NEWSLETTER - Hermitage Museum Foundation...
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SAVE THE DATE PANEL DISCUSSION WITH HELEN DRUTT ENGLISH, MATTHEW DRUTT AND DISTINGUISHED ARTISTS OF THE GIFTS FROM AMERICA EXHIBITION March, 2015 New York City TOLSTOY IN TIBET A FILM SCREENING AT THE RUBIN MUSEUM OF ART April, 2015 New York City WHITE NIGHTS TOUR OF ST. PETERSBURG AND HERMITAGE GALA June 22-29 St. Petersburg www.hermitagemuseumfoundation.org NEWSLETTER Volume 6, Issue 1 February 2015 Dear Friends and Supporters: After several years more in office than I had originally intended and due to the pressure of other commitments, this is the last time I will write you as Chairman of the HMF. Please allow me to take stock of how we started, what we have accomplished over our first 20 years and where we hope to progress. In the early 90s, the demise of the USSR changed Russian-American relations. The accompanying social transformations made it both possible and necessary for Dr. Piotrovsky to reach out for the support of “Friends” internationally. Thus was born the American Friends of the Hermitage under the guidance of Bill Murray and a distinguished network of supporters. Much mutual discovery took place during this exciting and novel time. During the 1990s, Dr. Piotrovsky traveled often to New York to acquaint the American public with the history, programs and restorations of the Hermitage and its collections, and sensational developments such as Trophy Art, the Danae restoration, etc. The construction projects of the Hermitage’s General Staff Building and the Staraya Derevnya open storage facility drew the attention and enthusiastic support of major donors such as Jayne Wrightsman. Ted Pillsbury’s chairmanship saw the HMF participate in a number of exhibitions such as Louise Bourgeois, Cy Twombly, Willem de Kooning as well as continue the traditions of the White Nights trips and an active lecture program. Dr. Piotrovsky and the Hermitage were recognized by his receipt of the Woodrow Wilson Award for Distinguished Public Service in 2009. The HMF was similarly recognized in 2014. In 2010, the HMF initiated the annual Hermitage Dinner at which we celebrate contemporary artists and major donors. Over the past five years, we have recognized James Rosenquist, Vitaly Komar, Torkom Demirjian, Cy Twombly, Afrika, Ilya & Emilia Kabakov, Jeff Koons, Erik Bulatov, Jasper Johns, Oleg Tselkov, Helen Drutt English, Richard Serra, Leonid Sokov and Neil Rector, who donated the first gift under our Art from America™ initiative: a significant work by Oleg Vassiliev. In 2013, HMF board member Dr. Thierry Morel curated the blockbuster Houghton Revisited exhibition in the UK with significant financial support from the HMF. Subsequently, Thierry and HMF President, Peter Shaffer, collaborated and combined forces for the extraordinary Francis Bacon and the Art of the Past exhibition that opened at the Hermitage on the occasion of the Museum’s 250th anniversary. This occasion also saw the HMF facilitate its largest donation to the Hermitage over its 20-year history. Helen Drutt English, applied arts guru extraordinaire, assembled an exceptional collection of 74 works that were presented to the Hermitage on December 2nd. The Gifts from America exhibition, curated by Matthew Drutt, is truly a unique gift coming at a tremendously important moment in time. Throughout our history, the Hermitage Museum Foundation (USA), Inc. (so renamed in 2008) has unwaveringly supported one of the world’s greatest museums. I thank each and every one of you of the HMF family for the selfless efforts and support you have lavished on our mission over the last 20 years. Your continued assistance will allow the HMF to remain a force for the good over the Hermitage’s next 250 years! Torkom Demirjian was elected Interim Chairman of the HMF and will take office March 16th. He steps in at a critical moment in our history. Given today’s circumstances, each one of us now needs to help him as much as possible to take the HMF to the next level of significance—and I certainly intend to. We’ve come a long, long way already, but we have a long way yet to go. With skill, confidence, dedication and enthusiasm, we will get there for sure!
Transcript of NEWSLETTER - Hermitage Museum Foundation...
