MUSEUM OF RUSSIAN ICONS 2018 ANNUAL REPORT 1 Mission: The Museum of Russian Icons inspires the appreciation and study of Russian culture by collecting and exhibiting icons and related objects, igniting the interest of national and international audiences, and offering interactive educational programs. The Museum serves as a leading center for research and scholarship through the Center for Icon Studies and other institutional collaborations. Деятельность Музея Русских Икон направлена на создание атмосферы интереса к истории России и понимания российской культуры. Коллекционирование и экспозиция икон а также относящихся к ним предметам, призваны пробудить активную заинтересованность посетителей музея – как американских, так и иностранных – к древнему виду искусства написания икон. Музей предлагает разнообразные интерактивные образовательные программы. Музей является ведущим центром научно-исследовательских проектов и активно сотрудничает как с Центром по Изучению Икон так и с другими исследовательскими учреждениями Vision: The Museum of Russian Icons enhances relations between Russia and the United States through the medium of art, especially Russian icons. Музей Русских Икон укрепляет отношения между Россией и США через посредство искусства, особенно искусство русских икон. Approved by the Board of Trustees, March 27, 2013 2 3 REPORT FROM THE CEO 2018 HIGHLIGHTS Dear Friends: 2018, Frank gave the museum an extensive collection Administration the 1960s. Dick was a founding The new tour complements the of Soviet-era holiday decorations and toys, which partner of Mountain Dearborn & folklore tour also funded by Mass In 2018, visitors to the Museum of Russian Icons In October, the Museum became the foundation for the popular exhibition Whiting law firm, and many area Humanities. enjoyed the extraordinary generosity of collectors inaugurated Free First Sundays. Corncobs to Cosmonauts: Redefining the Holidays nonprofits were the beneficiaries who shared their varied collections, and their Previously, the Museum’s free During the Soviet Era. For both of these exhibitions, of his philanthropy and expertise, The second major project expertise, with us. Because the Museum focuses admission hours had been on Frank also contributed his remarkably indepth including Tower Hill Botanic that has enhanced the visitor almost exclusively on Russian Icons, presenting First Thursday evenings from 4 knowledge of the material, which he has collected for Garden, Preservation Worcester, experience is the reinstallation exhibitions of complementary art and artifacts to 8 p.m. The decision to have a decades. Children’s Friend, and the of the lower level gallery to allows us to expand our audiences and to present full free day on the weekend was Greater Worcester Community create a cohesive orientation context for our icons. The Museum is grateful to the Tiliakoses and to Dr. motivated by the desire to allow Foundation. Dick was instrumental gallery. This space now includes Sciacca; we are also grateful to the many visitors, access to a greater number of The exhibition Icons of the Hellenic World marked in the founding of the Museum of comprehensive information groups, and scholars who came to see these people. Thus far, the move has the first time the Museum presented an exhibition Russian Icons, both as an advisor about how to read an icon, how exhibitions; and to the volunteer docents who give so proved extremely successful, with exclusively of Greek Icons. The icons came from to Gordon and as a member of the icons are used, the symbolism generously of their time to help ensure that our visitors Free First Sunday attendance the remarkable collection of Argie and Emmanuel founding Board of Trustees, on of icons, and their materials. A have an enjoyable and educational experience. surpassing First Thursday Tiliakos, who shared not only their icons, but also which he continued to serve until specially commissioned project evenings quite significantly. The by iconographer Maureen their extensive knowledge on the subject. On behalf of our founder Gordon Lankton, the Board his death. Nypro Foundation has generously McCormick shows panels in of Trustees, and the Museum staff, thank you for your Franklin Sciacca is another collector whose funded both First Thursdays and Two major projects were unveiled various stages of completion, support in 2018. We hope to see you at the Museum generosity has had a significant impact on the First Sundays and will continue to in 2018 serve to provide visitors illustrating the intricate process often in 2019! museum. In 2017, we exhibited his collection of do so in 2019. with more information and context of icon painting. We recommend the sacred Ukrainian textiles called rushnyky; that about the icons on display at the that visitors who are