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In 2010, Adam Lerner risked his career and his credibility to show a collection of 181 unverified, unauthenticated Russian avant-garde works at the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, where he had just become curator. Tonight, Lerner and the institution celebrate the release of From Russia With Doubt, a book detailing...

By Bree Davies

November 21, 2013

Audio By Carbonatix

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In 2010, Adam Lerner risked his career and his credibility to show a collection of 181 unverified, unauthenticated Russian avant-garde works at the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, where he had just become curator. Tonight, Lerner and the institution celebrate the release of From Russia With Doubt, a book detailing the exhibition of those paintings, which came to the curator via brothers Ron and Roger Pollard, who’d purchased them from a seller on eBay.

“I have to admit that it was frightening for me to go against all of the conventions of my field — but I felt like there was something very powerful about a body of work that was so good but also completely mysterious,” Lerner says of of the now-famous show. He adds that in showing the questionable paintings, he wasn’t just taking a perilous step in his career; he was also daring viewers to question “what we value when we value art.”

Lerner hosts the release of From Russia With Doubt tonight from 5 to 8 p.m. at MCA Denver, 1485 Delgany Street. For more information, visit adamlernerinamerica.com.
Sat., Nov. 23, 5-8 p.m., 2013

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Bree Davies is a multimedia journalist, artist advocate and community organizer born and raised in Denver. Rooted in the world of Do-It-Yourself arts and music, Davies co-founded Titwrench experimental music festival, is host of the local music and comedy show Sounds on 29th on CPT12 Colorado Public Television and is creator and host of the civic and social issue-focused podcast, Hello? Denver? Are You Still There? Her work is centered on a passionate advocacy for all ages, accessible, inclusive, non-commercial and autonomous DIY art spaces and music venues in Denver.

Contact: Bree Davies

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Twitter: @cocodavies