Last year, I was commissioned by two visionary women, Sandy Gartner and Ann Buffum to make portraits of 20 women who they interviewed for a project exploring the diversity of Vermont Jewish culture. The end result is a fabulous book by them, TO LIFE: A Celebration of Vermont Jewish Women, and a show now on exhibit at the Gallery At The Brick Box on Center Street in downtown Rutland.
About 200 people attended the Opening Reception on Sunday, October 11, including many of the extraordinary women who were subjects of this documentary-Gov. Madeleine Kunin, pianist Phyllis Isaacson, potter Susan Leader, physician Diane Rippa, organic farmer Sara Schlosser and 100-year-old June Salander (looking gorgeous, I might add!) and many others.
It was mostly an afternoon of oohs and ahhs, shmoozing, eating and just celebrating the completion of such a vast project. Also, Penina Glazier, Ph.D. of Hampshire College gave an amazing talk about the larger context of American and Jewish history.
So, if you’re interested in seeing this show, the exhibit is up until November 8. From there, I dont know where it will next travel, but I’ll keep you posted.
PS: Sunday, October 25, at 3 pm, there will also be a poetry reading at the gallery by one of the women, Judith Chalmer of Montpelier, whose work was inspired by her own quest to understand her family’s Holocaust history. She’ll talk about that history and read from her book, Out of History’s Junk Jar: Poems of a Mixed Inheritance.
L’Chaim!
THE WOMEN:
Potter Susan Leader of Andover:
Gov. Madeline Kunin, Burlington:
(100-yr-old) June Salander of Rutland:
Antoinette Matlins of S. Woodstock (founder of Shir Shalom Jewish Community Center):
VT State Senator Hinda Miller of Burlington:
Zeesy Raskin of Burlington, wife of Lubovitch Rabbi Yitzchok Raskin:
Organic farmer Sara Schlosser of Wolcott:
Sylvia Willard of Rutland, a founding member of Actors’ Repertory Theater:
Jewish Teens: Meara Jane Kinne of Ludlow, Marissa Farbman of Killington and Elora Silver of Windsor:
Dr. Diane Rippa of Essex Junction:
Artist/poet Judith Chalmer of Montpelier:
Rabbi Tobie Weisman of Montpelier:
Concert pianist Phyllis Isaacson of Brattleboro:
Rosalee Harris of St. Johnsbury, devotee of community service:
Secretary of State Deb Markowitz of Montpelier:
Ex school principal Semah Unterman of Belmont:
Daryl Bloom of Montpelier, member of the Sojourner Project, a diverse group of women exploring the different issues of the world through conversation to overcome prejudice:
The reception:
Ann Buffum, Penina Glazier and Sandy Gartner:
To see all the photos from both the reception and of the individual subjects, click here.
What a great collection of photos of Jewish Women of Vermont. Thanks so much for sharing this with me. Jane Grayson
Karen, you are so brilliant in how you capture the human spirit! I am in love with all of these women, and you created a portal where each one of them is approachable & luscious & strong….brought tears to my eyes, inspired me, and created a thirst in me to know more about each one of them! Congrats on such wonderful story telling!
Dear Karen:
The photos are absolutely fabulous! I’m so sorry I missed the opening–have been in Europe for almost a month, back next week in time to go to NY then home for 2 days before heading to Toronto for the URJ Biennial. I just want you to know how much I love all the photos, and that I really consider it a privilege and honor to be counted among such talented and special women.
Warmest regards…and I hope to meet everyone one day soon, somewhere!
Antoinette
PS Just noticed that my last name is misspelled in the caption — it is M A T L I N S. Thanks.
Karen
Your fabulous photos brought the whole exhibit to a new level. They fit so perfectly with the narratives. I found the whole exhibition inspiring.
Thank you so much.
Penina
Karen! I am so pleased with you and for you! These women are all so expressive with color and humaness. They are all dear. I am Jewish 77 and in my second year at DAYTONA STATE COLLEGE. Majoring in Digital Media, which has lead me to a project of the journey of a web site of women 70 and over of all faiths, with their writings or thoughts to leave in support of women all over the world. Again, BRAVO, your insight is with each click..Phyllis