new to icons In December, the Museum exhibition continued into early 2018. In the fall of Museum. In June, the Museum and/or new to the Museum start mourned the death of Richard launched a new audio tour, funded their visit on the lower level in Kent Russell (Dick) Dearborn, 98, of Worcester. by a grant from Mass Humanities. the orientation gallery. Plans are CEO/Curator Dick was a long-time friend and Featuring all-new material, and underway to reinstall the upper- business associate of Museum professionally narrated and level galleries as well, creating a Founder Gordon Lankton, serving translated, the audio tour is seamless narrative throughout the as the attorney who helped available in English, Russian, building. Gordon secure the first loan to Spanish, French, and Portuguese. purchase Nypro Corporation in 4 5 Collection sometimes overtly, and other times Olivia Gibbs, WPI students Julia Visitor Services receive from the popular review more subtly. Films in this series Awad, Shannon Brown, Isabelle site. This is the 7th consecutive As noted in the Curator’s letter, The Museum once included Marty, On the Waterfront, Ho, and Cole Kraus developed year the Museum has won this Franklin Sciacca donated a again participated in the Blue Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, a solar energy asssessment and award. large collection of Soviet holiday Star Museums program, a and Force of Evil. energy plan for the Museum. ornaments and toys to the collaboration between the This will have a very beneficial The Museum Shop Museum. During school vacation weeks, National Endowment for the Arts, impact on the Museum’s planning The Museum Shop participated in the Museum’s auditorium Blue Star Families, the Department for energy costs and equipment the second annual Museum Store Acquisitions transformed into a Popup Maker of Defense, and more than 2,000 replacement over the next several Sunday, organized by the Museum The Museum received a major gift Space, with materials and self- museums across America to offer years. Store Association, on Sunday, of over 300 ornaments, vintage guided instruction available for free admission to the nation’s November 26. The mission of toys, and related ephemera from visitors to try their hands at a active-duty military personnel and Museum Store Sunday is to Franklin Sciacca, as well as a long- creative project. Visitors of all their families, including National promote shopping with a purpose. term loan of Ukrainian rushnyky ages have enjoyed the maker Guard and Reserve, from Memorial All sales go towards supporting for the purposes of developing a space experience, which featured Day through Labor Day. the Museum’s mission. traveling exhibition. a cosmonaut theme in December The Museum also participated in in honor of the special exhibition the Massachusetts Department Programming Corncobs to Cosmonauts. Look for of Transitional Living’s revamped the space to pop up again during The museum launched several EBT Card to Culture program. This future vacation weeks. new programs in 2018 to initiative, in partnership with the complement the broad range Featured Collaborations Massachusetts Cultural Council, of educational offerings that enables EBT cardholders to visitors enjoy. Popcorn Sermons, A group of students from have wider access to arts and presented by classic film columnist Worcester Polytechnic Institute culture. The Museum is one of 150 JoAnn DiVerdi, featured the completed their Interactive organization participating. screening of classic films Qualifying Project at the Museum. contextualized by JoAnn’s Their project involved assessment The Museum received a discussion of the religious of the Museum’s solar panels. 2018 TripAdvisor Certificate of symbolism and themes Excellence, the highest award that appear in them— Under the direction of Professor any public or private venue can Svetlana Nikitina and Professor 6 7 TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS of its most ancient and valued focus exclusively on Greek and kind in the nation—as a college In his work, Gassel uses ancient Opened in 2017 and continued From Firebird to Fisherman: traditions: rushnyky, the ornately Byzantine iconography. The show student in the 1960s. techniques employed in the into 2018 Twelve Fairy Tale Plates October 28, 2017 through March embroidered woven textiles delved deeply into the links and creation of icon paintings. He Migration + Memory: Jewish 18, 2018 that function at the core of many the continuity of Greek art and The Art of Alexander Gassel paints with egg tempera, making Artists of the Russian and life-cycle ceremonies and rituals culture from late antiquity, through May 20, 2018 through February his color pigments by grinding Twelve decorative plates Soviet Empires of the Ukrainian people.