The Museum of Russian Art
Encyclopedia
The Museum of Russian Art (TMORA) is a museum
in Minneapolis, Minnesota
that houses a collection of Russia
n art
from the 20th century, especially Soviet art
.
The Museum on Russian Art (TMORA) was incorporated as a 501(c)-3 non-profit corporation in 2001 and commenced exhibition activities open to the public initially in loaned space in a corporate office park located in Bloomington, Minnesota in 2002. The organization initially showcased Russian Realist-style paintings from the late 19th century as well as from the Soviet era (1914 - 1991). The Museum received initial funding from Raymond E and Susan B. Johnson; Minnesota residents who had established an extensive personal collection of Russian art and artifacts. TMORA was initially managed by Bradford Shinkle, IV, president and director, from its founding in 2001 until his retirement in 2008. Both Johnson and Shinkle have multiple connections to Russian culture. Mr. Johnson was appointed Honorary Consul for The Russian Federation in 2003; both he (2005) and Mr. Shinkle (2009) are recipients of The Order of Friendship medal of The Russian Federation that is the highest civilian honor accorded to non-Russian citizens in recognition of their respective contributions to international cultural diversity and education.
In 2005, TMORA acquired and thoroughly remodeled the former Mayflower Church in South Minneapolis, a 75 year old building, which previously served as a Congregational church
and funeral home. The building received special recognition for adaptive reuse
from the Minnesota Heritage Preservation Commission. TMORA now operates a state-of-the-art exhibition facility that includes 18000 square feet (1,672.3 m²) of display galleries and administrative offices. Under Mr. Shinkle's leadership the range of exhibition subjects was substantially expanded to include the categories of iconography, photography, folk art and toys as well as lacquer objects.
Among the highlights of TMORA's extensive schedule of exhibitions is Masterpieces of Russian Lacquer Art
, featuring over a hundred lacquered miniatures from Fedoskino
, Palekh
, Kholuy
and Mstera
on loan from the Toy and Miniature Museum of Kansas City, the State Tretyakov Gallery of Moscow
and the Museum of Decorative, Applied and Folk Arts of Moscow, as well as from the personal collection of Lucy Maxym, one of the foremost authorities on lacquer artwork.
Following Mr. Shinkle's retirement in 2008, TMORA's directorship was assumed by Judith H. Dutcher. Ms. Dutcher, former Minnesota state auditor and President of the Minnesota Community Foundation led the Museum through a period of staff expansion and engagement with leading community based corporate and foundation financial supporters. Ms. Dutcher was instrumental in continuing the evolution of TMORA's exhibition activities and initiated events that included the categories of textiles, porcelain and matryoshka toys. Ms. Dutcher left the Museum in November, 2010; Mr. Shinkle resumed his prior role as President and Director of TMORA.
TMORA has established international lending relationships with numerous Russian national and regional museums including the State Tretyakov Gallery (Moscow), State Russian Museum (St. Petersburg), State Museum of Yaroslaval (Yaroslaval); TMORA regularly hosts delegations of visiting Russian museum professionals from throughout Russia who are attracted by its status as the only museum in North America dedicated solely to the exhibition of diversified subjects of Russian artistry.
In addition to year-round changing exhibitions
, TMORA offers lecture series, seminars, social functions and other special events.
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
that houses a collection of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
from the 20th century, especially Soviet art
Soviet art
Soviet art was the visual art produced in the Soviet Union.-Early years:During the Russian Revolution a movement was initiated to put all arts to service of the dictatorship of the proletariat...
.
The Museum on Russian Art (TMORA) was incorporated as a 501(c)-3 non-profit corporation in 2001 and commenced exhibition activities open to the public initially in loaned space in a corporate office park located in Bloomington, Minnesota in 2002. The organization initially showcased Russian Realist-style paintings from the late 19th century as well as from the Soviet era (1914 - 1991). The Museum received initial funding from Raymond E and Susan B. Johnson; Minnesota residents who had established an extensive personal collection of Russian art and artifacts. TMORA was initially managed by Bradford Shinkle, IV, president and director, from its founding in 2001 until his retirement in 2008. Both Johnson and Shinkle have multiple connections to Russian culture. Mr. Johnson was appointed Honorary Consul for The Russian Federation in 2003; both he (2005) and Mr. Shinkle (2009) are recipients of The Order of Friendship medal of The Russian Federation that is the highest civilian honor accorded to non-Russian citizens in recognition of their respective contributions to international cultural diversity and education.
