accompanied by a 288-page, illustrated catalogue published by the State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg, available at the Museum store.

Museum Information:
The San Diego Museum of Art is located at 1450 El Prado in Balboa Park, San Diego, Calif., 92101. General Information, (619) 232-7931, Group Sales: (619) 696-1915, Website: www.sdmart.org, Twitter @SDMA.

Museum Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday, noon - 5 p.m.

General Museum Admission: Adult $12; Senior (65+) and Military with ID $9; Student $8; Youth (6-17) $4.50. Children 5 and under are free. (Specially priced tickets may be required for certain exhibitions. Please contact the Museum for more information.)

To become a member of The San Diego Museum of Art, call 619-696-1941, visit www.sdmart.org/membership.html or inquire in person at the Museum.

The San Diego Museum of Art provides a rich and diverse cultural experience for 350,000 visitors annually. Located in the heart of beautiful Balboa Park, the Museum’s nationally renowned collections include Spanish and Italian old masters, South Asian paintings, and 19th- and 20th-century American paintings and sculptures. In addition, the Museum regularly features major exhibitions of art from around the world, as well as an extensive year-round schedule of supporting cultural and educational programs for children and adults, as well as a research library. At The San Diego Museum of Art, exhibition texts are always in English and Spanish.

by SDMART - Sept 3, 2009

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Source: http://sdmart.org