You don't have to travel to Eastern Europe to learn about its culture, people, and art. Many cities in the United States have strong Eastern European communities, including Lithuanian communities, Romanian communities, Russian communities, and Croatian communities. Some communities have evolved from groups of hard-working immigrants searching for better lives in a new country. Proud of their cultures and dedicated to preserving it for future generations, they have supported the founding of museums that will share their legacies with locals and visitors alike.
Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture
Located in Chicago, the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian culture focuses on Lithuanian history, Lithuanian genealogy, Lithuanian currency, the Lithuanian immigrant experience, and much more. It acts as an all-inclusive resource for Lithuanians or those researching aspects of Lithuania's heritage.
Romanian Folk Art Museum in Philadelphia
Begun in the 1980s, the Romanian Folk Art Museum has since expanded to become a center for the advancement of Romanian and Romanian-American cultural research and education. Exhibits have included Romanian folk costumes, traditional furniture, and textile arts. The Romanian Folk Art Museum also maintains a branch in New Jersey.
The Museum of Russian Art in Minneapolis
The Museum of Russian Art is a fairly new museum, founded in 2002. Russian Impressionist and Russian Realist paintings, collected by Raymond E. Johnson, have made up the initial exhibitions for the museum. In addition to Russian Impressionist paintings currently on display, the museum now features an exhibit of Sergei Prokudin-Gorskii's early color photographs of the Russian Empire.
Croatian Heritage Museum and Library in Ohio
Founded by a group of Croatian artists living in the United States, this museum emphasizes folk art, including Croatian folk dress, household textiles, weaving, and lace, as well as fine art from deceased and living Croatian artists. The museum holds outreach programs for education in Croatian culture, history, and art, and is committed to Croatian heritage research.
Of course, you may also catch sight of Eastern European art or cultural artifacts at other museums that are not solely dedicated to the region. Many of these museums will also sponsor traveling exhibitions that appear in museums around the country. The nearest large city in your area may showcase one of these exhibitions, but you will have to be diligent about checking museums' calendars; these exhibitions can be small and may not get the press that other, more widely publicized, museum events may get. You may also visit the sponsoring museums' websites or call their information desks for information about upcoming exhibits.
Kerry Kubilius - A graduate of Ohio State University, Kerry has a BA in Russian and a BA in History of Art with a focus on Eastern European art. She also ...
