Russia!

Other Reviews: Mark Stevens, Constructivist Criticism (New York Magazine, October 3) Edward J. Sozanski, This 'Russia!' isn't Russian enough (Philadelphia Inquirer, September 25) Roberta Smith, The 'Russia!' art lovers should know (New York Times, September 18) Unprecedented exhibit RUSSIA! to open in New York (Pravda, September 12)

I'm way behind on this one, but isn't it a general rule that museums should eschew the exclamation point when creating titles for exhibits? Apparently, the Guggenheim did not get that memo. Carol Strickland reviews their new exhibit, Russia! (open through January 11), for the Christian Science Monitor (Iron Curtain lifts on Russian art, October 7):

After touring a massive exhibition of Russian art, Vladimir Putin, president of Russia, expressed confidence that American visitors to the Guggenheim Museum "will feel the soul of the Russian people." If anything can represent the vastness of the steppes, it's this comprehensive show, on display until Jan. 11, 2006, exuberantly titled "Russia!"

Yes, but will it allow us to see into his soul, like President Bush? No, on second thought, we don't really want to see in there, thank you very much. The Web site barely has any images, so I should really not give this exhibit any play. However, it sounds so interesting that I can't resist. Well, it's fairly likely that I will be in New York before January...