In 2005, TMORA acquired and thoroughly remodeled the former Mayflower Church in South Minneapolis, a 75 year old building, which previously served as a Congregational church
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
and funeral home. The building received special recognition for adaptive reuse
Adaptive reuse
Adaptive reuse refers to the process of reusing an old site or building for a purpose other than which it was built or designed for. Along with brownfield reclamation, adaptive reuse is seen by many as a key factor in land conservation and the reduction of urban sprawl...
from the Minnesota Heritage Preservation Commission. TMORA now operates a state-of-the-art exhibition facility that includes 18000 square feet (1,672.3 m²) of display galleries and administrative offices. Under Mr. Shinkle's leadership the range of exhibition subjects was substantially expanded to include the categories of iconography, photography, folk art and toys as well as lacquer objects.
Among the highlights of TMORA's extensive schedule of exhibitions is Masterpieces of Russian Lacquer Art
Russian lacquer art
Russian lacquer art developed from the art of icon painting which came to an end with the collapse of Imperial Russia. The icon painters, who previously had been employed by supplying not only churches but people's homes, needed a way to make a living...
, featuring over a hundred lacquered miniatures from Fedoskino
Fedoskino miniature
Fedoskino miniature is a traditional Russian lacquer miniature painting on papier-mache, named after its original center Fedoskino , an old village near Moscow widely known from the late 18th century...
, Palekh
Palekh miniature
Palekh miniature is a Russian folk handicraft of miniature painting, which is done with tempera paints on varnished articles made of papier-mâché ....
, Kholuy
Kholuy
Kholuy is a village in Yuzhsky District of Ivanovo Oblast, Russia, situated southwest of Puchezh some away from the Shuya railway station. Population: 1,031 ; 1,299 . Kholuy had a status of urban-type settlement until 2004, when it was demoted to a village .Kholuy is located on the banks of...
and Mstera
Mstyora miniature
Mstyora miniature is a Russian folk handicraft of miniature painting, which is done with tempera paints on varnished articles mostly made of papier-mâché....
on loan from the Toy and Miniature Museum of Kansas City, the State Tretyakov Gallery of Moscow
Tretyakov Gallery
The State Tretyakov Gallery is an art gallery in Moscow, Russia, the foremost depository of Russian fine art in the world.The gallery's history starts in 1856 when the Moscow merchant Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov acquired works by Russian artists of his day with the aim of creating a collection,...
and the Museum of Decorative, Applied and Folk Arts of Moscow, as well as from the personal collection of Lucy Maxym, one of the foremost authorities on lacquer artwork.
Following Mr. Shinkle's retirement in 2008, TMORA's directorship was assumed by Judith H. Dutcher. Ms. Dutcher, former Minnesota state auditor and President of the Minnesota Community Foundation led the Museum through a period of staff expansion and engagement with leading community based corporate and foundation financial supporters. Ms. Dutcher was instrumental in continuing the evolution of TMORA's exhibition activities and initiated events that included the categories of textiles, porcelain and matryoshka toys. Ms. Dutcher left the Museum in November, 2010; Mr. Shinkle resumed his prior role as President and Director of TMORA.
TMORA has established international lending relationships with numerous Russian national and regional museums including the State Tretyakov Gallery (Moscow), State Russian Museum (St. Petersburg), State Museum of Yaroslaval (Yaroslaval); TMORA regularly hosts delegations of visiting Russian museum professionals from throughout Russia who are attracted by its status as the only museum in North America dedicated solely to the exhibition of diversified subjects of Russian artistry.
In addition to year-round changing exhibitions
Art exhibition
Art exhibitions are traditionally the space in which art objects meet an audience. The exhibit is universally understood to be for some temporary period unless, as is rarely true, it is stated to be a "permanent exhibition". In American English, they may be called "exhibit", "exposition" or...
, TMORA offers lecture series, seminars, social functions and other special events.