Seven rebel artists from Russia have brought their vibrant, politically inspired art exhibit, "The Brotherhood of Free Culture: Recent Arts from St. Petersburg, Russia," to the Kresge Art Museum.
The exhibit - three rooms full of eclectic paintings - offer colorful and futuristic patterns and flattened perspective renderings of architectonic figures.
Lindsay Symkowiak, a social work junior and museum attendant, says the art is unlike any she has seen.
"The philosophy behind it is so different," she said. "It's like the people's art. Many people think it's new and bold and different - not what you would find in American art."
Symkowiak said although the group comes from a low-income area and has little money to buy expensive art supplies, the artists manage to make the best of their modest materials.
"The art is vibrant and exciting and very unique," she said.
The exhibit, which shows at Kresge through March 16, features 40 paintings by seven contemporary artists from Pushkin 10, an influential artists' colony in St. Petersburg.
The Brotherhood of Free Culture was formed in 1989 to promote nonconformist, or underground, art which has been in existence in Russia for more than a century. These artists have established a museum of nonconformist art at Pushkin 10, which offers studio space to 40 performing and visual artists at any given time.
Kresge museum director Susan Bandes says despite difficult circumstances, the artists have persevered and have managed to create individualized styles and messages in their works.
"We are very pleased to be able to present a significant moment in the history of Russian unofficial art represented in the work of these seven painters," she said.
Kresge is putting on "Mocktail Cocktail Party," a special event sponsored by the museum's student organization ASPIRE, from 7-9 p.m. today. In addition to the Russian art, a techno DJ will be spinning throughout the evening and nonalcoholic mixed drinks and treats will be served. Prices to get in range from $2-$10.
"We hope this event will encourage students to visit the museum on Thursday evenings," said Julie Thomson, the museum's community outreach coordinator. "The idea was to create a fun, social event."
Chelsea Romero, an art history junior and ASPIRE member, says "Mocktail Cocktail" is a chance for students to experience art in a nonconventional way.
"If people aren't real into going to a quiet, stiff museum atmosphere, they can go Thursday and have techno DJs, food, drinks and friends," she said.
"The people make the event, you know?"
