Museum News

Current Exhibition: “Museum of Russian Icons Peeks into Romanov Cupboards”

“Museum of Russian Icons Peeks into Romanov Cupboards”

by Sebastian Smee via “Boston Globe”

WHAT:

“The Tsar’s Cabinet: Two Hundred Years of Russian Decorative Arts Under the Romanovs”

WHERE:

“Museum of Russian Icons.”

203 Union St.

Clinton, MA 01510

Hours:

Tues.-Fri. ~ 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Sat. ~ 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

WHEN:

March 27, 2014 – May 24, 2014

HOW MUCH:

Generally:

Adults: $9

Seniors: $5

Students: $2

Children: $2

Children (under 3): Free

Special Free Admission: Varies, for more details, see here.

DETAILS:

“CLINTON — The romance of the Romanov dynasty — in odor so like certain over-evolved orchids — has been affiliated, aptly enough, with fragile accessories forever. One thinks, above all, of the products of the House of Fabergé, but more generally of the decorative arts (particularly porcelain) produced specifically for the Romanovs between the 18th and early 20th centuries, when the dynasty came to its bloody and unambiguous end.

The Museum of Russian Icons in Clinton is currently hosting a show called “The Tsar’s Cabinet: Two Hundred Years of Russian Decorative Arts Under the Romanovs” that’s filled with porcelain, as well as glass, lacquer, enamel, and other luxury materials.

Drawn from the private collection of consultant Kathleen Durdin (who, according to a biographical note in the show’s catalog, used to collect magazine advertisements that featured the Forbes Fabergé collection), the show summons the rich history of Romanov rule.

It comes to Clinton at the end of a five-venue tour of Canada and the United States. It was organized by the Muscarelle Museum of Art, which is on the campus of the College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, Va., in collaboration with International Arts and Artists, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. . . . .

“Matisse ‘Cut-Outs’ Go On Show At Tate Modern”

via “KLFM”

“The most comprehensive exhibition ever devoted to Henri Matisse’s famous “cut-outs” will go on display at Tate Modern.

Around 120 of the French artist’s pieces will be shown together for the first time, including celebrated works such as the seated Blue Nudes and the original models for his illustrated book Jazz.

Matisse was widely regarded as one of the most significant artists of the last century, and his technique of cutting out painted pieces of paper to create works of art was considered ground-breaking.

He called the practice “drawing with scissors”.

Tate director Sir Nicholas Serota has co-curated the exhibition personally, and described hosting the collection as the “most extraordinary and exciting moment” for the gallery.

The artist began the process of cut-outs in 1943 while in his 70s, following a bitter divorce and amid the Nazi occupation of France.

Sir Nicholas told Sky News: “Many people regarded them slightly as the meanderings of an old man rather than a great artist, but gradually they began to understand how important they were.

“Artists began to use the cut-outs as ingredients for their own work, so from the 50s onwards you see artists picking up . . . .”

Will Washington Get a Women’s History Museum?

Will Washington Finally Get a Women’s History Museum?

By Julia Halperin via “The Art Newspaper”

Meryl Streep personally pledged $1m to the planned museum last year. Photo: Annie Liebovitz

A long-stalled campaign to build a national museum for women’s history in Washington, DC, has gained new momentum. Key elected officials, including Eric Cantor, the Republican majority leader of the House of Representatives, and Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic minority leader, pledged their support this week for legislation to help create the museum.

The bill’s list of cosponsors has nearly doubled in the past four months, to 85, and a vote is expected to take place later this year. A record number of women serving in Congress—98, up from 91 last year and 24 in 1983—also gives the legislation’s chances of success a boost. The latest version of the bill is designed to calm the complaints of Republicans, who blocked an earlier proposal in 2010 because they feared a new museum would cost taxpayers too much money. The estimated $500m institution will be financed entirely through private funds; a non-profit organisation started to raise money for the museum has already collected $18m, according to The New York Times, and the actress Meryl Streep personally pledged $1m last year. But the project still needs Congressional approval to be built on federal land in downtown Washington, DC.