The Zimmerli Art Museum in New Brunskwick NJ

I recently visited the The Zimmerli Art Museum located on the New Brunswick campus of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.  The most impressive body of work in this museum is their Dodge Collection of Soviet Nonconformist Art.  According to the museum's webs site "this is the largest and most comprehensive collection of its kind in the world. Comprising more than 17,000 works of art, this collection documents Soviet dissident art from the historical Cold War period".  Indeed some of the works are thought provoking and emotional (such as glimpses into prison camps, and everyday life under the communist regime).  Others, such as an installation of an outhouse (outdoor toilet) are showing strong western influences. 
My favorite collection in the museum is the The George Riabov Collection of Russian Art, which encompasses Russian Orthodox icons, folk prints, landscapes and more.  These certainly embody the Russian spirit, and made me think of Dostoyevsky's writings which I love so much.  All in all, this is not a museum that will satisfy you if you are looking for Western European art, but it's certainly worth visiting if you are into Russian art.  Also, the museum has an American Art wing, and a room dedicated to children illustrations.  This room is also quite interesting, and unique.

 

Malcolm Liepke's "Haute Couture" at Arcadia Gallery

I must confess I was overwhelmed by pretty colors and pretty faces when I stepped into Arcadia Gallery a few days ago.  This was my initial reaction in response to the new show titled "Haute Couture", presenting paintings by Malcolm Liepke.  Yet, I could not leave, and I circled the room a few times, looking for the deeper meaning of his art works.  I was intrigued.  Was it about sexuality, style, idealized bodies, or simply about colour and form?  In the end I got some help by reading the catalogue found at the front desk.  In it, I found numerous reproductions of much older paintings (from the '80s and 90's) by the artist, as well as some newer pieces.  I then read in the artist's own words what his intent was with this current exhibition: a homage to the figure, in it's most simple (and decorative?) way.  I will say that I prefer Malcolm's earlier pieces, which are actually quite impressive.  However, I respect his attempt to break his own boundaries and to take his art into a new direction.   

Deck the Walls @ New York Academy of Art

This week the New York Academy of Art hosted a holiday party featuring works by current MFA students.  Here are some examples of the works exhibited, and a link with more information about the event: http://www.nyaa.edu/nyaa/events/index.html.  If you missed it this year, you can always stop by next year! 

Alea Chapin, Gail, 2011, Oil on Canvas

Sam Detch, Dubhead 2011, Cast resin

Holly Saillors

Angla Gram, Wonderer

Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida @The Hispanic Society of America

If you like Sorolla's works, you must visit the Hispanic Society of America, on 155th Street, where you will see his masterpiece "Vision of Spain".  One step into the room and you are surrounded by the sights, sounds and smells of Spain, so well depicted by the renown Spanish painter.  It is an uplifting and impressive experience.  I felt joy and energy when walking around, as if I was indeed vacationing in Spain.  The most remarkable aspect of these colorful, large, paintings, is the movement that flows in each painting, and unites all paintings into a one room composition.  The Hispanic museum hosts a couple of other figurative paintings by Sorolla, as well as work by a number of other Spanish masters. It is definitely worth the trip!