Tag: Hermitage museum

Back from NYC – Hermitage Museum Benefit a HUGE Success

Eva Cellini, Hermitage Museum Russia, Ingrid Dee Magidson, Jay Magidson, Museum, New York, Uncategorized

We returned from New York City a few days ago.   Our hearts go out to all the people of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut who are still dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.  For the most part Manhattan looked pretty good (excluding some of the southern part).  New Yorkers are a hearty bunch and they got things up and running very quickly.  We visited our dear friend Eva Cellini in New Jersey and that was another story.  Trees and light poles littered the streets.  The damage took one’s breath away.  It is obviously much better now, but we certainly offer those still suffering our thoughts and prayers.

Saturday, November 10th the Hermitage Museum Foundation threw its annual gala to support the Hermitage Museum and specifically the “Art From America” program.  Jeff Koons and Erik Bulatov were this year’s honorees.  Both spoke eloquently about their art and inspirations.  Two great artists from different cultures, with more in common as artists than not.  Truly inspiring.

Ingrid Magidson at the Hermitage Museum Gala November 10, 2012
Ingrid and “Reflection” at the Hermitage Benefit

After the dinner and speakers the auction began.  OK, I’ll admit it now, Ingrid and I were nervous.  Her piece was the first to be auctioned off.  We held our breaths as the bidding began.  This was an $18,000 piece and the bidding began at $2,000.  It bounced around, $4,000, $6,000, then stalled at $8,000.  OK, somebody’s going to get a great bargain, we thought.  Then a collector jumped in at $10,000 and the bidding stopped.  The auctioneer was about to slam the hammer down when… I’m not going to tell you.  You are going to have to see for yourself.  I posted the video of the auction on YouTube.  Forgive the poor quality, it was taken using my iPhone.

Hermitage Museum Gala Auction Video – November 10, 2012

The video only shows the auctioning of Ingrid’s piece.  The rest of the evening was terrific and I’ve heard report that they raised quite a bit of money from the sale of works by Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst, Michal Rovner and Martin Mull.  It is also gratifying to know that a portion of the money raised will go to help relief efforts for hurricane victims – nice touch.

Ingrid and I would like to thank the many people who put on this elegant and important event: the generous board members of the Hermitage Museum Foundation, especially Paul and Chauncie Rodzianko and their daughter Marina, Mark Kelner.  Thank you staff and associates of the Hermitage Museum Foundation, especially Annie.  Thank you Phillips de Pury Auctioneers for the beautiful setting surrounded by great contemporary art.  And thank you Simon de Pury for your auction wizardry.  A very special thanks goes to Brad and Penny Place, our dear friends and patrons who helped make the evening possible for us.

Wow what a night, we’re still flying!

Hermitage Museum Benefit Auction Catalogue Now Available

Hermitage Museum Russia, Ingrid Dee Magidson, Museum, Uncategorized

 

The Hermitage Museum Foundation Annual Gala and Benefit Auction Catalogue is now available.  Items for sale are artwork: by Ingrid Dee Magidson, Martin Mull, Damien Hirst, Michal Rovner, David Levinthal, Jeff Koons; an exclusive tour of St. Petersburg White Nights, 2013 the 400th Anniversary of the House of Romanov, and many other exciting items.  The Auction is November 10th at Phillips de Pury in New York.  Click Here to See Entire Catalogue

Reflection by Ingrid Dee Magidson

Aspen, Hermitage Museum Russia, Ingrid Dee Magidson, Transparent Canvas

Ingrid recently completed her artwork honoring Catherine the Great.

Reflection by Ingrid Dee Magidson
“Reflection” by Ingrid Dee Magidson

The intricately layered mixed-media work is entitled “Reflection.”  It is an homage to the Hermitage and its founder Catherine the Great:

“I am deeply inspired by men and women who have changed the world profoundly.  Catherine the Great was one of these women.  I wanted to capture her essence in this piece.  Deeply rooted inside her soul, she knew her purpose and her destiny.  With that inner driven passion, she alone helped give the world one of the greatest gifts to its future, the Hermitage Museum.

In this piece Reflection, Catherine is shown in her coronation gown along with her crown.  The viewer is able to look into her dress to see a present-day Hermitage – a view towards the future.  Surrounding her to the right and underneath are many portraits of her family, her husband, and her lovers who influenced her and formed her life.  Like a family tree, I’ve included branches to represent their connection to Catherine.
"Reflection" by Ingrid Dee Magidson
“Reflection” by Ingrid Dee Magidson
To the left of the main portrait, the viewer can see a reflection of Catherine.  It is ghostlike, representing the lasting impression of her life echoing into eternity.  Like the butterflies, each of us lives only a brief time, but can leave a permanent mark.  Also, if the viewer looks into Catherine’s reflection at the correct angle, they will see themselves.  This is symbolic of how each of us never actually sees oneself, but only a reflection as seen through the eyes of another.”
-Ingrid Dee Magidson, 2012
 

Show Dates Announced for Annual Hermitage Museum Benefit Dinner

Hermitage Museum Russia, Ingrid Dee Magidson

The Hermitage Museum Foundation has announced the date for the annual Hermitage Dinner – November 10th.  This year the event will be hosted by Phillips de Pury & Company in New York.  Jeff Koons and Erik Bulatov are the featured artists.  Ten to fifteen important artist’s works (including Ingrid Dee Magidson’s) will be auctioned off to support the Hermitage Museum’s expansion and collection of post-war and contemporary American Art.  If you would like to attend, please see the information below and call early.  There is limited space and the event is likely to sell out.

