Michelle Massey

Art Every Day with TMORA’s Curator, Dr. Masha Zavialova

March 30, 2020 These days, people and artworks partake of the same fate. This painting, by Yakov Romas, is stranded in Duluth due to the coronavirus impact. TMORA’s “Art in Conflict” exhibition on loan to the Tweed Museum is closed, and there is no way, at this point, to bring the collection back. Museums across […] Read more

Art Every Day with TMORA’s Curator, Dr. Masha Zavialova

March 27, 2020 We barely made it before the stay-at-home executive order to install “Anthem of People’s Love” by Shovkunenko, Biletzky, and Reznik. Check out the installation video also posted on our page! Boasting an astounding 12 ft x 19 ft, it is the largest painting ever displayed in our museum. The painting shows leading […] Read more

Art Every Day with TMORA’s Curator, Dr. Masha Zavialova

March 26, 2020 This painting is on the lid of a Palekh lacquer box (only 4 inches x 6 inches!) from the Museum’s permanent collection. Palekh lacquer is a traditional Russian craft. But what is this guy in fancy dress doing with a frog? The fancy dress is easy since he is a Tsar’s son, […] Read more

Art Every Day with TMORA’s Curator, Dr. Masha Zavialova

March 24, 2020 Here is a peek-preview of our new exhibition “Leaders and the Masses” that was scheduled to open in early April but was halted by the pandemic. No matter what, our small crew, carefully practicing social distancing, managed to install most of it — to reopen when the virus is defeated. The image […] Read more

Art Every Day with TMORA’s Curator, Dr. Masha Zavialova

March 23, 2020 This samovar, decorated in the Khokhloma style, was donated to our museum today! Thank you, dear donor, for your generosity that nothing can stand in the way of, even during this nasty pandemic! What is a samovar? According to Fedor Dostoevsky, “A samovar is the most necessary Russian thing, and all the […] Read more