SAVE THE DATE
PANEL DISCUSSION WITH HELEN DRUTT ENGLISH, MATTHEW DRUTT AND
DISTINGUISHED ARTISTS OF THEGIFTS FROM AMERICA EXHIBITION
March, 2015New York City
TOLSTOY IN TIBETA FILM SCREENING
AT THE RUBIN MUSEUM OF ARTApril, 2015
New York City
WHITE NIGHTS TOUR OF ST. PETERSBURG AND
HERMITAGE GALAJune 22-29
St. Petersburg
www.hermitagemuseumfoundation.org
NEWSLETTERVolume 6, Issue 1February 2015
Dear Friends and Supporters:
After several years more in office than I had originally intended and due to the pressure of other commitments,this is the last time I will write you as Chairman of the HMF. Please allow me to take stock of how we started,what we have accomplished over our first 20 years and where we hope to progress.
In the early 90s, the demise of the USSR changed Russian-American relations. The accompanying socialtransformations made it both possible and necessary for Dr. Piotrovsky to reach out for the support of “Friends”internationally. Thus was born the American Friends of the Hermitage under the guidance of Bill Murray and adistinguished network of supporters. Much mutual discovery took place during this exciting and novel time.
During the 1990s, Dr. Piotrovsky traveled often to New York to acquaint the American public with the history,programs and restorations of the Hermitage and its collections, and sensational developments such as TrophyArt, the Danae restoration, etc. The construction projects of the Hermitage’s General Staff Building and theStaraya Derevnya open storage facility drew the attention and enthusiastic support of major donors such as Jayne Wrightsman.
Ted Pillsbury’s chairmanship saw the HMF participate in a number of exhibitions such as Louise Bourgeois, Cy Twombly, Willem de Kooning as well as continue the traditions of the White Nights trips and an activelecture program.
Dr. Piotrovsky and the Hermitage were recognized by his receipt of the Woodrow Wilson Award forDistinguished Public Service in 2009. The HMF was similarly recognized in 2014. In 2010, the HMF initiatedthe annual Hermitage Dinner at which we celebrate contemporary artists and major donors. Over the past five years, we have recognized James Rosenquist, Vitaly Komar, Torkom Demirjian, Cy Twombly, Afrika, Ilya &Emilia Kabakov, Jeff Koons, Erik Bulatov, Jasper Johns, Oleg Tselkov, Helen Drutt English, Richard Serra,Leonid Sokov and Neil Rector, who donated the first gift under our Art from America™ initiative: asignificant work by Oleg Vassiliev.
In 2013, HMF board member Dr. Thierry Morel curated the blockbuster Houghton Revis i ted exhibition in theUK with significant financial support from the HMF. Subsequently, Thierry and HMF President, Peter Shaffer,collaborated and combined forces for the extraordinary Franc is Bacon and the Art o f the Past exhibitionthat opened at the Hermitage on the occasion of the Museum’s 250th anniversary.
This occasion also saw the HMF facilitate its largest donation to the Hermitage over its 20-year history. Helen Drutt English, applied arts guru extraordinaire, assembled an exceptional collection of 74 works that werepresented to the Hermitage on December 2nd. The Gifts from America exhibition, curated by Matthew Drutt,is truly a unique gift coming at a tremendously important moment in time.
Throughout our history, the Hermitage Museum Foundation (USA), Inc. (so renamed in 2008) hasunwaveringly supported one of the world’s greatest museums. I thank each and every one of you of the HMFfamily for the selfless efforts and support you have lavished on our mission over the last 20 years. Yourcontinued assistance will allow the HMF to remain a force for the good over the Hermitage’s next 250 years!
Torkom Demirjian was elected Interim Chairman of the HMF and will take office March 16th. He steps in at acritical moment in our history. Given today’s circumstances, each one of us now needs to help him as much aspossible to take the HMF to the next level of significance—and I certainly intend to.
We’ve come a long, long way already, but we have a long way yet to go. With skill, confidence, dedication andenthusiasm, we will get there for sure!