SAVE THE DATE: Hermitage Dinner Saturday November 10, 2012 at Phillips de Pury & Company (450 Park Avenue, New York). Honoring Artists: Jeff Koons & Erik Bulatov. Our hosts for the evening are: Simon de Pury, Paul Rodzianko & Mikhail B. Piotrovsky (Director of the Hermitage Museum) Proceeds from the evening will support the Foundation’s Art from America campaign, which aims to build up the Hermitage Museum’s collections and exhibition program of post-war and contemporary American art. The Museum’s Impressionist and Modern art collections will be displayed in the Museum’s new 20th and 21st century galleries of the General Staff Building, set to open on the occasion of the Museum’s 250th Anniversary in 2014. Other projects of vital importance to the Hermitage will also benefit, such as educational outreach, restoration projects and curatorial exchanges.

Exhibition details released for July 5th and 6th

galerie zuger vail, Hermitage Museum Russia, Ingrid Dee Magidson, Layered Mixed Media, Masters Gallery, Museum, Transparent Canvas

Here is the official Press Release for the upcoming Exhibition in Vail this week.  We are excited for this Thursday, hope to see you there!

A Cameo Performance
A Cameo Performance by Ingrid Dee Magidson

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Transparent Canvases of Artist Ingrid Dee Magidson to be Featured at  Galerie Zuger in Vail

VAIL, Colorado (July 2, 2012) – On Thursday and Friday, July 5th and 6th Galerie Zuger will be presenting the innovative artwork of Ingrid Dee Magidson.  The artist will be at the receptions for both evenings.  Magidson, a Colorado artist, has been showing her transparent canvases for just over five years.  In that short time, she has captured the attention of numerous museums and prominent collectors, including the Smithsonian Museum of American Art, The Whitney, the Hermitage Museum Foundation and Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith.  This exhibition, her second at Galerie Zuger Vail is titled, “The Illusion of Time.”

Magidson mixes modern materials and renaissance images to capture what she calls “the illusory nature of time.”   In the piece “The Butterfly Effect” Magidson presents a beautiful renaissance woman in a classic pose.  But she is ghostly and transparent.  One can see through the subject into the layers beneath.  Butterflies hover in and around her as if in full flight.  Images, musical sheets, antique jewelry and manuscripts can be seen through her.  The more the viewer looks, the more is revealed.

To create this floating effect, Magidson uses layers of acrylic, collage and objects in a kind of three dimensional assemblage or transparent canvas.  As the viewer moves around the artwork, hidden objects reveal themselves and others disappear.  It is a kind of reverse illusion; what appears flat is actually three dimensional and the objects that are three dimensional appear flat.  Once involved, it is difficult to look away.

Magidson is no stranger to art.  Both her parents are artists, as is her identical twin sister.  Her husband is an art dealer and writer, whom she met at his art gallery.  Asked how she came up with her unique style of art Magidson said:

“I used to go to museums with my parents as a child.  I never forgot the paintings I saw and wondered how many other beautiful paintings were tucked away in storage that no one would see.  Later, as an artist, I decided to bring these paintings and the people they depicted back to life.  I couldn’t just paint them in an ordinary way – that had been done before.  So I started playing with modern materials and techniques. Those first exploratory months were the most challenging and darkest times of my life, but I finally had a break-through and it made all those moments worth it.”

There will be two receptions with the artist in attendance, Thursday, July 5th and Friday, July 6th from 3 to 7pm both nights.  The exhibition will continue for two weeks.   Galeryie Zuger Vail is on the second floor of the Solaris building in the heart of Vail, Colorado.

For More Information:

Rayla Kundolf
art@galeriezugervail.com
(970) 476-5619

Video of Ingrid’s Lastest Pieces – Together We’ll Make History

David Floria Gallery Aspen, Forre Gallery, Hermitage Museum Russia, Ingrid Dee Magidson, Layered Mixed Media

Below, is a very brief video of one of Ingrid’s works, “Together We’ll Make History.”  It is a romantic and beautiful work dedicated to all lovers of beauty.  It is 47 x 36 inches and is one the newest works featured at Forre Floria Fine Art Gallery in Aspen, Co.

To see other videos about Ingrid Dee Magidson and her extraordinary work, click here or “Videos” on your left.