Guardians: Photographs by Andy Freeberg

In the art museums of Russia, women sit in the galleries and guard the collections. When you look at the paintings and sculptures, the presence of the women becomes an inherent part of viewing the artwork itself. I found the guards as intriguing to observe as the pieces they watch over. In conversation they told me how much they like being among Russia’s great art. A woman in Moscow’s State Tretyakov Gallery Museum said she often returns there on her day off to sit in front of a painting that reminds her of her childhood home. Another guard travels three hours each way to work, since at home she would just sit on her porch and complain about her illnesses, “as old women do.” She would rather be at the museum enjoying the people watching, surrounded by the history of her country.

Andy Freeberg lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, alternating his assignment work with personal projects. His photojournalism, specializing in environmental portraits, has appeared in Rolling Stone, Time, The Village Voice and Fortune. His current project, Guardians, of Russian Art Museums, was selected for the book prize at Photo Lucida’s Critical Mass 2008 and will be published in 2010. His work is represented by the Kopeikin Gallery in Los Angeles and the Clark Gallery in Lincoln, Massachusetts.

www.andyfreebergphotoart.com

All images © Andy Freeberg