For 50 years, communism?s Iron Curtain kept Russian art from Western eyes.
Previously unseen paintings are on display in Columbia, nearly 20 years after the fall of communism.
Thursday is the last night to see examples of Russian Realism at the Rouse Company Foundation Gallery. The exhibit is titled Russian Realism: Stalin to Perestroika 1935-1989.
For the exhibit?s closing reception, Columbia art collector Peter Horowitz will compare five paintings on display to paintings from Western Europe, discussing the lifestyle of the people depicted and the issues they faced. Peter and his wife, Beth Horowitz, provided 32 paintings from their personal collection for the exhibit.
“As a collector, you become familiar with the history of the art and develop attachments and attractions to it,” said James Adkins, visual arts director of the Rouse Company Foundation Gallery.
In the exhibit, “there?s a wide variety of subject matter ? rural life, urban industry, still life, interiors and figuratives,” Adkins said.
“I was very impressed with the exhibit ? the lighting, the music and the information posted next to each painting with a timeline of the art world,” said Columbia resident Pat Dillon, who regularly travels to national and international galleries.
“One of [Russian Realism?s] underlying features is that the skill in the painting is phenomenal ? the color and composition. It?s gritty reality not adorned, a pure form of representational art,” Horowitz said. “One thing it does is impose on you the need to understand more about Russia and the rest of the world.”
Before the Horowitz?s lecture, the art collector will walk visitors through the exhibition, performing illumination demonstrations “to bring out the color and character of the paintings,” Horowitz said. Visitors can view the paintings before, during and after his half-hour lecture, which begins at 7 p.m.
Russian Realism art, which is influenced by naturalism and impressionism, has a realistic yet fluid look. “It?s organic and doesn?t get old,” Horowitz said.
“People are coming from far and wide to see the exhibit,” Adkins said. “For the most part, this work has not been seen before in the United States.”
If you go
Russian Realism
» Venue: The Rouse Company Foundation Gallery, Howard Community College, 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia
» Times: 6 to 9 p.m. today
» Cost: Free
» More info: www.howardcc.edu