By: Chauncie Rodzianko
Gifts from America: 1948-2013 Modern and Contemporary Applied Arts is theculmination of a lifetime of work and a labor of love on the part of majordonor and organizer Helen W. Drutt English. Assisted by curator MatthewDrutt, and the Hermitage Museum Foundation, seventy-four objects, inmany media, by sixty-two artists, were gifted to the Hermitage Museum onthe occasion of its 250th Anniversary. The collection went on display at theMuseum’s General Staff Building, opening to to a large and curiousaudience on December 2nd. A warm welcome and heartfelt words ofappreciation from Dr. Piotrovsky and a reciprocal speech from Mrs. DruttEnglish, followed by the traditional ribbon cutting, formally opened theexhibition. Several of the artists whose works were represented in theexhibition made the trip to St. Petersburg. They came from severalcountries—Ritsuko Ogura and Kyoko Fukuchi of Japan, Gijs Bakker of theNetherlands, Giorgio Vigna from Italy, Wayne Higby, Dan Dailey, JamesMakins, and Rise Nagin of the USA—and represented the spectrum ofapplied arts: ceramics, glass, textiles, and jewelry. Following the opening, acelebratory dinner was held at the Turgenev House apartment hosted by theHMF and Mr. & Mrs. Rodzianko.
The exhibition was supported by a subsequent panel discussion, organizedby the Hermitage Programs Department with Western European AppliedArts Curator Vera Emelyanova and moderated by Matthew Drutt. TheMuseum facilitated a broadcast video of the discussion that was streamedonline in real time. The artists eloquently summarized the scope and missionof the project, and it was clear that this audience was truly appreciative ofcontemporary applied arts. Sasha Davydova of the Friends Department wasour invaluable translator. ■
Ribbon cutting ceremony Helen W. Drutt English, Matthew Drutt, Paul Rodzianko, Dr. Piotrovsky
Gifts from America opening Giorgio Vigna and Tina Khmelnitskaya
Ambassador John Tefft, Helen Drutt English, and artist Wayne Higby
250TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS; GIFTS FROM AMERICA
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Artists at Turgenev House receptionDinner at Turgenev House
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5TH ANNUAL HERMITAGE DINNER HONORS RICHARD SERRA, LEONID SOKOV, AND HELEN DRUTT ENGLISH
While the State Hermitage Museum celebrated its 250th Anniversary thisyear, the Hermitage Museum Foundation (USA) celebrated its own 20thanniversary. Co-hosted by Eli Broad and Len Blavatnik, the 5th AnnualHermitage Dinner was held on November 10, 2014 at the Highline Hotelin the Chelsea Art District in New York City to mark the milestone.Foundation Awards were presented to American artist Richard Serra andRussian Sots Art innovator Leonid Sokov for their lifelong artisticachievements and contributions to contemporary art.
Helen W. Drutt English, educator, and curator since the 1960s, and aninternational pioneer in the world of applied arts, was honored for her giftof 74 works of contemporary applied arts to the State Hermitage Museum.The exhibition, Gifts from America, opened at the Museum on December 2,2014 and will be on view until March 8, 2015. ■
Paul Rodzianko
Natalia Kolodzei, Thierry Chaunu, Mai Hallingby, Lannyl Stephens Ossorguine, and Kathleen Springhorn
Nina Bouis, Irina Piotrovsky, Dr. Piotrovsky, Luda Kerzhner,and Jean Claude Bouis
Torkom Demirjian with family and friendsNadim Samman and Vitaly KomarGregor Medinger and Francescavon Habsburg
Matthew Drutt and Helen Drutt English
Mark Kelner, Anna Pavlova, and Peter L. Schaffer
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Debra Rapoport, Helen Drutt English, Wayne Higby, and Lisa Lantz
Mark Kelner and Leonid Sokov J.P. Greenawalt and Lyndsay C. Howard
Sol Zlotchenko and Julia Zilberquit Kate Haw
Hermitage Museum Foundation Awards 2014
Mr. Peter L. SchafferMatthew Stephenson, Bellatix Hubert, friend, and Lev Sviridov
Leah Dickerman
Agnes Gund and Paul Rodzianko
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LATE NIGHT SOIREE WITH THE YOUNG FRIENDS
DR. PIOTROVSKY IN NYC
Dr. Mikhail B. Piotrovsky took time out from his incredibly busy schedulethis year to honor us with a visit to the United States. Highlights of his visitincluded an interview with Charlie Rose and the North American premierof Hermitage Revealed.
