The Museum of Russian Art facts for kids
The Museum of Russian Art
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| Established | 2005 |
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| Location | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Type | Russian Art Museum |
| Collections | Russian Realist Art Soviet Era Art Soviet Non-Conformist Art Christmas/New Years Ornaments Matryoshka Nesting Dolls |
| Visitors | 36,285 (2017) |
| Nearest car park | Free public lot |
The Museum of Russian Art (TMORA) is a special place in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. It is the only big museum in North America completely focused on Russian art and culture. This museum shows art from all parts of Russia's long history.
TMORA was started by Raymond and Susan Johnson. They are famous art collectors. They owned the biggest collection of Russian Realist paintings outside the former Soviet Union. The museum became a nonprofit organization in 2002. It opened in its current building in 2005. TMORA holds many art shows and events each year. You can find it between Downtown Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Saint Paul Airport. The museum is open every day.
Contents
How TMORA Started and Grew
Building the Museum (1991-2005)
Raymond and Susan Johnson first showed their Russian Realist Art in North America in 1991. They had a huge collection of paintings from the Soviet era (1917–1991). The Johnsons kept their art private for a while. Then, in 2002, they decided to open a public museum.
The museum started showing art to the public in 2002. At first, it used borrowed space in an office building in Bloomington, Minnesota. It mainly showed Russian Realist paintings. These included art from the late 1800s and the Soviet era.
Special Awards for the Founders
In 2003, Ray Johnson became an Honorary Consul for the Russian Federation. This means he was a special representative for Russia. Both Ray Johnson (in 2005) and TMORA's first Director, Bradford Shinkle (in 2009), received a special award. It was called the Order of Friendship Medal. This is Russia's highest award for people who are not Russian citizens. They got it for helping different cultures and education.
Finding a New Home
In 2005, TMORA bought a building in south Minneapolis. It used to be the Mayflower Church. It was also a funeral home for 75 years. The museum completely made it new inside. The building got a special award for being used in a new way. This award was from the Minnesota Heritage Preservation Commission. The museum opened in its new home in 2007.
Today, TMORA has modern display areas. It has about 18,000 square feet (1,672 square meters) for art. It also has offices for its staff.
TMORA: An American Museum of Russian Art (2005-Today)
The museum's updated galleries have hosted over 70 art shows. These shows have featured amazing Soviet-era paintings. They have also covered historical topics like World War I and the Siege of Leningrad. You can also see Russian art forms like Faberge eggs, lacquer boxes, nesting dolls, and ornaments. TMORA also shows art by living artists. These include Leon Hushcha from Minnesota (who has Ukrainian family) and Garen Bedrossian from Canada (who has Armenian family).
Connecting with Other Museums
TMORA has built connections with many Russian cultural groups and museums. These include the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow and the State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg. The museum also works with private collectors and other institutions in the United States. However, since 2010, it has been harder for art from Russian state museums to travel to the United States. This is due to a cultural agreement between the two countries.
Events and Activities
Besides its art shows, TMORA holds many events all year long. These include concerts, talks, theater shows, and dance performances. They also have artist talks and book clubs.
