The Wallace L. Anderson Gallery at Bridgewater State University is presenting an exhibition called "Russia Contrasted" from April 22 to May 27, 2015. The exhibition features works from the Laurence and Katherine Doherty Collection that contrast Socialist Realism art, which promoted communism, with Social Realism, which depicted everyday life, and photographs showing the grim realities of life in Russia. The exhibition compares idealized and romanticized depictions of subjects like farmers and technology with bleak photographs portraying government abandonment and the realities of old age.

1. As a teaching facility, the Wallace L. Anderson gallery program advances learning through lively and
innovative approaches to art for the students of Bridgewater State University and communities beyond the
campus.
April 23, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jay Block
Manager, Collections and Exhibitions
Wallace L. Anderson Gallery
Bridgewater State University
508.531.2424
jay.block@bridgew.edu
bsuarts.com
Wallace L. Anderson presents Russia Contrasted,
April 22 – May 27, 2015
From the collection of Laurence and Katherine Doherty.
Where Social Realism and Socialist Realism Collide
Socialist Realism was a government sanctioned style of art focusing on the promotion of
communism and socialism throughout Russia and the Soviet Union. Social Realism was an actual
commentary on the everyday life of the poor and working class people. On view now at the Wallace
Anderson Gallery, Russia Contrasted, is a comparison of what the government intended the public to see,
versus the grim reality.
The artists include Valenteen Mollishev with his photographs of old, broken man made
technology (like a cash register) compared to Aleksander Roschin’s beautiful landscape art. Human impact
compared to the natural world. The exhibit also includes Michael Zavodnov’s etchings of the romanticized
life of the country farmer, happy and content, compared with the photographs depicting the government
abandonment and the bleak reality of old age.
The exhibition has been made possible by the generous loan of work from the Laurence and
Katherine Doherty Collection as part of the 175th
celebration of Bridgewater State University. The Wallace
Anderson Gallery welcomes all to view the show Monday-Friday, 9-3pm.
Wallace L. Anderson Gallery
Bridgewater State University
40 School Street
Bridgewater MA 02325

2. As a teaching facility, the Wallace L. Anderson gallery program advances learning through lively and
innovative approaches to art for the students of Bridgewater State University and communities beyond the
campus.
508.531.2501
BSUArts.com
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