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Widely Acclaimed RUSSIA! Exhibition
Closes at Guggenheim A Cultural Collaboration between
The United States and Russia
January 12, 2006

The curtain fell upon the most celebrated exhibition of Russian art as a crowd of over 400 celebrated it’s success at the Guggenheim Museum on Wednesday, January 11th. RUSSIA! has been widely acclaimed as the most comprehensive exhibition demonstrating Russia’s remarkable contributions to world culture from the 13th century to the present day. This unique exhibition has been realized under the patronage of Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, and is a cultural collaboration between the United States and Russia

The evening’s host and sponsor was Alexandre Gertsman, President of The International Foundation of Russian and Eastern European Art (INTART), which made a significant contribution from their collections, along with The State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow. “INTART is proud to be a Corporate Sponsor of the RUSSIA! exhibit,” said Mr. Gertsman. “I feel personally honored to have been invited to become a Member of the Leadership Committee for this unprecedented show conceived as a reflection of significant moments in the history of Russian art.” He congratulated both Thomas Krens, Director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, and Lisa Dennison, Director of the New York’s Guggenheim Museum, for the tremendous success of this exhibition and their own contribution of their talents, expertise, and energy in order to achieve this success. Mr. Gertsman said of the exhibition, “…it has brought into these walls the largest ever group of not only American citizens, but the Russian-American Diaspora as well.”

Other contributors to the evening included Helen Yarmak Fashion House, the premier Russian fashion house in the U.S. Ms. Yarmak received the Global Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2000 and was named International Designer of the Year in 2003. Her luxury furs and jewelry collections were displayed on models during the reception. Natasha Ulyanov Couture also participated, X g Design Studio were also supporters of the evening.
The evening began with the “Maestro” Studio Ballet with Rose Caiola, Director, who performed the Russian Dance by Tchaikovsky. Troy Galy of MAX.g Design Studio staged this elegant evening which featured ballet performance and exquisitely appointed models.

Guests included Hon. Andrei Denisov, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to UN and Honorary Co-Chair of the Leadership Committee for RUSSIA!, American Ballet Theatre’s Prima Ballerina Irina Dvorovenko, Anait Kiladze, spokesperson for Helen Yarmak, INTART’s Trustees Igor Rybinsky and Inga Rubinstein, Jacob “The Jeweler” Arabo, actress Tina Louise, model Keisha Boldan, Debbie Dickenson, Julie Hayek, Michele Gerber Klein, and Pavel Machitski.

The exhibition was a significant reflection of the richness and diversity of the once sovereign empire, including select works amassed in Russia since the time of Peter the Great. It provided an opportunity to explore the extraordinary history of Russian art during an expansive chronological period. Because of the importance of this exhibition, all works presented were of the highest quality and charted the decisive moments in the development of Russian art.
We like to thank Mr Alan Gertsman for his kind invite, for more information feel free to view their website at www.intart.org