(link to interview: http://www.charlierose.com/watch/60478271)
Rubin Museum of Art Director, Patrick Sears, and architect Celia Imreyguided a private showing of the museum. Highlights also included a visit tothe Museum of Art and Design, a viewing of Warhol drawings with DonaldRosenfeld, and a studio visit with American artist David Levinthal. ■
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Lunch with Kathleen Springhorn and members of the HMF
Museum of Art and Design with Matthew Drutt and Helen Drutt English
Bang! Andy Warhol: Early POP Drawings (1952-1962) at Hirchl & Adler Modern with Mark Kelner and Donald Rosenfeld
David Levinthal Studio
Television interview with Charlie Rose
The Rubin Museum of Art with Patrick Sears, Celia Imrey and Paul Rodzianko
At a glance, you might not see a clear connection between the world’s largestbeverage company and a delicate piece of Vinogradov porcelain. But lookagain.
The history of the partnership between the Coca-Cola Company and theState Hermitage Museum began 20 years ago when The Coca-ColaCompany Foundation (Atlanta, USA) gave a long-term grant of $320,000for the purchase of tempera painting restoration laboratory equipment forthe Museum. Since then, the partnership has resulted in dozens ofeducational and cultural projects focused on the preservation of culturalheritage and the support of young talent.
In 2003, a joint initiative entitled “Let’s Preserve Our Cultural HeritageTogether,” was dedicated to the 300-year anniversary of Saint Petersburg.Four collectible Coca-Cola cans featuring Hermitage images were issued ina limited edition of collectible cans with fragments of paintings from theMuseum’s collections. A portion of these profits were donated to restore theMuseum’s main entrance.
In 2008 Coca-Cola and the Hermitage Museum held a national contest forstudents from 12 to 17 years old. Participants were requested to create theirvision of the Modern XXI century Museum concept. The winner visited theGuggenheim Museum in New York along with Dr. Mikhail Piotrovsky.
In 2011-2012 Coca-Cola Russia continued its partnership by providing grantsto talented restoration artists of the Hermitage and arranging restorationmaster-classes in 5 Hermitage satellite museums.
Most recently, the Coca-Cola Company has helped to create thestate-of-the-art Glass, Ceramics, and Porcelain Restoration Lab for theMuseum.
The Hermitage Museum Foundation (USA) sends special thanks to AnnaKozlovskaya, Clyde Tuggle, and Vladimir Kravstov of The Coca-ColaCompany for their advocacy and support. ■
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Restoration in progress
Limited edition of collectible Coca-Cola cans Anna Kozlovskaya with Dr. Piotrovsky at the Coca Cola Press Conference
Restoration Laboratory
COCA-COLA AND THE HERMITAGE20 YEARS OF PARTNERSHIP
By: Lannyl Stephens Ossorguine
What began as a seedling of an idea of HMF Directors Mark Kelner andPeter L. Schaffer has blossomed into one of Europe’s most celebrated showsof the season. This remarkable exhibition, curated by HMF Director, Dr. Thierry Morel, has been widely praised in the press worldwide. It bringstogether over 25 major Bacon paintings and juxtaposes them againstmasterworks, both ancient and modern, from the many collections of theState Hermitage Museum. They include works by Velázquez, Rembrandt,Titian, Michelangelo, Rodin, Van Gogh, Picasso, Matisse, Soutine, as wellas sculpture from earlier civilizations—all of which were sources of inspirationfor the artist.
According to Rachel Campbell-Johnston, chief art critic for the Times ofLondon, the show “represents a triumph of cultural diplomacy.” Thirteenpaintings by Francis Bacon from the Robert and Lisa Sainsbury Collectionform the centerpiece of the exhibition, while other works have been broughtto St. Petersburg from The United States, Ireland, Scotland, and privatecollections throughout the world. The exhibition’s scope also includes theexchange of curators from the State Hermitage Museum to the TateMuseum, The Victoria and Albert Museum and the British Museum. Theexhibition will travel to the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, Norwich, UK,in the spring of 2015.
The opening of the exhibition brought luminaries from across the map. Inattendance, amongst a packed house of collectors and admirers, were LordSainsbury, Lord Cholmondeley of Houghton Hall, D. Dodge Thompson ofthe National Gallery of Art, Jennifer Russell of the Metropolitan Museumof Art, and Neil McGregor of the British Museum... Dr. McGregor waspresent for yet another surprise unveiled the following night at theHermitage gala dinner. ■
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Francis Bacon and the Art of the Past opening
Dr. Thierry Morel
Michelangelo's Crouching Boy with paintings by Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon and the Art of the Past
Dr. Piotrovsky with Professor PaulGreenhalgh of the SCVA
Dr. Elizaveta Renne and Dr. Thierry Morel
FRANCIS BACON AND THE ART OF THE PAST
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The 250th Anniversary of the Museum heralded a feast of celebrations andexhibitions at the Museum. The big news at the festivities was theextraordinary surprise loan from the British Museum of an Elgin Marblesculpture of the Greek River God, Ilissos.
