August 6, 2003
Grammy-nominated Russian band to play at art exhibition opening
NASHVILLE, August 6, 2003 -
Bering Strait, a Grammy-nominated country/bluegrass band originally from Obninsk, Russia, will perform at the opening of the Russian Impressionism art exhibition at Belmont University's Leu Gallery Sept. 4.
The Russian Impressionism exhibit features several paintings from the collection of Ray Johnson, a noted American art collector and founder of The Museum of Russian Art, in Bloomington, Minn., who also played a role in bringing the members of Bering Strait to Nashville several years ago. The band's self-titled first album was released on the Universal South label in January. The band was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Country Instrumental Performance category – along with the Dixie Chicks, Bela Fleck and bluegrass legend Earl Scruggs. Though nominated for a Grammy in an instrumental category, the group's work also features gorgeous vocal harmonies.
The Russian Impressionism exhibition, one of the largest exhibitions of 20th Century Russian Impressionist paintings in the southeast in the last five years, will run through October 2 at the Leu Gallery and will feature 50 paintings from The Museum of Russian Art in Bloomington, Minnesota, the only museum of its kind in the United States devoted to Russian art from the 20th Century. The collection is filled with scenes of everyday life in Russia painted by various painters during the Soviet era – including a variety of still-lifes, landscapes, and portraits.
The exhibition is sponsored by the Belmont University Alumni Association and Stanford Fine Art, a gallery in Nashville, Tenn. Some paintings will be made available for sale at the end of the month-long exhibit.
The Leu Gallery will be open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sundays from 2 to 5 p.m., during the exhibition. Bering Strait will perform during the opening reception, scheduled for 4 to 6 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 4.
The Leu Gallery is accessible through the Lila D. Bunch Library.
Belmont University is a private coeducational, comprehensive university with nearly 3,500 students from 42 states and 28 countries.
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