By Michele Leight

A painting donated to the Baryshnikov Arts Center by Mikhail Baryshnikov - so that they may offer it at auction - sold for $ 746,500 at an auction of Russian Art at Sotheby's New York on April 12 2011, far exceeding its pre-sale high estimate of $500,000. The full proceeds from the sale of Petr Petrovich Vereshchagin’s "View of St. Petersburg," one of the most magnificent cityscapes by the artist ever to appear at auction, will go to benefit the Center’s work. The beautiful painting was on view in Sotheby’s York Avenue Galleries, together with the full sale exhibition of Russian Art.

Vereshchagin was a graduate of the St. Petersburg Academy of Fine Arts in the early 19th century, when the city's majestic skyline was a popular subject for young artists. This magnificent view of St. Petersburg is one of his most accomplished canvases, showcasing his virtuosity and ability to capture painstaking detail, and render atmospheric depth through perspective. Vereshchagin rendered images of the city from many angles and in every condition, and many hang in the State Russian Museum.

Mikhail Baryshnikov is world-famous and his repertoire includes the greatest roles ever created for male dancers, as well as innovative contemporary roles he created himself. Born on January 27, 1948, Barishnikov is a Soviet-born Russian American dancer, choreographer, and actor who is compared with Vaslav Nijinsky and Rudolf Nureyev as one of the greatest ballet dancers of all time. His artistic career began in the Kirov Ballet in Leningrad, but he defected to Canada in 1974 because he desired more opportunities in modern dance. After freelancing with many companies, he joined the New York City Ballet as a principal dancer, where he was eager to learn from the legendary choreographer George Balanchine. He then moved to New York to dance with the American Ballet Theatre, where he later became artistic director.

Baryshnikov has been successful in spearheading many of his own artistic projects and has been most closely associated with promoting modern dance, premiering dozens of new works, including many of his own. His wide recognition as a contemporary ballet dancer can be attributed to his exposure and success as a dramatic actor on stage, cinema and television - most recently in "Sex in the City." He is well known to movie fans for his unforgettable partnership with Gregory Hines in the film "White Nights" where he did his famous 11 pirouettes - with awesome ease. He also demonstrated that he could "tap dance" along with the best.

Ultimately it is Barishnikov's love of innovation and pushing the boundaries of modern dance that sets him apart. No longer young, he continues to challenge himself when he could just sit back, churn out his classical repertoire and receive standing ovations. He says: "Dancing is my obsession, my life."

Barishnikov is outspoken about the importance of art education for young people in America, which is slipping out of public schools due to lack of government focus and funding. Barishnikov has also firmly chosen to "gamble on the box office" rather than take grants, which he believes will inevitably compromise artistic innovation. His deeply independent spirit is most evident in his dance. Donating a painting to help fund BAC is another example of his independence and innovation.

The Baryshnikov Arts Center is the realization of a long-held vision by its artistic director Mikhail Baryshnikov, who sought to build an arts center to serve as a thriving creative laboratory and performance space for multidisciplinary artists from around the world. Located in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, BAC comprises four studios, a studio theater, and the newly renovated 238-seat Jerome Robbins Theater. BAC’s programs include presentations of contemporary, innovative work at affordable ticket prices, as well as artist-centered activity that fosters creative exploration. BAC, a nonprofit 501(c)3 public charity, serves 500 artists, and more than 20,000 audience members annually.

To learn more, please visit bacnyc.org.

For general inquiries and information, please contact:

Baryshnikov Arts Center
450 West 37th Street, Suite 501
New York, NY 10018
Tel: 646-731-3200
Fax: 646-731-3207
info@bacnyc.org