Other highlights included: the gift of the Rothschild Clock Egg by CarlFaberge from President Putin; a fantastic 3D History Ball projected onto theexterior of the General Staff Building and viewed by thousands ofenthusiastic St. Petersburgers; and the launch of a beautiful new website.
Commemorative exhibitions included: Gifts from East and West to the ImperialCourt over 300 Years; Her Imperial Majesty’s Hermitage; the opening of theGreat Church in the Winter Palace after its long restoration; Gifts fromAmerica from the Hermitage Museum Foundation (USA); Dada andSurrealism, an exhibition on loan from the Israel Museum, facilitated by theHermitage Museum Foundation Israel. ■
Winter Palace Gate Hermitage staff
Anna Netrebko and friends toast the 250th with a "Selfie"
3D Light Show in Palace Square
Elgin Marble on loan from the British Museum
THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HERMITAGE MUSEUM CELEBRATIONS AND EXHIBITIONS
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Paul and Chauncie with Anna Kozlovskaya and Ljubo Grujic of TheCoca Cola Company, Russia
Gifts from East and West to theImperial Court
Dada and Surrealism exhibition
Francis Bacon opening reception at Vladimir Palace
Gifts from East and West to the Imperial Court
Chaos; Kapustnik 2014
Gift of Fabergé from President Vladimir Putin
President Vladimir Putin
Restored Great Church in the Winter Palace
Svetlana Phillipova welcomes International Friends in the General Staff
250th Anniversary Performance
By: Lannyl Stephens Ossorguine
In 2014, to mark the momentous occasion of its 250th anniversary, directorMargy Kinmonth has created Hermitage Revealed—a cinematic journeythrough the Hermitage Museum’s tumultuous history, from imperial palaceto state museum. The Hermitage Museum Foundation (USA) was delightedto host the North American Premier of the film at the Guggenheim Museumin New York City. Richard Armstrong, director of the Guggenheim, was onhand to introduce Dr. Piotrovsky and Ms. Kinmonth to the packed theatrefor an exclusive viewing followed by a Q&A.
The film offers unprecedented access to special collections and exclusiveareas that remain hidden from the public eye. It brings together the oldest,the rarest, the most precious and the most closely guarded of Russia’s greatesttreasures. From Rembrandt to Russian masterpieces, from prehistoricartefacts to the private gemstone collection of Catherine The Great, fromMichelangelo to Matisse, the film is a captivating view of one of the world’sgreatest museums. http://hermitagerevealed.com. ■
Hermitage Museum Foundation - USA 505 Park Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10022 Tel: 1-212-826-3074 | Fax: 1-212-888-4018 | Email: [email protected]
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Hermitage-Museum-Foundation-USA
ABOUT US
The Hermitage Museum Foundation (USA), Inc. (a 501(c) (3) corporation)contributes to the preservation and promotion of the rich cultural heritageof the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, its more than threemillion objects and the Museum’s historic buildings. The HMF raises fundsfor restoration and conservation projects as well as securing the donation ofart and artifacts for the Museum by means of its Art from America™initiative. The Foundation hosts educational outreach programs andpublications and supports exhibitions and organizes an annual White Nightstour to the Museum. The unique resources of the Hermitage, its Director,Dr. Piotrovsky and the leadership of the HMF combine to provide anexceptional opportunity to support the full spectrum of Russian-Americancultural diplomacy.@Hermitage_USA
WHO’S WHO
Editor-in-Chief: Lannyl Stephens Ossorguine
Editor: Chauncie Rodzianko
Contributors: Lioudmila Kudinova Oksana MeleshkinaYuriy Molodkovets Aleksei Pahomov Peter L. Schaffer
HERMITAGE REVEALED NORTH AMERICAN PREMIER; GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM
Richard ArmstrongDr. Piotrovsky with Margy Kinmonth
