This week, Jared Bowen brings us two exhibitions at the Museum of Russian Icons and shares some exciting news from the Huntington Theatre Company.
“Painted Poetry: Alexander Gassel, A Retrospective,” on view at the Museum of Russian Icons through September 26
The Museum of Russian Icons presents the work of artist and museum conservator Alexander Gassel. Born in Moscow under Soviet rule, Gassel would sneak looks at banned artworks that were stored away by museums, giving him an appreciation for Art Deco and Art Nouveau styles, and abstract artists like Wassily Kandinsky. Pulling inspiration from these contemporary forms as well as Russian Icon painting, Gassel creates unique and vivid works that touch on everything from religious themes to deeply personal subjects of family, hardship and home.
“Imagine going to a museum and seeing forbidden art, and then really having that influence the way that you paint,” says Curator of the Collection Lana Sloutsky. “[It] really must have been a very emotional and certainly a formative experience in [Gassel's] career.”
“Miniature Masterpieces: Russian Lacquer Boxes,” on view at the Museum of Russian Icons through May 23
Also on view at the Museum of Russian Icons is an array of Russian lacquer boxes. “Miniature Masterpieces” presents more than 100 boxes, primarily from four Russian villages known for their centuries of artistic production. Lacquer box making is a tradition that has been passed down in these communities, often within generations of families. The papier-mâché works are intricately painted, then coated in more than 30 layers of lacquer and depict everything from popular imagery and famous landmarks to fairy tales and nature.
After icon painting was banned under the Communist regime, “the painters turned to painting popular images,” says Executive Director Kent Russell. “Right through to the present time, there's a strong tradition of painting popular motifs [including] love scenes, cars, whatever you might put on a popular box.”
Huntington Theatre Company announces renovations and plans for a return to in-person live performances
Today the Huntington Theatre Company announced it is beginning Phase 1 of a renovation of its historic theater. The Huntington is capitalizing on the downtime created by the coronavirus pandemic by accelerating construction, a $55 million effort, with the goal of reopening its venue in fall 2022. Managing Director of the Huntington Theatre Company Michael Maso has also announced plans for the Huntington to produce a full 2021/2022 season of shows launching as early as August 2021.
“We have every confidence that we are going to start producing plays in the fall,” says Maso. “Everything that we've learned about people and keeping people safe, and keeping our staff safe, and protecting our audience…that is going to allow us to come back and open the Calderwood Pavilion in the fall for regular performances.”
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