RUSSIA
Red Square
GARTEL EXHIBITION @ Galerie L, Moscow
Art from the Motherland
To write a Blog about my trip to Russia in its entirety would take days. And the more pictures that would be posted along with it, would deserve even more explanation. Firstly the year was 2000. Thats before the infamous September 11th so Americans were free to move around the world as global travelers. September 11th changed all that and any American anywhere was a target. People did not pity the United States, it was a reason for everyone else around the world to throw rocks at America as well. In many ways, I dont blame them. Too many strange things against the American public's opinion have occurred. "The Voice of the People has definitely been muzzled."
But in the year of 2000 things were a bit different and things were a LOT different in Russia. You had a new order brewing. Communism had ended and people squabbling for jockeying for position. Interestingly enough....those that were in power were in power again, except this time: For themselves. That's how I saw it. I never really understood how the system worked over there, and even to this day I keep scratching my head. - What exactly happened while I was there? When you see apartment buildings you presume life is normal. But how does the money system work? Who runs what? Who pays who? etc. Reading signs of course, are like looking at symbols with no meaning.
If you speak English, Spanish, French, Italian or any other romantic language, you are completely puzzled by what you see. Yet, through all of the madness, mayhem, absurdity, there is great art. Old historic museums, as well as very active avant garde contemporary scene. I enjoyed my trip greatly though it was very tough. It started out with a show at Galerie L, and then a lecture at the prestigious Soros Foundation. I was going to head to St. Petersbourg, but the guy I was traveling with was a very strange ex-military sicko. I won't mention his name in this blog, but I can say it was a strange connection. My other colleague Nina Colosi joined me in this trip and we looked at our watches and counted off the minutes. I discovered a great young artist at the Soros Center and went on to mentor her introducing her to a couple of galleries here in the United States. It went very well for her.
Naturally, coming from America, all the media was interested in covering my exhibition, talking to me about ART in the United States, our similarities and our differences. I found the press to be very open which was to my surprise. The Moscow Times along with all the national and local television stations were present. I definitely would go back and would like to stay longer this time. I had to pay my chauffeur and body guard $200 a day to protect us. I felt I needed it. I definitely needed it. I'm sure the conditions have changed since I was there. But it was great to visit the former KGB Building, the Bolshoi Ballet, the Peter the Great Statue by Zurab Tsereteli, State Tretyakov Gallery, Pushkin Museum, as well as other important site around Red Square. I am looking forward to doing more with some of my colleagues I have remained in touch with.
Laurence Gartel
Boca Raton, Florida
August 2, 2008
To write a Blog about my trip to Russia in its entirety would take days. And the more pictures that would be posted along with it, would deserve even more explanation. Firstly the year was 2000. Thats before the infamous September 11th so Americans were free to move around the world as global travelers. September 11th changed all that and any American anywhere was a target. People did not pity the United States, it was a reason for everyone else around the world to throw rocks at America as well. In many ways, I dont blame them. Too many strange things against the American public's opinion have occurred. "The Voice of the People has definitely been muzzled."
But in the year of 2000 things were a bit different and things were a LOT different in Russia. You had a new order brewing. Communism had ended and people squabbling for jockeying for position. Interestingly enough....those that were in power were in power again, except this time: For themselves. That's how I saw it. I never really understood how the system worked over there, and even to this day I keep scratching my head. - What exactly happened while I was there? When you see apartment buildings you presume life is normal. But how does the money system work? Who runs what? Who pays who? etc. Reading signs of course, are like looking at symbols with no meaning.
If you speak English, Spanish, French, Italian or any other romantic language, you are completely puzzled by what you see. Yet, through all of the madness, mayhem, absurdity, there is great art. Old historic museums, as well as very active avant garde contemporary scene. I enjoyed my trip greatly though it was very tough. It started out with a show at Galerie L, and then a lecture at the prestigious Soros Foundation. I was going to head to St. Petersbourg, but the guy I was traveling with was a very strange ex-military sicko. I won't mention his name in this blog, but I can say it was a strange connection. My other colleague Nina Colosi joined me in this trip and we looked at our watches and counted off the minutes. I discovered a great young artist at the Soros Center and went on to mentor her introducing her to a couple of galleries here in the United States. It went very well for her.
Naturally, coming from America, all the media was interested in covering my exhibition, talking to me about ART in the United States, our similarities and our differences. I found the press to be very open which was to my surprise. The Moscow Times along with all the national and local television stations were present. I definitely would go back and would like to stay longer this time. I had to pay my chauffeur and body guard $200 a day to protect us. I felt I needed it. I definitely needed it. I'm sure the conditions have changed since I was there. But it was great to visit the former KGB Building, the Bolshoi Ballet, the Peter the Great Statue by Zurab Tsereteli, State Tretyakov Gallery, Pushkin Museum, as well as other important site around Red Square. I am looking forward to doing more with some of my colleagues I have remained in touch with.
Laurence Gartel
Boca Raton, Florida
August 2, 2008
GARTEL TV INTERVIEW: BKTV, Russia
GARTEL lecture at the Soros Center, Moscow
GARTEL at LeVall Gallery, Novosibirsk, Russia
2010 - 2011
"FACE: Evolution of Portrait in Photography" State Novosibirsk, Russia
"FACE" exhibition showcasing the evolution of portraiture in photography.
GARTEL represents the new formulations in Digital Art consciousness.
Opened at the State Novosibirsk Historical Museum, RUSSIA. (Feb 16-March 14).
Will travel throughout RUSSIA through 2011.
GARTEL represents the new formulations in Digital Art consciousness.
Opened at the State Novosibirsk Historical Museum, RUSSIA. (Feb 16-March 14).
Will travel throughout RUSSIA through 2011.
State Novosibirsk Historical Museum, Russia
8-2011. RUSSIA FACES SHOW
"The FACE" it is still traveling inside Russia:
it was exhibited already in Novosibirsk (State Historical Museum),
Krasnoyarsk (Krasnoyarsk Museum Centre)
Omsk (Roba Private Gallery)
Chelyabinsk (Fine Art Mus…eum)
the next opening will be in Ekaterinburg at the Metenkov Museum of Photography
on August 17
"The FACE" it is still traveling inside Russia:
it was exhibited already in Novosibirsk (State Historical Museum),
Krasnoyarsk (Krasnoyarsk Museum Centre)
Omsk (Roba Private Gallery)
Chelyabinsk (Fine Art Mus…eum)
the next opening will be in Ekaterinburg at the Metenkov Museum of Photography
on August 17
Motorhead, 2006
(c) 2015 Laurence Gartel
All Rights Reserved for Graphic & Written Content
Use by Explicit Written Permission Only
[email protected]
All Rights Reserved for Graphic & Written Content
Use by Explicit Written Permission Only
[email protected]