60 Reflections

Curated by Luba Proger

The photography installation 60 Reflections was created by a group of New Yorkers with Russian-Jewish backgrounds. It celebrates the 60th year of Israel's independence and the profound influence that Israel has had on so many Russian-speaking Jews. 

The native Russian-speaking Jewish Americans whose works form 60 Reflections are part of a wave of émigré's from the former Soviet Union who have built lives for themselves here in New York. They are highly assimilated, many having received degrees at some of America's best institutions, and have been successful in a diverse range of careers and professions. Although they have integrated almost seamlessly into the fabric of New York, as they continue to prosper, grow, and form families of their own, they are often confronted by the question of roots, identity and belonging. Israel is one of the places they look to for answers. Some of the artists whose works appear in 60 Reflections had the desire to visit or to live in Israel from the moment they emigrated from the former Soviet Union. For others, interest in Israel awoke only more recently. In all cases, the journey was individual and the camera captured different moments that touched them during their visit or while living there, a reflection of their unique perspective of the Promised Land.

Israel's history, nature and cultural and ethnic diversity impart different experiences to anyone who travels there. Today there is a large Russian-speaking community, almost one in every six, living in Israel. Many of the amateur photographers whose works comprise 60 Reflections have family there, which brings another dimension and point of view to their work, making it personal and more identifiable.

For many of the artists in this exhibit, being born under the repressive regime of the Soviet Union only served to strengthen their identification with their Jewish heritage. No matter where their country of birth, Israel is a place where they can reflect on their Jewish identity and explore it 's meaning. In 60 Reflections , twenty-seven individuals contributed sixty images that together present a photographic panorama of how each sees and celebrates Israel, and finds common bonds and a shared commitment to the Jewish state on the 60th anniversary of its birth.

Hosted by

The Jewish Community Center in Manhattan
334 Amsterdam Ave @ 76th St, 7th Floor, New York City

Opening Reception:
 7:00 p.m. Thursday, September 25th, 2008

Photos from the Opening

Exhibition Viewing Hours:
Sat., Sept. 27th 1- 8pm
Sun. Sept 28th 3-8pm
Sat. Oct. 4rd 1-8pm
Sun Oct. 5th 1-8pm
Sat. Oct. 11th 1-8pm
Sun. Oct. 12th 10am- 5pm

Photographers:

Mark Anesh
Marina Bakalinskaya
Peter Drubetskoy
Roman Freud
Alexander Garkusha
Yulia Gilinsky
Michael Girshin
Ilya Gleikh
Bazhena Karpenkopf

Vova Katz
Leonid Khanin
Karina Kheifetz-Sagiev
Elena Kolesnikova
Elina Korshukin
Maria Kravtsova
Lev Krichevsky
Adi Lavy
Oleg Mazo

Alexander Minkin
Nataly Levich
Stanislav Novoseletskiy
Elliot Piatetsky
Eugene Prahin
Luba Proger
Ella Raber
Avi I Rabinowitz
Lara Zaridze

60 Reflections was made possible by Center Without Walls project of COJECO, sponsored by the UJA Federation of NY