Museum of Russian Icons Winter Newsletter 2019 MoRI_WINTER_2019_newsletter web | Page 3

Interactive Lecture
Amulets, Talismans, &
Reliquaries: The Power of Adornment
and Significance of Found Objects as
Material and Magic with Artist and
Professor Kendall Reiss
Saturday, March 9, 1:00-4:00pm
Members free, Nonmembers $12
Throughout history, humans have been found to
use a variety of found and manipulated materials to adorn themselves for pur-
poses including religious worship, rites of passage, and as powerful symbols of
protection for the wearer. Join artist and professor Kendall Reiss, and Museum
of Russian Icons Registrar Laura Garrity-Arquitt for an engaging afternoon of
close object-based exploration around themes of power, protection, religiosity,
and found objects as material in art.
Curator’s Talk
with Lisa Crossman
Saturday, March 23, 2:00pm,
Free with Admission
Join Fitchburg Art Museum Curator Lisa
Crossman for an engaging look at the art
of Konstantin Simun in his latest exhi-
bition The Sacred in the Profane. In his
work, Simun poses the question “trash
or treasure?” when speaking about his
sculptures. Explore why Simun asks the
viewer to see spiritual images in every-
day plastic objects and the connections
between iconography and consumer
products.
A presentation of examples of found object jewelry and adornments from a range
of cultures and historical periods will offer context for the rest of the day’s dis-
cussions. Participants will be invited to closely observe a selection of objects from
the Museum of Russian Icon’s permanent collection and hear from registrar Laura
on these objects relationship to larger themes of found, discarded, and recycled
materials in art. The group will move into the West Gallery to view Konstantin
Simun: The Sacred in the Profane, featuring sculptures by Russian born, Boston
based artist Konstantin Simun whose found object works speak to this shifting
materiality. Throughout the day, participants can make written observations on
the objects, ideas, themes, and information that resonate with them individually.
To close the afternoon, each participant will be invited to speak to the group about
the connections and discoveries they have made while enjoying light refreshments
in the auditorium.
Konstantin Simun, Totem: America 2, 2007
Museum Intern Lends a Helping Hand
Hello! My name is
Nilda De Leon, and
I am an intern at
the Museum for the
2018-2019 school
year. As a part of a
class I’m taking called Senior Project,
Clinton High offers high school seniors
like myself an opportunity to explore
career paths and earn experience in
fields of interest through internships in
the community. Personally, I’d like to go
into animation as a career, while possi-
bly exploring art history or art education
along the way. Fortunately for me, the
Museum was willing to take me in as an
intern, and I have been dropping in every
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday since
September. So far, I have felt very wel-
come, and I’m honored to be the first
Clinton High intern at the Museum of
Russian Icons.
My first few visits allowed me to become
accustomed to the layout of the museum
and the amicable employees within who
keep it afloat. Through this internship, I
hope to gain insight into how nonprofit
organizations operate and the work
that goes into maintaining a museum.
I’m particularly excited to help organize
activities and events within the Museum
and establish a stronger relationship
between the Clinton Public Schools and
the resources available at the Museum.
Outside of school and my internship, I’m
currently maintaining a busy schedule of
athletics, college applications, and com-
munity service. This internship provides
me with a unique opportunity to gain
experience before starting college, which
is terrific. I’m incredibly grateful to the
Museum for hosting me this year!
WINTER 2019 | 7